Rachael Thomas needs to take a walk through an ICU ward

By Lethbridge Herald on February 9, 2022.

Editor: 

In her recent opinion piece, Rachael Thomas notes that it was “an honour and a joy to walk among and converse with those who have gathered on Parliament Hill from all corners of our country.” Perhaps Ms. Thomas is unaware that for more than two years now, the world has been fighting a war with the COVID virus. In Canada, over 30,000 people have lost their lives. In the U.S., nearly a million have died. Worldwide, more than 5.5 million have died, a figure approaching the horrific casualty figures of the First World War. And many others have had their lives upended with long COVID and other complications. Healthcare workers are on the frontline of this battle, and they need all the help they can get. A collective effort is required to win this battle, where each one of us does a few simple things to protect ourselves and those around us. Nothing that really impacts our freedom. The more of us that implement these measures, the faster this pandemic will end. Are those on Parliament Hill freedom fighters? A more apt description would be toddlers who object to the simplest and least onerous of health care measures. I urge Ms. Thomas to take a stroll through the hallways of any ICU unit – how long would her joyful attitude last then?

David Siminovitch

 Lethbridge