(DON THOMPSON / iNFOnews.ca)

OPINION

The sheer scale of the loss is overwhelming, truly difficult to wrap your head around. Today, 41,412 Canadians no longer sit at kitchen tables with their families, not at Thanksgiving or Christmas or at birthday celebrations, or even simple weeknight dinners of Mac and cheese.

They were young and old, men and women…even children. What they have in common is that they are all victims of COVID-19 and its variants. More than two years…and this disease is still not done.

Even after writing more than two dozen columns…talking with researchers, doctors and nurses on the frontlines…talking with those who believe science and those who deny not only science, but that the disease is even a disease, I still struggle to fully understand the impact of this modern-day plague.

Canada has fared better than most countries. A couple weeks ago, the death toll in the United States passed one million people. Worldwide, more than 6.3 million people have died…staggering figures.

It’s easy to get lost in the numbers…we’ve heard infection counts and hospitalizations and death counts for so long…we become numb. Not our family…not our friends…deaths of strangers can become non-events…mere numbers.

But the plain, simple truth is…each of the 41,412 Canadians left someone…often lots of someones…sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, nanas, papas, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, classmates, co-workers, girlfriends, boyfriends…dear friends.

These aren’t just numbers…they were real people…real people with real families and friends they loved, pets they loved and cared for, homes they paid mortgages on, cars and trucks they drove to jobs…they had lives.

More Canadians died from COVID these past two-plus years than died from diabetes, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and suicides…combined. And unlike these and other diseases, most of those who died from COVID didn’t have long to spend with loved ones.

Indeed, most never got to say a final “Goodbye” or simply hold a comforting hand. Loved ones were hospitalized and within weeks…more often days…they were gone.

We’re so desperate to return to normal…often we don’t want to hear the numbers…no more bad news. We de-value people…someone asked me a few months ago, “Weren’t most who died old anyway?”

“Can’t we just move on?” I heard someone plead last week.

Unfortunately, it’s not over. Nearly 5,000 Canadians were hospitalized last week…312 were in intensive care units…and 502 died. Of course, you don’t have to die to suffer…a few thousand Canadians have long-haul COVID.  But rather than compassion, they face incredulous questioning: “Why aren’t you over this…I had COVID and I’m fine!”

Some 44,090 Canadians died in the Second World War…and I’m certain it was little comfort to the loved ones of the Army Sergeant who died minutes before the war ended that his death came late…was his life worth less? So it is…or should be…with victims of COVID.

The truth has been hard to accept for too many Canadians, too many Americans…too many people worldwide. Factions have fought truth...and science…and the best interests of public health every day since the first deaths 27 months ago.

One thing is certain…we can measure COVID infections, hospitalizations and deaths much easier than the ignorance and mean-spiritedness of people. We had a Coronavirus pandemic…but surely we came close to pandemic levels of ignorance. We too often refused to do what was best for ourselves and others. Even worse…we openly ridiculed people who did what was best for all…and even those who got sick.

Anti-Vaxxers, anti-maskers, science deniers and bat-shit crazy conspiracy theorists blame Dr. Anthony Fauci or Dr. Bonnie Henry or Prime Minister Justin Trudeau - just about everyone - except themselves for a disease that killed millions.

Some folks - apparently willing to dismiss science, facts and truths - when asked if they are vaccinated or if their kids are vaccinated, refuse to even discuss the issue, simply saying, “I’m so over it.”  Oh, were it only just that easy.

The ignorance - like the numbers who die - subsides. But don’t think ignorance won’t blossom again, during the next killer public health crisis. I fear we haven’t learned much from this pandemic’s horrendous lessons.

So, the hyper-vocal confederacy of dunces will be there to ensure that more Canadians - people worldwide - than necessary will die next time, too.

— Don Thompson, an American awaiting Canadian citizenship, lives in Vernon and in Florida. In a career that spans more than 40 years, Don has been a working journalist, a speechwriter and the CEO of an advertising and public relations firm. A passionate and compassionate man, he loves the written word as much as fine dinners with great wines.

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