Alternative Physio
59 Kane Crescent - effective October 1, 2015 L4G 0C6 Aurora, ON, Canada

NO TOILET PAPER FRENZY!!! That's a really good sign. Because we're going into lockdown. It should be just like March. But, it's not. It is certainly not grea...t. We've lost a lot and we're about to lose more. Depending on how you look at it. Christmas 2020 will certainly be....different. But, there is something special about all this. It's hard to put my finger on it, exactly. What can be special about a world-wide pandemic that has taken the lives of over 1.5 M people and disrupted the lives and livelihoods of billions more? Maybe 'special' is not the right word. Last year, I did not know who you were. I was not completely aware of the vastness of the world and it's humanity. Nor did I understand how the circumstances of hardship and deprivation could make all of us so deeply connected. We all are connected. In ways that no one in our lifetime, in generations of lifetimes has experienced. It is strangely comforting. I will join you and you will join me in whatever harsh yet beautiful and wondrous ways that Christmas always is. Wondrous, wonderful, beautiful, silent, holy...Christmas. It will come to us all as we sit in strange circumstances. Alone and perhaps lonely but very, very connected. Tonight, the lack of toilet paper frenzy and the relative quiet of the grocery store signalled to me that we have a new found strength, resilience and resolve this time around. And these are the qualities that will take us to the end of this remarkable thing. We will get there, no doubt at all. An novel variant of the novel carona-virus, COVID -19 ( now called 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant or SARS-CoV-2 VUI 202012/01...gotta love these science geeks and the names they banter about, is now out there. Don't be alarmed. This was expected. This is how viruses that have spread widely behave. They mutate as they divide, replicate and spread. This variant virus appears to be much more transmissible. It may be 70 % more transmissible with an R value of 1.5, instead of 1.1 which is the R-value of the COVID-19 we've been living with for the last 10 months. Kent/South East England saw an increase in the 14-day case rate from 100 cases per 100,000 population in week 41 of 2020 to over 400 per 100,000 in week 50 of 2020. More transmissible but no indication, so far, that this variant causes more serious or deadly disease. What does all this mean? We have turned a new corner in the ongoing saga of COVID-19. An expected and anticipated corner. It means that strict adherence to public health guidelines needs to be more strict than ever. It's part of the reason why we are being asked to hunker down in our homes again: avoid non-essential travel, and any gatherings inside or outside of your home bubble, essential workers go to work and everyone else works from home and always, always wear a mask when going out for essentials. No cases of this new virus identified in Canada, yet but it is likely to come. We are ready for it. We are more resilient, stronger, wiser and more educated than we were in terrifying March. No toilet paper frenzy this time. I am not more afraid. I am just more resolved to keep going and to see this thing to the end. Stay strong folks. Vaccines have arrived and we have the scientific technology to change those up to keep up with any variants. Much like the flu shot, it needs to be re-formulated every year to keep up with the variations in the flu virus. Premier Ford has given us a Christmas Day reprieve. I get that and the reasons why but it's very, very dangerous to assume that we can host any gatherings outside of our small, household bubbles. We cannot and we must not. Your health care system is teetering on the brink. Seventy percent of ICU beds are usually filled with accident victims, post-op patients suffering complications, patients with heart attacks and aneurysms. If we fill those beds with COVID patients......the trickle down effect will be deadly. January and February will not be easy. Stay connected. Let's take care of each other. Be kind and oh so patient. Anne-Marie Please share. For those who are struggling emotionally, you are not alone. Please reach out. For mental health support here: https://familyserviceguelph.on.ca/ For local assistance with anxiety and depression: www.here4help.ca CMHA WW Website: www.cmhaww.ca Here 24/7 at 1-844-HERE-247 or www.here247.ca. And for post-secondary students, Good2Talk https://good2talk.ca/ For non-Facebook users, you can find this post here: https://braceletofhope.blogspot.com/ And if you'd like to help Bracelet of Hope work towards making sure that Lesotho has access to these vaccines, donate here: https://www.braceletofhope.ca/ways-to-

No changes to Physiotherapy Clinics

Were you looking for me? While Lily enjoys semi-retirement as a therapy dog, I’m now working 3 days a week from Vitality Wellness Centre in Newmarket. You can see my schedule and book online at www.vitalitywellnesscentre.ca Physiotherapy Services are recognized as an essential service and continue through the lockdown. PS - Lily misses you all but she’s making the best of it

I’ve been suggesting chair yoga routines to clients quite frequently these days. There are a lot of good routines online to choose from. Here is an excellent free resource. As always, go at your own pace and listen to your body. https://youtu.be/-Ts01MC2mIo

Physiotherapy services will continue during province wide lockdown. I will be out of office December 24-January 4. Visit www.vitalitywellnesscentre.ca to see my schedule. Wishing you all a safe and healthy holiday!

The final push. Stay safe everyone.

Your health and safety are important. Physiotherapy services will continue through lockdown according to the College of Physiotherapists. We have safety protocols in place to ensure we all remain healthy. If you feel unwell or uncomfortable about attending your appointment, you can cancel without penalty. #vitalitywellnesscentre

Free event online if you need some mental health support

We can do this. Yes - we’re all tired. Yes - we miss so many people and things we did without concern. Yes- it’s stressful, scary, fill in the blank....It’s not over yet but we can manage how this plays out.

This is such an important message. Sometimes we need to be reminded that our health is just as important, if not more so, than taking care of everything and everyone else first.

We’re learning more and more about the virus. This is a comprehensive article. In summary, shared air is a bigger issue than surfaces. This is why masks and physical distance are so important.

I love how proactive this Ontario physician has been! Ontario’s plan for returning to school needs work. Please sign and support our students and teachers and support staff in a safe return to school

Additional appointment times have been added. Book online at www.vitalitywellnesscentre.ca

Now that masks are part of new reality it’s important to know how to avoid adding extra contamination. Also, always clean your hands right before and after removing your mask

I’ve been struggling with the idea of a full return to school for my kids. I haven’t made a decision with our family yet, but I have found this advice from a Guelph Physician helpful.

Hi Everyone! I’ve added some additional daytime appointment spots to the online booking calendar. Have a look at: www.vitalitywellnesscentre.ca

York Region isn’t quite there - but soon. I’ve been following this Guelph physician’s blog. Check it out...