Can't distance from your own kids: 3 London moms share their COVID-19 stories
CBC
As COVID-19 cases continue to skyrocket, most Londoners likely know more than a few people who've tested positive, if they haven't already had a positive test themselves.
In the weeks to come, based on projections put forward by the provincial government, COVID-19 cases will continue to rise as the Omicron variant of the virus fuels the spread.
CBC News spoke to three London mothers who contracted COVID-19 over the holidays, leaving them struggling to balance parenthood and their own personal health needs, all while trying to access an increasingly overloaded health-care system.
Here's what they had to say.
For Amanda Boyd — a pregnant mother in her 30s with a four-year-old daughter — a scratchy throat was the first sign she might be coming down with something. It was Dec. 23 and by using a rapid test sent home from school with her daughter, she found out she was positive.
"It was a scary concept: I've got COVID and I'm pregnant but the doctors told me unless I start losing my breathing or get a bad cough, then I need to stay at home."
At the time, the health unit was recommending anyone with a positive rapid test have the result confirmed with a PCR test. But with case numbers ramping upward before Christmas, booking a test appointment in London was becoming next to impossible.
"The online portals said 'no appointments available' for days on end," said Boyd. She was able to get a test date for Dec. 26 but had to go to St. Thomas. Unfortunately, it came back positive.
Staying distanced in a small three-bedroom apartment with her daughter and partner was a tall order.
"Trying to keep her away from me is a very difficult task," said Boyd. "I'd stay in my room for an hour or two but then she'd be back in. I was concerned she was going to get sick."
Boyd had mostly mild symptoms and is on the mend now. Her daughter and partner appear to not be infected.
She's grateful that she had an instant test on hand. Those tests were sent home with students before the Christmas.
Had she fallen ill this week, she wouldn't qualify for a PCR test under the health unit's testing guidelines as someone with mild symptoms. Rapid tests are now also scarce.
She's starting to feel better and Boyd believes being fully vaccinated reduced the severity of her symptoms.
P.E.I.'s Public Schools Branch is looking for 50 substitute bus drivers, and it'll be recruiting at three job fairs on Saturday, June 8. The job fairs are located at the Atlantic Superstore in Montague, Royalty Crossing in Charlottetown, and the bus parking lot of Three Oaks Senior High in Summerside. All three run from 9 a.m. until noon. Dave Gillis, the director of transportation and risk management for the Public Schools Branch, said the number of substitute drivers they're hiring isn't unusual. "We are always looking for more. Our drivers tend to have an older demographic," he said.