As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, many people in the district have gone into self-isolation, either after feeling unwell or after returning from trips outside Canada.
Dr. Dianne Smith is a physician at Didsbury’s Trinity Rose Medical Clinic. She’s been in isolation since March 17.
“I developed some cold-like symptoms and I have not had any exposure (to COVID-19) that I’m aware of,” said Dr. Smith. “I am in the group of people who have been instructed to self-quarantine at home for two weeks.”
She says work has been taking up some of her time.
“I have some administrative roles, being the chief of staff at the Didsbury hospital as well as board chair of the primary care network, so there are a lot of tele-conference meetings that are going on that I’m still able to participate in fully. I’ve been fortunate that my colleagues at the clinic have been able to take over some of the patient load for me so at the moment I’m not following up with anybody by photo from home but if there becomes a need for that then certainly that would be something we would figure out to make happen.”
It’s not all been work, she said.
“I’m getting to spend some quality time with my puppies who I don’t get to see as much as I would like. They are kind of enjoying this,” she said.
Mountain View County Reeve Bruce Beattie went into self-isolation after returning from a trip to Mexico.
He said he’s been keeping busy with county-related conference calls and working around his farm.
“We are doing some of those things on the farm that don’t always get done,” said Beattie. “It’s good to get those things done. We farm so there is always lots to do and we never run out of things to do around the farm that’s for sure.”
Olds Mayor Mike Muzychka went into self-isolation on March 12 after coming back from a trip to Mexico with his partner Lisa, who joined him in isolation.
He says the combination of town business, including numerous conference calls, and his job as an accountant has been keeping him very busy.
“There has certainly been no shortage of work,” said Muzychka. “It’s been about 10-hour days. I’ve been thrown right back into the fire.”
As for leisure activities, he says, “We have a nice meal in the evening, watch a movie, and go to bed.”
He says he will be glad to “get paroled” at the end of his self-isolation.
If you have an interesting self-isolation story send us an email.
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