Covid-19 Updates & Activities to do at home!

In the past two weeks the number of active COVID-19 cases in B.C. has more than doubled, and health officials are stressing the need to abide by new restrictions in Metro Vancouver.

As City News explains, Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix have clarified what people in B.C. need to do to stem the spread of the virus, as they announce 998 new cases since Saturday.

Social gatherings of any size with people outside immediate households (immediate households meaning those who you are physically close to or spend most of your time with) aren’t allowed in private homes in the Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health regions as part of a two-week provincial health order which is scheduled to end Nov. 23 at 3 p.m. in order to help lower the number of Covid-19 cases.

Businesses, recreation centres or other organizations that organize or operate indoor group physical activities must also suspend these activities. This includes:

  • Spin classes
  • Yoga
  • Group fitness
  • Dance classes
  • Any other group indoor activity that increases the respiratory rate

Employers must also review and redouble their efforts on their COVID safety plan, employees must monitor themselves daily and always stay home if they have symptoms.

  • Workplaces must ensure that all workers and customers maintain appropriate physical distance and wear masks when appropriate
  • Extra care should be taken in small office spaces, break rooms and kitchens

Until November 23, 2020 at 12:00 pm travel into and out of the Lower Mainland and the Fraser Valley has also been affected and should be limited to essential travel only. We have been advised to postpone recreational and social travel. For example:

  • Travel for a vacation
  • Travel to visit friends or family outside of your core bubble

If you have any more questions on the new announcement and restrictions, click here to read the full outline as provided by the Government of Canada.

As we will all be spending more time at home, I thought it would be helpful to revisit some activities to do at home over the next few weeks. Keep reading to get inspired!

Take out your board games

At the beginning of Covid-19, board games and puzzles were the best way to pass time – so why not re-explore these activities? If you’re searching for a new & fun game that doesn’t require a ton of set up and take down, I suggest heading to Amazon and purchasing Monopoly Go, which is Monopoly in a card game. This game is seriously fun for all ages, and is a fantastic addition to the Monopoly franchise.

Start decorating

With the weather feeling colder, faster this year, why not start lightly decorating! After all, tis almost snowy season, so why not start gradually with gingerbread houses and winter wreaths?

Activities with kids

If you have little ones at home, click here for a ton of activity ideas ranging from arts & crafts, to cooking/baking, games, movement, music, and virtual tours. My favourite of these activities to do with little ones would be the virtual tours, specifically walking through Mars or the Louvre Museum. It’s so fascinating to literally access Mars from your own living room using NASA’s Curiosity Rover, which allows you to see everything up close and in 360-degrees.

Get journaling

There’s no questions that this pandemic has caused stress and anxiety for most of us. Something I like to do to get my mind off of the news and relax in evenings is journaling and allowing myself to unwind.

Pick a subject to write about each time you make an entry. For example:

  • Name 10 things for which you are grateful.
  • Make a list of short-term goals.
  • Write down 10 words to describe yourself.
  • Name some internal and external resources you have to help you through the pandemic.
  • Share something that has made you proud or happy in the past two weeks.

Journaling is a great way to manage stress and anxiety, and especially during these times it’s great to have an outlet that will allow you to unwind and remember the positive factors in your life.

Try to learn a new language with your family

Although this sounds a little difficult, applications such as Duolingo have made it so easy for people to learn, or begin to learn new languages. This can be a fun activity to do at home whether you are wanting to do it on your own or have your family members join in.

Binge new Netflix shows

Recently I discovered a few fantastic shows on Netflix that I can’t stop binging. There’s always new content coming out on Netflix or applications such as Amazon Prime, Crave, and so on, therefore finding a new show to watch while you get cozy on your couch isn’t very hard. I’ve been watching Modern Family, Schitt’s Creek, and The Haunting of Bly Manor. I know, I’m a little late to the game with Modern Family and Schitt’s Creek, but in case you haven’t seen them or you feel like rewatching, they are fantastic binge-worthy shows to invest some time in.

I hope these tips were helpful and you give some of them a try over the next few weeks! Wishing you all a safe and happy week.