The forgotten people of COVID are working hard to smile and keep their heads up. To put on their continued show of strength. To make sure their kids are taken care of and are far from the crippling fear that their parents are feeling.
The days have become weeks, and the weeks have become months and months and more months with no end in sight.
They are the ones who were laid off in the spring as part of the fall out of the first wave of COVID and the simultaneous economic downturn in Alberta.
They are running out of courage, they are running out of pride, they are running out of money, and they are running out of time.
No one talks about them, nor do they stop to think that they are struggling not to fall apart under the extreme pressure and stress.
They are scared, more scared than they have ever been.
Some had savings, and some did not. The savings won't hold out much longer. They are facing the loss of their home, their belongings, their future, and their hope.
They didn't get to go back to work, and they didn't get to bank the CERB; it barely kept them afloat. They may also face penalties, paybacks to the government as they had no choice but to receive CERB even though they applied for unemployment.
They are not in the hospital, nor are they sick with COVID. They are home waiting for the day they can stop holding their breath and finally breathe again.
That day isn't coming.
"More restrictions," people scream.
"Shut everything down," people chant.
They have applied to so many jobs they can't keep track of the who's and when's. They never thought there would be 75 or more applicants for every position they apply for. They get an interview, and their hopes soar only to be deflated when they don't make the second round.
New restrictions are introduced and then even more.
"Why wasn't this done sooner?" people shout.
"Our leaders need to stop worrying about the economy and only focus on the sick and vulnerable," people demand
They do agree those are important but, aren't they the vulnerable ones too? Potential employers are pulling back on hiring even more due to these new restrictions, and their chances of finding work diminish to crushingly low levels.
They are good people, hard, dedicated workers. They don't want your pity; they want to stop being invisible and have a fighting chance to survive this too. There won't be new benefits for them or help with their mortgages this time.
When COVID is under control, they will still be lost trying to make ends meet. Forget savings, forget retirement, they've spent that to survive.
COVID may not take their lives, but it is taking everything else, and no one even notices.
