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When Hugs Can Kill: Mourning Nova Scotia’s Mass Shooting in a Pandemic When Hugs Can Kill: Mourning Nova Scotia’s Mass Shooting in a Pandemic
(32 minutes later)
TORONTO — Soon after his neighbors were gunned down in rural Nova Scotia, Cees van den Hoek started a memorial site near an old church.TORONTO — Soon after his neighbors were gunned down in rural Nova Scotia, Cees van den Hoek started a memorial site near an old church.
He hammered together boards for people to fasten cards and mementos to, and was hauling one into place when a middle-aged woman raced toward him.He hammered together boards for people to fasten cards and mementos to, and was hauling one into place when a middle-aged woman raced toward him.
“She gave me a hug,” said Mr. van den Hoek, an antique dealer who lives in the area where a gunman murdered at least 22 people last weekend in a 13.5-hour killing spree, before being shot by police. “I couldn’t stop her. That’s the natural instinct, people need hugs.”“She gave me a hug,” said Mr. van den Hoek, an antique dealer who lives in the area where a gunman murdered at least 22 people last weekend in a 13.5-hour killing spree, before being shot by police. “I couldn’t stop her. That’s the natural instinct, people need hugs.”
But these days, hugs can be almost as lethal as bullets.But these days, hugs can be almost as lethal as bullets.
As Canadians mourn the country’s worst mass shooting, they are also mourning the toll of the global coronavirus pandemic, which, in Canada, has sickened 42,000, and claimed 2,200 lives — and robbed the nation of its routines and rituals for recognizing loss.As Canadians mourn the country’s worst mass shooting, they are also mourning the toll of the global coronavirus pandemic, which, in Canada, has sickened 42,000, and claimed 2,200 lives — and robbed the nation of its routines and rituals for recognizing loss.
It's a pattern being repeated around the world as the public script for mourning is being rewritten because of lockdown orders and prohibitions on large gatherings.It's a pattern being repeated around the world as the public script for mourning is being rewritten because of lockdown orders and prohibitions on large gatherings.
In some places, like Italy and Washington state, funerals have been outright banned. In others, like Canada, they have been so severely restricted that most people are delaying them.In some places, like Italy and Washington state, funerals have been outright banned. In others, like Canada, they have been so severely restricted that most people are delaying them.
In Nova Scotia, a small Atlantic province about twice the size of Massachusetts but thinly populated, there have been 772 confirmed cases and 12 deaths from the virus. It’s the kind of rural place where friendships stretch back generations and funeral receptions are so packed, they spill out from church basements.In Nova Scotia, a small Atlantic province about twice the size of Massachusetts but thinly populated, there have been 772 confirmed cases and 12 deaths from the virus. It’s the kind of rural place where friendships stretch back generations and funeral receptions are so packed, they spill out from church basements.
But now, any kind of mourning — whether for coronavirus victims or mass shooting victims — must abide by life-preserving but isolating rules that prevent hugs from strangers, and outlaw gatherings of more five people. That includes funerals.But now, any kind of mourning — whether for coronavirus victims or mass shooting victims — must abide by life-preserving but isolating rules that prevent hugs from strangers, and outlaw gatherings of more five people. That includes funerals.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a vigil for the Nova Scotia victims, which was broadcast on two national television networks Friday evening so all Canadians could watch. Organized by locals, it had many of the elements of public mourning — tributes and music. But, it was done entirely online.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a vigil for the Nova Scotia victims, which was broadcast on two national television networks Friday evening so all Canadians could watch. Organized by locals, it had many of the elements of public mourning — tributes and music. But, it was done entirely online.
In perhaps the most touching moment, the famed Canadian fiddler Natalie MacMaster played on a split screen alongside Emily Tuck, one of the victims, who was killed along with her parents. Ms. Tuck, just 17, recorded the piece a few weeks earlier for a “Covid kitchen party,” while dressed for quarantine in a pair of pajama bottoms and a crop top.In perhaps the most touching moment, the famed Canadian fiddler Natalie MacMaster played on a split screen alongside Emily Tuck, one of the victims, who was killed along with her parents. Ms. Tuck, just 17, recorded the piece a few weeks earlier for a “Covid kitchen party,” while dressed for quarantine in a pair of pajama bottoms and a crop top.
“There is no template for this,” said Tiff Ward, one of the vigil organizers and a retired home care nurse, who personally knew five of the victims.“There is no template for this,” said Tiff Ward, one of the vigil organizers and a retired home care nurse, who personally knew five of the victims.
She added, “We all feel so helpless.”She added, “We all feel so helpless.”
Obituaries in Canadian newspapers now end with a version of this one, for Heather O’Brien, a nurse and grandmother who was among the victims of the shooting rampage: “Due to the Covid-19 restrictions, we ask for no visitors at this time as we already have a large immediate family. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.”Obituaries in Canadian newspapers now end with a version of this one, for Heather O’Brien, a nurse and grandmother who was among the victims of the shooting rampage: “Due to the Covid-19 restrictions, we ask for no visitors at this time as we already have a large immediate family. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.”
Still, some mourners are creating intimate rituals and virtual ceremonies, combining traditional elements with new ideas forged by circumstance. They are setting new templates on how people can mourn together, which grief therapists say is so important.Still, some mourners are creating intimate rituals and virtual ceremonies, combining traditional elements with new ideas forged by circumstance. They are setting new templates on how people can mourn together, which grief therapists say is so important.
“There’s the human need to collectively acknowledge the fact we are devastated and we’re heartbroken,” said Andrea Warnick, a grief therapist in Toronto, who has been advising grievers to develop their own rituals at home.“There’s the human need to collectively acknowledge the fact we are devastated and we’re heartbroken,” said Andrea Warnick, a grief therapist in Toronto, who has been advising grievers to develop their own rituals at home.
“I do worry if people aren’t doing anything,” she added. “Suppressed grief manifests itself in different ways.”“I do worry if people aren’t doing anything,” she added. “Suppressed grief manifests itself in different ways.”
The irony is, grievers often feel the world has stopped. And now, it literally has.The irony is, grievers often feel the world has stopped. And now, it literally has.
“I think we are all grieving,” said Lysa Toye, a psychotherapist in Toronto who specializes in complex trauma and grief. “This is a grief-inducing situation, whether you are experiencing the death of people around you or not.”“I think we are all grieving,” said Lysa Toye, a psychotherapist in Toronto who specializes in complex trauma and grief. “This is a grief-inducing situation, whether you are experiencing the death of people around you or not.”
In many ways, Wayne Irwin is the perfect pioneer who could light a new path for grieving. A former minister of 40 years with United Church of Canada, he has overseen hundreds of funerals. But, he also has the technical savvy of a millennial; he spent the last decade helping churches go online.In many ways, Wayne Irwin is the perfect pioneer who could light a new path for grieving. A former minister of 40 years with United Church of Canada, he has overseen hundreds of funerals. But, he also has the technical savvy of a millennial; he spent the last decade helping churches go online.
When his wife of 20 years, Flora May Litt-Irwin, died in his arms in late March, of causes not related to the coronavirus, the country had already locked down, but he did not contemplate delaying a service for her.When his wife of 20 years, Flora May Litt-Irwin, died in his arms in late March, of causes not related to the coronavirus, the country had already locked down, but he did not contemplate delaying a service for her.
With friends and family, Mr. Irwin created an online service with sermons and hymns, but also with personal elements more common to wakes — video clips from her grandchildren, a slide show of personal photos, a video of a girl from their church dancing the Scottish highland “Flora MacDonald Fancy” in her honor.With friends and family, Mr. Irwin created an online service with sermons and hymns, but also with personal elements more common to wakes — video clips from her grandchildren, a slide show of personal photos, a video of a girl from their church dancing the Scottish highland “Flora MacDonald Fancy” in her honor.
The family also held a Zoom visitation, which at one point was crowded with more than 40 people, offering condolences and stories.The family also held a Zoom visitation, which at one point was crowded with more than 40 people, offering condolences and stories.
“I came away feeling we’ve been to a funeral, we’ve been to a celebration, we’ve done it,” said Mr. Irwin, 75, from the condominium in Dundas, Ontario, that until recently, they shared.“I came away feeling we’ve been to a funeral, we’ve been to a celebration, we’ve done it,” said Mr. Irwin, 75, from the condominium in Dundas, Ontario, that until recently, they shared.
“We can move forward in our own lives now,” he added.“We can move forward in our own lives now,” he added.
Mr. Irwin’s stepson Warren Litt, who recorded a eulogy on his iPhone mounted on a bedroom dresser, found the experience both “weird” and “heartwarming.” Since then, he’s remained isolated at home, digging through his mother’s photos, poems and letters.Mr. Irwin’s stepson Warren Litt, who recorded a eulogy on his iPhone mounted on a bedroom dresser, found the experience both “weird” and “heartwarming.” Since then, he’s remained isolated at home, digging through his mother’s photos, poems and letters.
Updated June 30, 2020
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
Scientists around the country have tried to identify everyday materials that do a good job of filtering microscopic particles. In recent tests, HEPA furnace filters scored high, as did vacuum cleaner bags, fabric similar to flannel pajamas and those of 600-count pillowcases. Other materials tested included layered coffee filters and scarves and bandannas. These scored lower, but still captured a small percentage of particles.
A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico.
The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth.
The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave.
So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement.
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.
The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April.
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
“Often society gives you the three days to grieve and then moves on,” said Mr. Litt, who is a retired interfaith minister.“Often society gives you the three days to grieve and then moves on,” said Mr. Litt, who is a retired interfaith minister.
Now, though, he said: “There has been more time to remember and to grieve and not to kind of rush through it because you have all this other stuff to do. There’s nowhere to rush.”Now, though, he said: “There has been more time to remember and to grieve and not to kind of rush through it because you have all this other stuff to do. There’s nowhere to rush.”
In Nova Scotia, emerging details of the shooting are stirring anger that the police chose Twitter to send out an emergency warning, not cellphones which might have alerted more people to the danger.In Nova Scotia, emerging details of the shooting are stirring anger that the police chose Twitter to send out an emergency warning, not cellphones which might have alerted more people to the danger.
On Friday, officials revealed that the killer began his rampage after assaulting his girlfriend, who escaped from him and hid in the woods overnight. At dawn the next morning, they said, she alerted police that he was disguised as a police officer and driving a fake police cruiser, which allowed him to camouflage himself.On Friday, officials revealed that the killer began his rampage after assaulting his girlfriend, who escaped from him and hid in the woods overnight. At dawn the next morning, they said, she alerted police that he was disguised as a police officer and driving a fake police cruiser, which allowed him to camouflage himself.
Before the murders, bereavement workers in Nova Scotia were already grappling with how to offer those dying of coronavirus a “good death” and offer grievers support even as hugs and casserole deliveries are forbidden. Since then, they’ve been drafting ways to support a whole community in grief, from a distance.Before the murders, bereavement workers in Nova Scotia were already grappling with how to offer those dying of coronavirus a “good death” and offer grievers support even as hugs and casserole deliveries are forbidden. Since then, they’ve been drafting ways to support a whole community in grief, from a distance.
“People are kind of numb and frozen and they don’t know what to do,” said Serena Lewis, a bereavement, grief and wellness coordinator with the Nova Scotia Health Authority.“People are kind of numb and frozen and they don’t know what to do,” said Serena Lewis, a bereavement, grief and wellness coordinator with the Nova Scotia Health Authority.
The local tradition is to show up with a casserole on the doorstep after a death. “Can you do a grocery order instead?” Ms. Lewis said she was suggesting, or “make a card and put it in their mailbox.”The local tradition is to show up with a casserole on the doorstep after a death. “Can you do a grocery order instead?” Ms. Lewis said she was suggesting, or “make a card and put it in their mailbox.”
“This is physical isolation, but we need the social connection,” she said.“This is physical isolation, but we need the social connection,” she said.
A Facebook site, set up by Ms. Ward, the vigil organizer, and others working with her on Friday’s vigil has been flooded with videos of people offering music and dances, and photos of local windows decorated with 22 hearts — one for each victim. The vigil will be broadcast nationally.A Facebook site, set up by Ms. Ward, the vigil organizer, and others working with her on Friday’s vigil has been flooded with videos of people offering music and dances, and photos of local windows decorated with 22 hearts — one for each victim. The vigil will be broadcast nationally.
But local family-run funeral homes are backed-up with ceremonies, delayed until whenever the pandemic has passed. Ms. Lewis worries that might mean never.But local family-run funeral homes are backed-up with ceremonies, delayed until whenever the pandemic has passed. Ms. Lewis worries that might mean never.
“Is that what people are going to want to do when COVID lifts?” she asked.“Is that what people are going to want to do when COVID lifts?” she asked.
In Portapique, where the gunman began his crime spree by killing eight of his direct neighbors, Mr. van den Hoek has continued to display sympathy cards — which started arriving by the boxload — on his memorial site.In Portapique, where the gunman began his crime spree by killing eight of his direct neighbors, Mr. van den Hoek has continued to display sympathy cards — which started arriving by the boxload — on his memorial site.
Since the hug, he has painted orange footprints spaced two meters apart as a socially-distancing reminder to visitors.Since the hug, he has painted orange footprints spaced two meters apart as a socially-distancing reminder to visitors.
“I don’t want a whole lot of people getting sick,” said Mr. van den Hoek, his voice quivering with emotion. “That’s the last thing I want.”“I don’t want a whole lot of people getting sick,” said Mr. van den Hoek, his voice quivering with emotion. “That’s the last thing I want.”
Dan Bilefsky contributed reporting from Montreal, and Ian Austen from Ottawa.Dan Bilefsky contributed reporting from Montreal, and Ian Austen from Ottawa.