A large and growing group of North Shore residents who organized to slow the spread of COVID-19 is calling on everyone to make some noise for the health-care workers on the frontlines.
Flatten the Curve North Shore, a 1,600-strong Facebook group, is asking everyone to step outside at 7 p.m. nightly to cheer, clap and make some noise for the doctors, nurses and health-care staff working overtime to save people from the Coronavirus.
“Not only does it provide much appreciated acknowledgement (at a safe distance) of the sacrifices these people are making for the rest of us, it is also way to provide some sense of community connection while we stay apart. We really are all in this together,” a message from the group read.
It follows a trend in Vancouver’s West End in which neighbours have been coming to their balconies and stoops to try to make a cacophony of appreciation loud enough that the staff inside St. Paul’s Hospital could hear it.
Group member Tracey Sheldrick said she wants everyone to know that the cheers are making an impact where it counts. One of the group’s members is an ER doctor who was incredibly moved by it, she said.
“I get a bit emotional talking about it,” Sheldrick said, holding back tears. “It was the first time she cried out of happiness during this whole thing.”
More than a show of appreciation, the group is also doing what it can to keep people to strictly adhere to social distancing.
Sheldrick said there are entirely too many stories circulating about people continuing to gather in groups in public spaces when pandemic experts have ordered everyone to keep two metres apart.
“There are a lot of people doing the right thing but it has to happen soon – like yesterday. It has to. Lives are at stake. It’s not just a cool trend,” she said.
The 10-year-old son of the group’s founder has been spending his downtime publishing and updating websites to spread accurate information and helpful ideas from official sources. It can be seen at flattenthecurvenorthshore.weebly.com.
I’m fighting off tears right now. 7 pm, heard all this banging outside. Realized it Was a show of solidarity for healthcare workers. Could see people from 6 different buildings. Dozens of us. I’m sure there will be more tomorrow ❤️. Thank you to healthcare workers for all you do.
— Matt Birmingham (@MattBirms) March 24, 2020
Hey North Shore! Get in on the cheer for our health-care workers. Take a photo and send to [email protected] and we will post on our website and social media to help spread the word and keep the momentum going.
