Return of the Living Covid

We’ve all been watching the U.S. Presidential Election race with a quality of attention that can only be compared to—in the most clichéd terms—watching a train wreck. Perhaps this week, we can take a break from the race and get back to the current issues surrounding COVID-19: sadly, another subject that we are all thoroughly sick of that has insisted on taking back the headlines. 

France imposedImpose (verb): to forcefully place something on to something else, either physically (placing one image over another in a poster) or as a concept (putting new sets of restrictions on a populace). a curfew as any number of other countries, including ones who had enjoyed notable success narratives over the summer, also recorded high daily case totals. The situation in France got a fair bit of play in the English-language press, perhaps because President’s Macron’s choice, between a health care system pushed to the breaking point and an economy equally direDire (adjective): A word used to describe a situation that is extremely bad. If a hospital patient is in a dire state, they are likely near death. , feels stark and representative.

Certainly, on this side of the pondOn this side of the pond (expression): English speakers sometimes hyperbolically underemphasize the size of the Atlantic Ocean by calling it a pond (a small lake) when speaking about differences between, for example, London and New York, or France and Québec., especially in Québec, we are facing a similar resurgence. Now in a red zone, Québec has been collectively discussing the best ways to re-flatten the curve. Canada, as a country, is also beginning to wonder if we aren’t focusing on the wrong test; at the very least, some epidemiologists think that we need to focus more on people who are actually contagious. And of course, the building question for many parents this month: whether or not to let our children dress up as Zombies and Princesses and go trick-or-treating. The answer—at least of this writing—seems to be a tentativeTentative (adjective): The word describes plans that are still contingent or may face revision. I made a tentative plan to read War and Peace over Christmas Break, but we’ll have to see if my boss gives me a special project to do during the holidays instead. yes, but with conditions.
My son not-so-helpfully suggested that we all dress like people sick with COVID symptoms to go trick-or-treating. Should I mention to him that that might be insensitive?

The Longform Read of the Week: This week I came across a piece published earlier this summer in Canada’s culture magazine The Walrus, a historical consideration of the rise—and eventual rejection—of 1930s fascism in Ontario and Québec. These political conversations from an earlier era are, as you might suspect, hauntingly familiar.

by Nathan R. Elliott

1. “On the Brink of Disaster,’ Europe’s Covid Fight Takes a Turn for the Worse.” Oct 16, 2020. 6 mins. Intermediate.

2. “Europe, Which Thought it Had the Virus Tamed, Faces a Resurgence.” Oct 14, 2020. 8 mins. Intermediate/Advanced.

3. “Will a half-step by Macron be Enough to Blunt France’s Second Wave?” Oct 15, 2020. 8 mins. Intermediate/Advanced.

4. “Studies show Quebecers have the power to reverse the COVID-19 trend, Dubé says” Oct 17, 2020. 8 mins. Intermediate.

5. Video: “Is Canada Focused on the Wrong Tests?” Oct 11, 2020. 7 mins. Beginner/Intermediate.

6. “Québec Children Can Enjoy Halloween this Year – but with some Conditions.” Oct 15, 2020. 5 mins. Intermediate.7. “How to Build an Antifascist Movement.” June 8, 2020. 15 mins. Advanced.