Dealing with COVID-19 in the Small Town of McAdam
McAdam, New Brunswick, is one of the many towns to be hit with the effects of the corona virus. The little town south of Harvey Station never had much to begin with, but as the pandemic worsened, the village felt the effects, strongly.
Businesses in the town are few. There are a couple restaurants, hairdressers, and others that have been forced to close their doors ever since the government of New Brunswick announced the state of emergency on March 18th. Most of the non-essential businesses, like Park’Em roadside diner and Mel’s Shear Styles Hair Salon have been forced to close their doors. Other businesses, like the Gun Dealer, became online based for the time being.
McAdam’s only grocery store, Corey’s Independent Grocer, has had to implement a limit of thirty-five people at a time in the store, and has marked the floors with both arrows and distance markers to ensure everyone is six feet apart at all times.
Other businesses like the town’s only bank, the McAdam Scotiabank branch, has put up plexiglass in order to stay open while also stay safe. The village is taking precautionary measures in this time of uncertainty and keeping the residents safe. So far no cases have made their way to McAdam which is a good sign for the small village.
With the rest of the school year cancelled, the time off has given families great opportunities to spend time together and enjoy the outdoors. On any given day families can be seen going for walks, hikes, bike rides, and other activities. If they aren’t outside, they’re likely doing activities together inside, like painting or playing board games.
The town has also implemented a “teddy bear hunt” game, where houses put teddy bears in their windows and families can take their children around on a walk to count the teddy bears. It gets the kids active and also occupies them and allows them to have fun while getting outside. Though the teddy bear hunt began two weeks ago, bears can still be seen outside today from all over.
As for this journalism student, I have been able to revisit my old hobbies that the pressure of work and school didn’t allow me to do. I have completed my goal to knit an entire sweater- a goal I’ve had since I began knitting in summer of 2018. I’ve also been able to spend more time with my pets and exercised myself.
Though the pandemic of COVID-19 can be frightening, it also has a silver lining as it allows families to be together in a time of uncertainty and allows for people do complete their goals that they haven’t had time for previously. Stay safe everyone.