Spring Snow Helps Social Distancing

April snow fell on an empty Fredericton last night. It was an oddly fitting scene for the now silent city. 

For over three weeks now schools and businesses have been on shut down due to the threat of COVID-19. A daily dog walk or jog has been the only way out of the house. Even then, a 2-meter distance between each person should be followed. 

The storm made it easy to stay inside, and accumulation the next day made it possible to ski and snowshoe. Odell Park offers 160 Hectors of woods with many paths still open to the public.

My roommate Leonardo Furtado and I left the house to walk the trails. 

What greeted us was a winter wonderland. Snow clung to every branch and trunk. Pines and birches were weighed down by almost 30 centimetres of snow. 

“The snow is so beautiful,” says Furtado. “So white and fluffy.”

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It was a welcome change of scenery from a laptop or phone screen. With finals to write and online classes to attend, many are getting stuck at their home desk for too much of the day. This is also true for adults working from home. 

Furtado says that video games and cooking are his top quarantine activities. He will take walks outside the house to keep mentally stable. Even though it is an odd time, he says he still needs to take care of himself.

“It helps me not be crazy,” he says with a laugh. “It’s fun because there is no one around.”

Fresh air and exercise help boost his mood. The woods show Furtado that there is more to see than the inside of a shared apartment. It might be small, but it is a welcome reminder.

But still, Furtado’s life in quarantine has not been boring. He says that his house lost heat earlier this month after a failed delivery and last night the storm caused him to lose power. 

“We stayed without electricity for seven hours,” he says.

Even in quarantine, the struggles of everyday life will continue. This includes snowstorms that help social distancing.

https://youtu.be/T_HqYWpbdFI