Students Gather for Pre-emptive Birthdays in the Face of the Fourth Wave

KESWICK RIDGE, NB – The familiar sounds of a birthday party echoed through one house in Keswick Ridge last weekend. With music, drinks, and cake center stage. The only thing different about today’s scene, it isn’t anyone’s birthday at all.

With cases in New Brunswick rising rapidly, many are trying to make the most of what they fear could be their last chance to gather for some time.

Adam Schwartz was the host of the close-knit party. Having helped in the past to organize birthdays and other celebrations for this group of friends during the pandemic.
“We’re actually hosting two birthdays today for the next few months. We thought this might be the last chance we get as things are starting to look a little scarier, and we might be closing down soon,” said Schwartz.

COVID-19 cases in New Brunswick have reached an all-time high. In the first week of October alone, cases ballooned with 670 new infections province-wide, as well as 11 deaths. The New Brunswick Vitalité and Horizon healthcare systems have reached a “Red Alert” level, with many of the province’s hospitals at, or exceeding capacity.

Worry and doubt are spreading quickly among New Brunswick residents, with many feeling that there should have been a shutdown sooner, with swifter action from the provincial government, as was taken during the very first wave of the pandemic. Premier Blaine Higgs has voiced disappointment in the actions and words of some residents, some resorting to insulting the Premier and his family.

The planning work for the party was rushed by the rapidly growing fourth wave. With the 20-person extended bubble implemented September 21st, as well as the Thanksgiving weekend circuit breaker measures, the birthday was able to proceed safely as planned.

For this group of young friends, this has been their second birthday celebration during the 2021 year of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the 16th pandemic birthday between them.

Though grateful for high vaccination rates in universities; a concern among many students is the stagnation in new vaccinations across the province.
“We feel pretty safe at St. Thomas with the decently high vaccination rates we’ve got there, but we are nervous about the rest of the province, what’s happening outside. They’re not as high as we would like, it’s worrying,” Schwartz said.

This group of friends have been doing their best to stay calm and positive throughout the pandemic, with the worst hopefully behind them. When gathering is not an option, these friends have been able to keep in touch through technology. Though to them, nothing beats the real thing.

“We’re just sort of trying to keep our morale up and stay positive. It is hard, especially when cases are going up and things are looking bad, but we’re just trying to stay hopeful as best we can,” said Schwartz.

Though unease about the future is inevitable during the pandemic, many are finding ways to be grateful, and spread joy in these uncertain times. For these friends, they plan to sit and wait. Unsure of what the future holds, but positive. Just like the first lockdowns, they know in the end they’ll get through it all.