(NB introduced temporary “level 2” restrictions in response to the Omicron case. By Monday, NS had confirmed 40 cases of Omicron, and the outbreak was linked to new cases of Omicron in New Brunswick and PEI. On Sunday, news broke that president Andy Hakin and 2 other senior leaders had tested positive. On Friday, the NS PHO announced physical distancing, masking and gathering limits were being reimposed across the province. Here’s a recap and updates…īy Monday, St Francis Xavier U had sparked 240 cases in the wake of its in-person X-Ring ceremony, accounting for most of the new cases in Nova Scotia. (The real tragedy will follow in several weeks, as the virus impacts the elderly and immunocompromised in the community.) While many institutions are still determined to make it through the exam period unscathed, others no longer have that option. Omicron outbreaks have been impacting CdnPSE campuses for almost a week now –sometimes on a staggering scale, although with highly-vaxxed populations cases are generally mild. On the other hand, we’re seeing flickers of the Omicron variant on campus, sparking wholesale conflagrations from coast to coast… It seems a particularly apt metaphor for our pandemic experience, and the prospects of small gatherings over the upcoming holidays. This year, I have been struck by the number of holiday videos emphasizing the spiritual and metaphorical importance of lights flickering in the darkness of the winter solstice, whether on Hannukah menorahs, Christmas trees or Advent wreaths. Rewatching that Holiday Special helped get me in the mood for Christmas – even though I’m still working on stocking stuffers and nibbles (and at sorting through this year’s crop of vids – 148 and counting!) (Since I know from the view count that many of you haven’t watched them – consider it a long-overdue look at a much more light-hearted version of me!)
Those were simpler, pre-pandemic days, and the episodes really do a great job of selecting out only the best moments from some 500 higher ed holiday videos around the world.
I took some time yesterday to escape from the relentlessly intensifying bad news cycle about the Omicron variant, and instead spent 45 minutes re-watching my 3-part Ten with Ken Holiday Special from 2019.
Good morning, and happy National Cat Herders Day! (Perhaps it’s appropriate that it’s also my birthday today…)
0 kommentar(er)
