Public health officials ask people to stick to own households, worrying those who live alone

Stephanie Belding felt"a sense of loss" whenToronto Public Health recently urgedpeopleto limitcontact with others to within their own household.

Like so many others, Belding enjoyed a brief reprieve from isolation when the COVID-19 curve flattened during the summer and public health restrictions eased.The49-year-old actor and trainerlives alonein a downtown apartment, but over the last couple of months there were plenty of opportunities to meet up with friendsoutside,where the risk of coronavirus transmission is considered lower.

But asCOVID-19 cases, particularly in Ontario and Quebec, surgedin recent weeksto alarming levels not seen since the spring, public health officials have beentrying to reduce as much person-to-person contact as possible, while keeping schools open and avoiding another full lockdown.

"The concept of the bubble, or the social circle, no longer reflects the circumstances in which we live," saidDr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto's medical officer of health, in a news briefing on Sept. 28.

"Fighting COVID-19 demands we limit contact with people we don't live with."

De Villa saidthat it's essential to stay two metres away from anyone outside a person's household.

More than a quarter of Canadians and almost one-third of Torontonians lives alone, according to the most recent data available fromStatistics Canada.For many ofthem, retreating from in-person contact with friends and family and going back to a social life dominated by Zoom calls is a particularly daunting prospect.

"[There's a] sense of'Oof, here we go again,'" Belding said.

But it appears that Toronto Public Health hastaken notice of the hardshipthe spring lockdownhad on people who were alone in isolation and may be prepared to make exceptions.

"I recommend that individuals only leave their homes for essential activities, such as work, education, fitness, health-care appointments, and to purchase food,"de Villa wrote in a letterdated Oct.2to Ontario's chief medical officer of health, Dr. David Williams.

But she also included a line suggesting"flexibility for up to two individuals from outside their household to provide social support if an individual lives alone."

The Ontario government also made reference to people living alone ina news release issuedon Oct. 2but was much less specific.

"Individuals who live alone may consider having close contact with another household," the release said.

That flexibility also doesn't appear to apply to Thanksgiving.

"Please limit your Thanksgiving dinner to the people you live with," de Villa said in a news briefing on Monday.

"If you live alone, the safest option is to join with others virtually."

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Ontario and Quebec introduced a number of stricter public health measures this week after record numbers of coronavirus cases in the provinces.

CBC News asked de Villa to clarify the "flexibility" for people alone she had mentioned in her letter to the province, but she did not answer the question directly, repeating that it was important for people to restrict their contacts with others as much as possible.

The Quebec governmenthas providedmore specific guidance. According to its coronavirus information web page, visitors from other householdsare prohibited in areas withthe highest "red zone" alert level, including Montreal and Quebec. However, the web page lists an exception to allow "a single visitor from another address for single individuals," adding that "it is recommended to always have the same person in order to limit social contact."

That's exactly whatBeldingin Toronto has been doing for the last few months.Knowing there are many high-risk seniors in her apartmentcomplex, she's formed a bubble with justone friend, who also lives alone in the same building and shares the same conscientious attitude toward COVID-19 prevention.

"It allows us to have kind of asense of normalcy, ofcommunication.I cook a lot so we can share meals, or we'll watch stuff together," she said.

"Just knowing that I have someone in my immediate vicinity that I can kind of have a relationship that isn't six feet away and masked [is helpful]."

Over the seven months of the pandemic, Oct. 2 was the first time NoahWitenoff,who lives on his own in Toronto, had heard any public health guidance acknowledging the unique challenges faced by those living alone.

"When you say a household,and you're the household, the thought of not being with other people for an extended period of time or an indefinite amount of time is overwhelming," the 42-year-old food stylist said.

'Unprecedented' challenge

COVID-19 presents an "unprecedented"challenge that highlights how much people need contact with others in a crisis,saidSteve Joordens,a psychology professor at the University of Toronto Scarborough campus.

"The natural response we have to stress or threat or grief or any of these negative emotional states is to connect with another human being. And given the choice, we connect with them physically," he said.

Normally, with large-scale traumatic events,"you see this pulling together of the community and in the pre-COVID days, you know, physically being together," Joordens said.

"COVID has kind of pulled that away from us. And especially people who would be living alone when we're in these sort of isolation situations."

Crucial to havealternatives

In addition to any limited in-person contact that public health agencies might endorse, it's vital for people living alone to find other ways to stay connected whether it's through video calls, the telephone or other creative outlets, such as making a music playlist for a friend that brings back happy memories, Joordens said.

"To just say, 'I am physically alone, but I will not be psychologically alone during this period,'I think that is absolutely critical," hesaid.

Witenoffgotthrough the spring lockdown period by organizing virtual events for friendswho were in a similar situation, he said, including Wednesday night Zoom chats and online movie nights.

But purely online contact isn't enough for long periods of time,he said.

After the concept of social bubbles was introduced where a small group of people could hang out together without physical distancingprovided they stayed exclusive to that group he formed a bubble with a couple of friends.

It's important, he said, "for people who live alone to be able to merge with another household or another person who lives alone," Witenoffsaid.

"I don't think I could do another full lockdown by myself."

Despite Belding'sbubble with her neighbour, she'spreparedto be isolated again.

Her friendplans to visit her family in British Columbiaduring the holidays for several weeksand wouldthen quarantine when she returns.

"It means [it's] me and my cat," she said. "It means lots of Zoom and FaceTimeand chatting onbalconies or distanced outside stuff.But being very alone in the space."

Tips for people living alone

• "This is a time for social approaching," even if it's from a physical distance, said psychology professorJoordens.Get back in touch with family or friends you haven't talked to for a while. Think of new people to contact who might be in the same situation as you and appreciate the connection.
• If video chats have become tiresome or you're not feeling connected, try the "old-fashioned telephone," Joordens said. Phone conversations often require more attention and listening than Zoom chats.
• Make appointments to talk to someone regularly.Make it clear it doesn't matter if you don't have anything in particular to talk about you can even watch TV and talk about it.
• Music can be a great way to boost your mood and someone else's. Make a playlist that takes someone back to a fun time in their lifeor includes tunes they want to belt out.
• If you have a hobby you love, such as cooking or baking, consider posting a video of your activity and build an online community, Joordenssaid.
• Remember the basics for both physical and mental well-being: keeping a routine, eating well, sleeping well and exercising.
• It's normal not to feel OK sometimes. But if you are in distress, reach out to a friend or family member. Click here for a list ofother places to get help.