TORONTO -- While Canada continues to grapple with increasing rates of COVID-19, China鈥檚 official tally shows the number of new cases dropping dramatically since its peak in February and a sense of normalcy returning.
Liam Mather lives with his girlfriend in Beijing where they have been in self-imposed quarantine since Feb. 1. During their eight weeks in isolation, Mather said they have been able to establish a 鈥渇ulfilling鈥 routine.
鈥淲e started to cook from home, work from home, work out within our house, China has a very advanced mobile and delivery infrastructure so we鈥檝e been ordering most of our groceries in,鈥 he told CTV鈥檚 Your Morning on Friday.
鈥淲e haven鈥檛 seen anyone else in eight weeks.鈥
While certain elements of his extended isolation have been 鈥渢ough,鈥 Mather said there鈥檚 a light at the end of the tunnel.
鈥淚 think the whole world will need to be vigilant for the next little while, but certainly through aggressive social distancing and other policy tools, I think a semblance of normality can be achieved and I think that鈥檚 what鈥檚 starting to happen here,鈥 he said.
Restaurants and bars are re-opening and workers are beginning to head back to the office; however, Mather said, while the domestic outbreak seems to have been contained, there are still concerns that travellers from abroad will import cases back in to China.
In recent weeks, China has announced expanded border controls and restrictions on travellers entering the country to prevent a second wave of infections.
The Toronto man said the whole experience has shown him that people are able to adapt to their new realities.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 provided an opportunity to just slow down, pursue hobbies that previously you didn鈥檛 have time for, connect with people that maybe you were too busy to connect with in the past,鈥 he said.
鈥淲e鈥檝e tried to make the most of it.鈥
As for when he will head back to the office himself, Mather said he鈥檚 still a bit 鈥渘ervous,鈥 but he鈥檚 planning to go back in after another week or two.
With Canada鈥檚 total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 rising to more than 4,000 this week, Mather said Canadians can learn from China鈥檚 experience.
鈥淚n China, through the collective efforts of people here and through policies that were eventually implemented, the outbreak was contained and I鈥檓 confident that Canadians in Canada can see this through as well,鈥 he said.
When asked if he had any advice for Canadians, Mather kept it simple.
鈥淔irst, it will get better. Second, look out for each other,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 think Canadians really have an opportunity to come together and help out their communities.鈥
