Could we be looking at another lockdown?

Editor’s Note: We’re dusting off this archive favorite because solid journalism doesn’t expire. Yes, the situation has evolved since this was written, but if you want to understand the true roots of the issue, this is where you start.

While the lockdown we experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic may have given us a temporary break from the fast pace of life, we can’t forget that there was a price to pay for that temporary break.

On May 2^nd, 2026, it was reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) that a cluster of passengers onboard the Dutch-operated specialist cruise ship MV Hondius fell ill with a severe respiratory illness. The virus was later confirmed to be hantavirus, a virus found in rodents that can be transmitted to humans if they are exposed to their urine, droppings, and saliva, and in rare cases, through a bite or scratch. There were 10 to 12 positive cases confirmed, including three deaths, and one positive case linked to a Canadian, a Yukon resident, who isolated in British Columbia after travelling on the cruise ship.

147 passengers and crew were on board the ship, which set sail from Argentina on April 1st, 2026, when passengers began to fall ill shortly afterwards. On April 24^th, 2026, 30 passengers, including the deceased, disembarked the ship in St. Helena, while ninety-four passengers and crew disembarked the ship on May 10th, 2026, in Tenerife, Spain. All passengers on board were required to isolate and monitor their symptoms immediately, with many choosing to fly to their home countries under close monitoring by national authorities.

Although the hantavirus poses a low risk to the public, with Canada’s chief public health officer, Dr. Joss Reimer, determining the virus is not expected to spread any further, meaning the chance of a pandemic is very low, the news of the outbreak has led to some wanting another lockdown to occur.

As we all remember, our world was rocked in 2020, when countless countries across the world went into a lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. For everyone’s health, safety and well-being, we had to live under restrictions to help flatten the curve of COVID-19. Non-essential businesses had to either resort to curbside pickups, deliveries, take-out or remain closed until further notice. People with non-essential jobs either had to work remotely or rely on CERB, and students had to learn online. People had to wear a mask while running errands, and we can’t forget that social distancing was in effect, meaning we had to socialize with people outside of our households from a distance.

There were countless things people were unable to do because of the pandemic. Despite that, some people used the pandemic to their advantage to find something enjoyable to do while following stay-at-home orders. The most common thing people were doing during that period was enjoying a break from the fast pace of life and just relaxing at home. They could spend more time with their loved ones who live with them. Working remotely gave people the chance to get their work completed in the comfort of their own home, without the need to wake up early in the morning and spend time commuting to and from work. They also got to use that spare time to take on a new hobby.

While all the aforementioned may have been beneficial for some, we were still dealing with a highly contagious and deadly virus that made people very sick and has caused millions to lose their lives. Plus, people were left highly paranoid and doing whatever it took to make sure they did not test positive for and potentially lose their lives to COVID-19. This virus also affected people’s livelihoods. People living alone had to interact with loved ones from a distance. Not everyone had a job to return to post-pandemic, as layoffs and business closures took place as a result.

A break from life can be beneficial, but it’s not worth it if it involves another lockdown. Hantavirus may rarely spread from person to person, but it is still a highly deadly virus and should not be taken lightly.

Yes, not everyone had a bad experience from the COVID-19 lockdown. However, considering that life can happen to anyone, those who were lucky the first time around may not be so lucky again.