A resident of a Saskatoon retirement home celebrated a milestone birthday with her family on Sunday — while still maintaining social distance.
The ongoing coronavirus pandemic is the not first that Clara Arnason, who turned 101 on March 29, has lived through.
Arnason was born in Stockholm, Sask., in 1919, during the Spanish flu pandemic.
She went on to have seven children, two of whom live in Saskatoon. Both of those daughters and their families were able to give her some birthday cheer from the parking lot of the Preston Park II Retirement Residence.
They showed up to the facility with colourful posters and cards and sang Happy Birthday to Arnason, who watched from her balcony.
The birthday celebration was captured in a video, which was later shared to the residence’s Facebook page.
Arnason’s daughter, Daphne Arnason, said her mother’s birthday parties are always a special gathering for the family, especially for the grandchildren who like to do the planning.
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“Things were not going to be any different, but this year we had to be a little more innovative given the quarantine restrictions,” Daphne Arnason told Global News.
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Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know:
Health officials caution against all international travel. Returning travellers are legally obligated to self-isolate for 14 days, beginning March 26, in case they develop symptoms and to prevent spreading the virus to others. Some provinces and territories have also implemented additional recommendations or enforcement measures to ensure those returning to the area self-isolate.
Symptoms can include fever, cough and difficulty breathing — very similar to a cold or flu. Some people can develop a more severe illness. People most at risk of this include older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease. If you develop symptoms, contact public health authorities.
To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend frequent handwashing and coughing into your sleeve. They also recommend minimizing contact with others, staying home as much as possible and maintaining a distance of two metres from other people if you go out.
For full COVID-19 coverage from Global News, click here.
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