Queen’s football fans are likely familiar with the SuperFan, the tricolour-clad Gael who is a common sight inside Richardson Stadium, doing his part to inspire both players and fans with his legendary Queen’s spirit. Today the SuperFan’s alter ego is doing his part to lessen the spread of COVID-19 in the Kingston community.
When he’s not decked out as SuperFan, Peter Bearse, Artsci’06, Ed’07, NSc’11, is a registered nurse working with Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington (KFL&A) Public Health.
Like many, Mr. Bearse's day-to-day responsibilities shifted when COVID-19 became an imminent threat to the community. KFL&A Public Health mobilized quickly to respond to the pandemic and set up a seven-phone call centre, deploying Peter to field calls from concerned citizens.
“It’s been really neat to see, not only the teamwork within our agency, but how Public Health and the broader health system within our region have been pulling together … to help our community stay ahead of the curve and make sure the risk is as low as possible,” Mr. Bearse says.
He finds further assurance while driving to work on near-empty streets, and when noticing tape in grocery stores reminding consumers of physical distancing.
While the best way to combat the spread of COVID-19 is to remain home, he says he is grateful to be making a tangible difference in the community. “Everybody in our agency feels as though we are doing something that is improving the situation,” he says. “It has a purpose, and it’s helping us all move through it.”
Since starting at the call centre, Mr. Bearse has advised recently returned travelers, assisted concerned members of the community, directed rural residents to the closest assessment centres, and helped employers looking for insight into best practices. He continues to assess the symptoms of callers and make recommendations but that’s not to suggest Mr. Bearse is unaffected by the pervading anxiety. He finds comfort in the routine of having dinner with his family. “That normal pattern is something that is nice to maintain, especially for our kids,” he says. “It’s a little piece of normal in what is, otherwise, a not-normal situation.”
Mr. Bearse projects that mental health will likely be a concern once the virus is contained. Like his SuperFan alter ego, he champions community spirit. He recommends calling friends, neighbours, and family to combat isolation. And while he is excited by progress Kingston and the surrounding regions have made, he warns against complacency.
“It’s not the time to let things up,” he says. “Now is the time to keep our foot on the gas pedal and keep going.”
