Diary: Living with a pandemic 11 (Monday 23 March 2020)

Thank goodness for Facetime, Skype and other telecommunications methods. We can keep in touch with family members on a regular basis even when we cannot be with them. We talk with at least one of our children daily. Trips to see them or have them come see us have been cancelled so we have to depend on electronic means only now.

To date (22 March 2020) 175 countries (up 4 in 24 hours) have reported 358,274 cases (up 49,659); 15,431 people have died (up 2,360); and 100,645 have recovered (up 4,811). Canada has 1,472 reported confirmed or presumptive cases (up 141). We also have 18 people reported as recovered but unfortunately 20 deaths now. Testing in Canada has been done on 91,788 people.

Yesterday we were able to Facetime our son and his family who are living in the Netherlands at present. Like us they are restricted in their movements. School work is done online. Streets and parks are mostly empty and there are limits to the size of groups. Groceries are ordered online, too and delivered to the front door. Most of my son’s co-workers work from home but he still has to go to the office for some things. How long that will last is not known as the rules keep getting tightened.

The real point is we can talk to them and see them in real time and, short of a hug, at least feel the love and bonds between us. That’s very important, especially for seniors like us. We are

I get a lot of emails in a day. Most are related to the genealogical work I do: societies, bloggers, database companies, lists of other family history researchers, etc. Then there are the many vendor emails: grocery stores and household item retailers. Banks, financial institutions and professionals send their newsletters and updates.

The point is, all of them recently have been telling us what they are doing during this pandemic, from reducing hours of operation to closing their office to the public to letting us know what their employees are doing to assist us and keep us and themselves safe. Everyone is talking about this important event and providing valuable advice.

We are being encouraged to shop online where possible, although some products are becoming difficult to get there as well. A lot of the (presumed) shortages are due to people stocking up more than they would normally do, even though our supply chain is undisturbed. Some stores get their products at different times as well so what may be low in one store is available down the street.

We strive never to lose our sense of humour. It may be the only thing that saves our sanity in a few months. The following was received from a Scottish friend (author unknown):

Hiv ye iver seen sic a state o the place,

Fowk gan aboot we draars oer their face.

Gloves on hands an gel on bare skin,

Seein Boris [Justin? Donald?] at ivery turn, I wish I wiz blin.

Tae start it wiz China, the boy guzzled a bat,

Christ they dinna even dee at in Auchnagatt.

Aye, they tried sare tae stem the spread,

But the buggers yoked instead o bidin in bed.

Aroon the globe it’s geen nae stoppin fur air,

Peer craiters in Italy hiv teen it affa sare.

Ben Europe an farrer, jist awye yiv fowk,

It’s worse than ye thocht, its nae a joke.

A wik ago, rumours o nae fitba, awa ye get,

Fa can enjoy a wikend withoot a wee bet.

Obviously nae immune tae international strife,

It certainly pits focus on fits important in life.

No, it’s nae flown past, it’s landed richt here,

Dee fit yer telt, bide in, feet up, hae a beer.

Ca canny we the shoppin , nae bog roll fights,

Dis naebdy ken i thing disna gee ye the *****.

Be sensible, be kind, dinna involve we hype,

Keep yer sel tae yer sell, nae a hoarding gype.

Mak sure ye bide in if yer nae affa weel,

An aye keep an een on ony aul cheel.

Oor nurses and docs hiv aye hid my trust,

Invest in oor NHS, nivver so muckle a must.

Igither we must listen but apart we must bide,

So dee fit yer telt, an the storm we will ride.

Every country seems to have its hoarders. And every country has a number of people who think they are immune and can continue to populate the beaches, sports fields, cafes and other areas. I wonder if they think about whether they might contract the virus and carry it home to their parents of grandparents but never show symptoms themselves. A new term has now been devised for these people: Covidiots!

La-dee-da-dee-dee, La-dee-da-dee-da…