Life in the Time of CoVid-Day 7 Lockdown
April 2, 2020: Lockdown Day 7
Worldwide: 950,713 confirmed CoVid-19 cases; 48,313 deaths; 202, 826 recovered!!! Spain deaths surpass 10,000; Russia reports record spike in cases
If you think you don’t need to wear a mask; if you think you “need” to go out. That CoVid-19 is “no big deal,” read this email I just received from a student (in response to my note wondering why I hadn’t heard back from her):
“A sad event has transpired. Last week my father was hospitalized due to COVID 19 symptoms and after six days he passed away in an isolation unit. We learned that when hospitals close down they send everyone who isn't essential home and only keep the most critical staff. It was hard to get anyone to answer the phones and have information passed along, but we understood why.”
USA: 214,461 confirmed cases, 4,841 deaths; The death toll has quadrupled & now exceeds the number of deaths from CoVid-19 reported in Mainland China
LOCKDOWN. President Ramphosa and the SA government is smart to name it so harshly. Enough with the sugar-coating terms: Social Distancing, really? Unless you’re in a bubble, you’re at risk.
South Africa: 1,380 confirmed CoVid cases; 5 deaths; Mkhize warns of 'calm before a heavy and devastating storm
We just returned from the shops. Last trip, thinking we would be evacuated “early” this week, we only bought 3 days stock, so we needed to. The line waiting to enter Pick-N-Pay ringed the block. The Woolies line was only a few deep, so we chose it. Tension outside and in was palpable. Everyone racing and grabbing as though on a clock. Curtis too. I asked him, “Why are you acting so weird.” His response, there are so many people…” So many mask-ish efforts: scarfs, balaclavas, turtlenecks, hankies, etc. Lots without masks seem to think holding one’s breath helps. Including clerks wheezing “Thank you, Maam” through clenched teeth.
'Apprehensive' elderly German tourists apprehended en route to test for Covid-19
This could have been us had we tried to drive back to P.A.
Do you know how many times a waking hour you touch your face? It’s like trying not to scratch a mosquito bite. Count. Or better, watch someone else.
I caught myself 4 times in one hour—and that was me consciously trying not to touch. Every touch could bring a CoVid virus into your body. No excuses:
IF YOU HAVE A T-SHIRT AND TEETH, YOU HAVE A MASK.
Service Announcement Over, captivity is an issue; imprisonment for many doesn’t come with a garden or a balcony, or even a window that opens wide enough to fit one’s head. So, what do for exercise?
LAPS: Yes, I am one of the lucky ones, with a lovely garden. I walk laps as I listen to podcasts, webinars—conversation. Every time my phone chimes, I get up to listen & talk. One problem. My natural inclination is to walk counter-clockwise which, after the first few days seems to have made my left leg shorter, thus giving me a long-shoreman gait. So as of yesterday, every few laps I reverse direction.
Lapping the room works, too. It’s 19 medium paces around our room (bathroom not included). And, I’m told, very annoying.
12 STEPS UP-12 DOWN
STAIR-CLIMBING: Now that we are officially the only ones staying in Manderley Lodge, when Gloria is away, I sneak across to the office side and stair step. i call it the 12 by 12: Twelve steps up & twelve steps down. I stopped at 10 reps yesterday. Depending on Gloria’s schedule, I’ll sneak in a few more today.
YOGA: Do not roll your eyes. Or think I’ve gone all OHMMMM on you. Even Curtis can do this one as it’s all on the floor. Think of it as “stretches.” Here’s my 10 minute fav by _____________(Hint: Don’t try to do it without the video because you’ll find yourself shortening the time you stay in each position; or forgetting some. Trust me. I have listened to the same video at least 1000 times (no exaggeration). Miriam’s voice is now my Manchurian Candidate phone call: I mindlessly obey.
HUFF & PUFF: This is our new favorite. It only takes 4 Minutes! (a session). Curtis discovered it sometime back when he was trying to find a way to exercise without leaving his computer (Curtis loves his computer!) but we’d never tried it. IT’S GREAT! Yesterday was our 3rd day of Huff & Puff (Officially Called: Zach Bush MD: 4-Minute Workout.) Wow! I do! I do! I do feel the tingle/burn!!!
Oh yes, as if there isn’t enough drama in the world with CoVid, yesterday Graham, our landlord, Gloria’s boss, quit. Turned out his lease on Manderley Lodge ended March 31. Instead of renewing, or giving 3 months’ notice, he came last night, cleaned out the supply cupboards, and left. We know because the supply cupboards are in our room—2 locked cabinets at the end of our closet. He knocked while we were eating dinner. (5th can of tuna in brine gone…Charles says we should have our mercury levels checked when this is over.) —DEAR AUSTRALIA, WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL YOUR TOILET PAPER…
What does this mean to us? No TV for 2 days. Yes, Gloria, we will survive. (Thank you U-Tube! Thank you NYC for this Broadway Coronavirus Medley!)
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