Wednesday 2020-03-18
I haven’t checked the news today, not yet.
I saw a tweet, I think it was a tweet.
People have been wondering, apparently, why those with anxiety issues are so calm. And the tweet eloquently responded that “This is our general state of mind, this is our day to day life. We’re at high alert at all times, this is nothing new.”
And I have to agree.
I’m not panicking.
Maybe I should?
But I’m worried about people close to me, Kim has bad asthma, not super severe, but bad. The virus could knock her out or even take her. Mom also has asthma, albeit a milder type. Grandma and Grandpa are both over eighty and thus in one of the highest risk groups.
They’re self-isolating now, we’re helping them shop, but we gotta be careful with that too, make sure everything is sanitary and sanitized before they get it.
They’re old, robust and tenacious with their health, but old.
A 103 year old woman was the oldest survivor of the virus, reported yesterday that I saw.
I don’t even know when it started. I don’t check the news, the aforementioned anxiety would knock me out for days.
But I’ve been keeping up now. Through Facebook and tumblr.
I’m critical to everything I see, and check SVTnews to verify.
Tests for a vaccine have started.
Tests have been improved from five days to fifteen minutes.
People are helping each other.
It’s at times of catastrophe that people, humanity, really band together and show the good side.
There are people preying on the weak and desperate, of course, I think there always has been, didn’t the priests sell passes to heaven during the black plague?
But people are sharing good news to lighten the mood. I’ve seen lists and posts and so much hope.
It honestly makes me cry.
Because I am so proud of humanity right now. Not the leaders on their high horses and power hunger… No… but humanity.
As a whole, people are good. And it’s being proven hour after hour, day by day, and it’s wonderful. It’s extraordinary.
I’m not scared. I’m not worried about myself.
This is a pandemic with the epicenter in Europe, even if it started in China (and they silenced the doctor who sounded the alarm, a month later he died from the virus, and a month after that they decided to act.).
Chances are high, and it’s even likely, that I’ll get it. But I’ll survive.
People die of the regular flu.
And yes, people die from the Corona Virus as well, but as far as I’m aware every single one of them had underlying complications. Cancer, lung disease, lowered immune system.
I don’t have that, not that I know of.
But I should still stay home.
There’s no immunity toward this virus yet, and while I might survive it, I could spread it to someone who won’t.
I don’t know if the number has increased, but the contagion spread is 2.2. Meaning every sick person will spread the virus to 2.2 other, and they in turn.
It’s the worst in Italy right now. Wuhan has closed its last temporary hospital, and people are going back to work. But Italy is under quarantine.
Experts say closing the borders won’t help, the virus will spread. But did they perhaps think that if we close our borders, we won’t be traveling outside of Sweden to infect others?
It’s not a matter of keeping people out, not really, the virus is already here and community spread is wide. But by keeping us here, by keeping every country closed, I do believe we will limit the spread. Not eradicate it, I know that won’t happen, we’re way too far gone for that now.
But perhaps we’ll save a few, a hundred, a thousand. Every life counts.
It’s strange though.
I never imagined I’d live through something like this, a pandemic, a recession, global panic. And with the borders to Sweden not closed, but monitored, everything feels empty.
Businesses are closing down, going bankrupt, the Eurovision is canceled if the rumors are true, like I said, haven’t checked the news yet…
People are isolating themselves, legislation is on it’s way to pull kids out of school. Gatherings are closing down, group therapy is out the window, care homes are closed to visitors unless someone is dying. Elderly homes likewise, hospital wards are blocked and locked.
And I guess that’s good. I know it’s good. We really do need to do everything we can to minimize the spread. But with everything shutting down, the streets are empty, public transit is cutting down on the number of trains and buses…
I left the apartment on Monday, it was mostly business as usual, by Tuesday the crowd was cut by half, today, my footsteps echo.
I think it’s that uncertainty that is getting the best of people, leaders are telling them to isolate themselves and if they get sick put themselves in complete quarantine, and they don’t know how long that’s gonna last, they’re scared, what about necessities? What about work? Money? School?
I’m lucky. I don’t have to worry about the latter things, and I’m going to the store either tomorrow or on Friday, and I hope they have what I need.
I should stay at home, order delivery.
The virus has an incubation period of 14 days. I might already carry it.
I’ve been careful since I found out about it though, washing my hands properly, I keep sanitation wipes by the door to dry off the handle and key every time I return home, I have hand sanitizer in the pocket of my jeans in case I gotta ride the bus.
And really, I should start showering as soon as I’m done for the day as well…
And in all this craziness I’m writing more lists, what to do in the apartment to avoid having to pay for repairs, what to buy for the new apartment… I’ve crossed a few things off my list, I’ve made the address change, so it’ll start in May, I’ve contacted the broadband people and moved the service the fifteenth of May. Tomorrow I’m going to call the repairman in the district of the new apartment and ask about the wallpapers and the puddle on the balcony.
As well as apply for new rent support, I really should have done that as soon as I signed the contract, it’s one of the most important things.
Can I stay home during all of this?
Most of it, yes.
But I have healthcare meetings on Tuesdays, and maybe they’ll all be canceled, but right now they’re not, and I need to go. And I need food, and soap, and a new toothbrush.
I need to fetch my meds, the apothecary is over capacity right now and their delivery time is two weeks, I don’t have pills for two weeks.
I have much to do, I never realized quite how much I actually do…
But first of all, right now, I need to take my meds, and then settle down, calm down before I try to sleep.
Dr Kristopher Lovell 