Today is Wednesday, April 1. April Fools Day. I wake early to find out that Chris Cuomo has tested positive for Covid19. I am reminded of T S Eliot’s line: “April is the cruellest month”, and I learn that more Americans have now died off Covid19 than died on 9/11.  I then go back to sleep until 8:30 am.

I walk to the shop early (for me) hoping to get some Vogel bread. I have twigged that I can use plastic gloves (of which I have a good supply) for shopping, and discard them afterwards. I have now got this quite well organised, with gloves, payWave, and using shopping bags to hold the trolley.

I make a beeline for the bread. There is none. I ask how early you have to be to get bread. The nice person explains that they don’t know when the bread will come in, or what will be delivered. The bread hasn’t yet been delivered today. I hang about waiting for it, and eventually I am successful in getting some. Prices are down for raspberries, avocado and broccoli. Dishwashing liquid is very scarce.

Walking home, there are lots of people out. We cross the road to avoid each other, giving a cheerful greeting. It is quite mild with a slight breeze and fine but not sunny. There is someone delivering DX mail using a motorbike. That helps to explain the noise of motorbikes. There are cars driving alarmingly fast on our street, and still a large number parked at the shopping centre. Still, I suppose if people aren’t working in town and eating out, or eating takeaways, then they need to shop for food. The store seems busier now than it used to!

It occurs to me that religious folk who defy warnings are not really using science and logic. After all, the Lord gave them a brain, and a conscience. Why not use it?  This virus is extremely infectious. Therefore, the recommendation is to keep one’s distance. As someone said, many things have been cancelled, but not love. That includes divine love.

This morning’s paper is more upbeat. I realise that newspapers tend to sensationalise, thinking that sells papers, but we really need straight information right now. People have been flocking to Makara Beach, and the locals are upset. It’s a windy, stony beach, one for battlers.  People in the East Cape and the Far North have set up road blocks too. One can understand that reaction.

There are discussions about just what “essential” means. The banks are offering help. Landlords are offering help. There is government assistance. I am sure there is fine print and some sad stories, but it seems people are better looked after here than on many countries overseas.

There is medical cooperation here too, with planning to use private hospitals (some of which have closed) for current and critical care, while leaving public hospitals for Covid19 patients. After all, life goes on, and people will still have critical medical needs.

Today’s briefing is encouraging: 61 new cases, bringing the total to 708.  Of these, 14 are in hospita1, and 2 are stable in Intensive Care. While there are some clusters of cases in New Zealand, these are being managed, and movements of those infected are being tracked. It seems to be a widely held view that testing is really important. This is acknowledged by our PM, and the guidelines for testing have been relaxed.

The overseas news is dreadful. The US President said that if they keep deaths to 100,000, he will have done “a very good job”. This statement is widely reported with astonishment.

Several things stay in my mind from today:

• The aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt with 5 1/2 thousand sailors on board, in very confined surroundings, and more than 100 infections, was not allowed to return to safety and disembark its staff.
• A red flashing beacon on top of the Empire State Building. The sound of sirens is a distressing background to most podcasts.
• I listened to a personal story of a healthy man ill with Covid19, being nursed at his home; how very ill he was, yet not meeting the criteria for hospitalisation; the fears of his wife for him, her daughter, and herself, and the constant struggle to care for him and maintain isolation.

These are testing times, indeed, the lack of tests being a significant part of the problem. I used to say to my children “This too shall pass”. And it will.

Today is Tuesday March 31. Today is lovely and sunny, with a gentle breeze. Last night I went to sleep on hearing that Dominic Cummings was displaying some symptoms of Covd19, and so was self-isolating.

This morning’s paper, in contrast to yesterday’s, has a rather grumpy tone. Evidently people went to Oriental Bay to enjoy the sunshine, enough of them to cause concern.  The city’s motto, Absolutely Positively Wellington, now has a bitter tone, as no one wants to test positive for the virus. WOW has been cancelled for this year. It takes place at the end of September, and has become a huge tourist drawcard, so some are disappointed. Preparation gets underway now, so it’s best cancelled now. There is also talk of lifting the restrictions of the loclkdown, which, indeed, are arduous, However the figures today are “good”: 58 new cases, bringing the total to 647. Of these, 12 are in hospital, and 2 in Intensive Care. NZ is now doing over 1700 tests per day.  This is a significant reduction in the number of new cases (on 25 March it was 50), so perhaps the pain is worthwhile. Most of these newly diagnosed cases have a link with overseas travel, or with someone else who has the disease.

I go for a walk in the sunshine. I call at the store, where all the bread has gone. There are still lots of shoppers at the store. As there is no bread, I leave without buying anything. I will have to go earlier tomorrow. We still have bread at home, but about now I would usually buy some more. We have been asked to save online delivery for health workers and the over 70’s.

In Australia, there are new rules, Gatherings of only two are permitted, and Kiwis will receive unemployment benefits.

Overseas, things continue to be drastic – dreadful numbers of new infections, and of deaths, against a tide of weary and inadequately protected health workers. The emphasis is on slowing the rate of increase of these figures, so that they double not every day but perhaps every four days. Added to this there is huge confusion about the requirements, with some states telling their citizens to shelter in place, with educational facilities closed, and in other places state governors countermanding mayoral and medical requests to reduce human contact. In the US, the rate of increase is greatest in the world, bearing in mind that the figures are perhaps not all counted the same ways. The pain for some is extreme and it is intensifying.

It seems this situation requires strong leadership, both in tracking the data, and ensuring that help and equipment are available where required.

Then there’s the sad story of Liberty University, reopened by Jerry Falwell Jr, where students were encouraged to return, where several students have symptoms of Covid19, and one has tested positive.

In Hungary Prime Minister Orban has declared he will govern by decree, while in the US and UK governments are contemplating more authoritarian approaches.  I guess one would accept restrictions provided there was a good reason for them, and there was a time limit. In short, limiting democratic freedoms is never a good idea, except in extreme circumstances.

As well as stories about reduction of civil rights, there is a story in the Guardian about Monsanto, who evidently knew they were doing damage to farms.

Other odd facts:

• Placido Domingo is in hospital for Covid19
• The violinist Anne Sophie Mutter has been diagnosed positive
• A temporary hospital is being set up in Central Park in New York
• Some patients are getting worse in hospital, or certainly not improving as quickly as expected
• There may be lasting damage caused to the lungs by Covid19
• The lockdown is not a holiday, it is a medical emergency. People shouldn’t go to parks or put themselves in danger, but rather stay close to home.

What a strange new world and ever-changing world we now inhabit. NZ largely goes unnoticed in the wider scheme of things. Perhaps that’s a good thing. We wouldn’t want to become the bolthole for the world. Stay safe, stay home, and let’s hope the internet and power service is maintained.

Today is Monday, 30 March.  I went to bed alarmed at infection figures coming out of Japan. The morning is cool and overcast to start with, then the sun comes out and it becomes fine and warm.

This morning’s paper is upbeat. There is a note explaining that the newspapers are now thinner, seeing that advertisers have pulled out. Thank goodness for that! There is an article entitled “Good Health Equals Good Economics”. I put a link on the family’s messenger conversation. There is lots of positivity, in spite of the scams about. There seems to be a great common feeling that we are all in this together, with a common purpose, and that the government has our back. It is also absolutely clear now, that one can’t really do anything or go anywhere! So that’s that. Nice and simple.

People are rediscovering the nice aspects of not getting their hair done, not having to dress up, not having to physically interact. While we all miss our family and friends, some tensions have gone away for a time.

I go for a walk to the store with a list of requirements, as advised. I don’t want to hang about today. My main objective is to buy the Listener, which comes out on Mondays.  I do check the weekly specials – there seem to be very few of them.

On the way, I pass a mother and daughter who comment on the lovely teddy bears in a window of most houses.  Then I pass a couple I know and we have a nice chat, while keeping safely physically distant.

At the store, there are lots of people. I think they should reduce the number of customers from 75 to 50 or less. No one seems to be counting. At least they have painted places on the floor to ensure distancing. I am glad to have my gloves, although it is really a bit warm for wearing them.

There is no bread, at least no Vogel’s or Molenberg, and a low-carb loaf of Freya’s bread, which doesn’t cut it for me, so I buy a bag of croissants, which are on special. All the local breads look a bit overcooked.  I also buy soap, not because I need it, but because they have it in store again.  There are almost no coffee beans, so I buy some – coffee is definitely essential. I also buy some soup, which is on special.

When I go through the checkout, my payWave card works!

I walk home and we have croissants for lunch and I can spend much of the afternoon with my new magazine.

We listen to the 1 pm briefing, as usual. NZ has 76 new cases of Covid19 today, bringing the total to 589. Of these, two patients are in Intensive Care. Most of these cases are from travellers from overseas. It’s heartening that no one has died, no one is on a ventilator, and the number of new cases is more than yesterday but less than the day before.

The Prime Minister is interviewed by John Campbell. She values the Press, and also speaks about the need to keep the Leader of the Opposition informed. What a difference in tone from the President of the US, who continually attacks the press, who have, for the most part, treated him very fairly.

In overseas news, Australia seems to be in a muddle. Scotty from marketing was on TV yesterday, encouraging people to get together and talk things through (surely not!) and seeming to encourage domestic violence (although I’m sure he misspoke). He looked a bit tired. NZ was not mentioned. Apparently now they have restricted meetings to two people, maximum. In NZ domestic violence has decreased.

The biggest news of the day comes from the US, where the President has evidently pivoted once more, saying an Easter re-opening was “aspirational”. Some wag wondered Easter of which year?  He has extended social distancing guidelines through to 30 April. Everyone should be relieved about that.

The figures out of the US get more and more alarming – the numbers of cases, and numbers of deaths, and the lack of personal protective equipment. Again, the rate of illness and fatality amongst health workers continues to be alarming. There is a lack of realistic encouraging leadership. The President claims that restricting deaths to 100,000 would be a win! Some win. Who loses here? Dr Fauci predicts between 100,000 and 200,000 deaths from this pandemic. Trump’s relentlessly unrealistic positivity contrasts alarmingly with Jacinda Ardern’s realism, acknowledgment and encouragement. And yet it seems that the sight of body bags in Queens finally got to Trump.

Tonight we watched the movie Contagion. While it has the Hollywood treatment, it seems quite appropriate at this time. We should be relieved that he victims of Covid19 aren’t bleeding, coughing up blood, or vomiting. It’s interesting that while they did some things correctly in trying to contain the virus, they were really slack about others. Ah well, it’s a movie, not real life.

We then watch the Pope’s Urbi et Orbi blessing in an empty St Peter’s Square, with some beautiful singing.

In my bubble I can listen to Bach – piano, organ and choral music. How nice!

Tomorrow I shall (most probably) do this all over again.

Today is Sunday, March 29. I went to sleep with the news that Germany has 6,000 cases of Covid 19. I slept fitfully but we had a Zoom chat with out overseas children and grandchildren. They all look well. Later we had another Zoom chat with a local family. So everyone is well, if incredibly frustrated. However we agreed that saving human lives is the most important objective in all this. At this stage, the thing more terrifying than the lockdown would be lifting the lockdown.

It is cold and wet today, but the store is quite busy. Social distancing is being maintained. There is no Vogel bread apart from a fruit loaf, which I buy. When I check out, I try to use my payWave credit card, but end up having to sign the docket with their pen, exactly what I was hoping to avoid. At least I was wearing gloves.

My son from the UK suggested I apply for online shopping. That is probably a good idea, although I like to see what I’m buying (as most of us do).   After the call, I applied to get the Sunday newspaper delivered, having claimed in the past that it was good exercise for one or both of us to walk up to the store and get it. Having emailed the Dom Post, I was sent an automatic reply advising me how busy they are and they’re unable to respond right away. I have also arranged for the NZ Listener to be delivered.

I read somewhere that while many things have been cancelled, love has not. For Christians, for whom Easter is the most solemn time of the year, and some sacrifice on our part seems fitting. It’s not a “beautiful” time, rather a holy time and a time of remembering and being awed. The Church where I used to sing hymns has put most of their weekly sessions on Zoom. That is awesome.

Another thing: this virus doesn’t follow the rules! It doesn’t have a set timetable. We can’t say that this will be over at a certain date. The “rules” of biology dictate its course and timeline. But with the rate of infections being diagnosed, and then deaths growing so very fast, the planners are being kept very busy trying to keep up. I think the present target is to slow this growth rate, but many are saying it has to get worse before it gets better. In the UK, only 50% of patients in Intensive Care recover.  Someone in the UK thought it would be a win to have only 20,000 deaths. What? That’s a huge tragedy, times 20,000. These people die alone, without their grieving loved ones beside them to hold their hand and say goodbye. They have already had 1,000 deaths there. In Queens, New York, there are reports of people dying in the ED while waiting for a bed.  Many of these American hospitals describe the situation as being in a war zone, and while they may be unused to this, they are surely used to the effects of gun violence. Any human death is a tragedy. And we shouldn’t discount the suffering of those diagnosed with the disease. While some only have mild symptoms, others feel truly terrible; it takes at least two weeks to get over it, and you’re the equivalent of a modern-day leper.

Here in NZ the situation is heartening, in some respects. There are only 63 new cases today, although, sadly, one patient has died. But there are fewer new cases than yesterday. The Prime Minister is both encouraging and realistic. She is praised by a former National Prime Minister, Sir John Key.

Another saying: this horse has bolted. Dr Fauci was quoted as saying the virus is not, as it were, under control.

It seems so ironic that at first we had a handful of cases; increasing restrictions became more and more severe, as we wondered how we could manage without movies, shopping, exercise classes, and the things that made our former lives worth living. I would say at least I can still do x, y and z. Now we are in lock down, and worry about the daily increase in cases, the numbers critically ill or needing ventilators, and the daily deaths. All these numbers seem to be increasing as medical staff struggle to keep up.   We are all suspects.

We look forward to a corner – another corner – being turned. It’s like the olden days, when one got on with one’s embroidery. At least we have the internet to connect us! Tomorrow I’ll go for a walk, and , according to the forecast, it will be warmer here.

Today is Friday, March 27.  It rained overnight, was fine and sunny this morning, and this afternoon is cooler and overcast. Now (4 pm) it is raining again.

Now it is Saturday, March 28.  I didn’t write yesterday. It is really cold today. When I went for a walk I got out my woolly hat, warm jacket, and gloves. I realised, when I went to the local store, that I didn’t need to touch anything, ungloved. That has to be a bonus. I also found that my debit card is not pay-wave,  although JD’s is. That is annoying.

I would really like to have a good donut. I realised today that whatever I want to eat, I will have to make it myself ((or teach JD how to), seeing our local store doesn’t do baking well. It’s probably a good thing that their baking is unappetising.  We have been eating poached eggs on toast, and hard-boiled egg sandwiches (apologies to vegans out there).

I also realised that now I can be an invalid, and there’s no one to take me seriously (or not), now that we are taking this virus seriously. It reminds me of when I was in Kenepuru Hospital, for several weeks towards the end of 2011, being rehabilitated. The hours were long and boring, and the target was to get through them, the boredom being relieved by meals.  In any institution, feeding times become so important.

But I do try to maintain a kind of schedule: reading the paper and books and magazines, listening to podcasts (the sound has become very grainy, as people isolate themselves), showering, checking the news on my phone, taking a daily walk, and watching television in the evenings. I also do some writing! And I try to get at least six hours sleep each night. That is important, and usually achievable.

Then there’s jigsaw puzzles. music, singing, painting, communicating with others – lots to do, really.

For JD it’s ideal, really. He doesn’t have to do anything (except not wake me up at night). He does still shave each day, which I do appreciate. Yesterday he advised me of the mental health support phone number. I suggested that my mental health would be considerably improved by his unloading the dish washer. As I am going to sleep he shares a new piece of information. Last night I heard that Boris Johnson has been diagnosed with the virus. He kept his symptoms, and the fact he was being tested, from the public, but changed course on the UK’s need to shut down. Now, I guess, we know why he pivoted. I feel for his pregnant girlfriend. He’s never shown much consideration for his female partners or his children.

JD is now very nervous about me going shopping. I am desperate to go and interact with another human being! By keeping my gloves on, I think I am limiting my exposure.  The shelves are quite well stocked, all take-out food is individually wrapped, and for two days now the only trumpet ice creams available are vegan and gluten-free.  

The news continues to be bad, although there are some uplifting aspects. Fathers are enjoying spending more time with their teenage children, now that both are forced to stay at home; people are enjoying poetry, and discovering new skills and aspects to their character. We are fighting an invisible enemy, but we are not being bombed or shot at.  Advertisements which look so inappropriate will surely cease soon, seeing one cannot buy or sell property, or buy things online here. “Back to basics” has many advantages.

It also seems to me that this sudden change to our existence, like climate change, must be accepted, and managed. It’s here whether we like it or not, whether we’re ready or not. And surely we can manage without cruises, which seem to have caused so many problems in so many places.

The US has finally passed a two trillion dollar stimulus package. This has various positives and negatives, depending on your point of view. Compromises have been made. The senate, most of them older white men, had to vote in person, those, that is, who weren’t self-isolating after Rand Paul’s testing positive.  3.3 million people have registered as unemployed. There is huge concern about the safety net previously provided by schools, and there is new respect for the work done by teachers.

Some wit noted that this shut down in effect put the US economy in a coma; however it seems there is plenty of different work to do: building field hospitals, building ventilators, finding new ways of making PPE, and shopping for those who cannot get out.  There’s a lot to do. A different kind of economy will be required. The US is number one in the number of confirmed cases today (100,000), a record I presume it did not wish to achieve. The US President has been  calling for a return to work and packed churches at Easter; some ar calling it the (potential) Easter Massacre. Many are warning against it. Governor Cuomo’s update today was truly inspiring. His sense of planning ahead was well supported. His briefing seemed to be carried by all the major networks, although some may not have shown it in full. It’s great to see someone actually taking charge, and planning. 

Some other US states have rapidly growing figures of infected people; if they don’t, they’re probably not doing enough testing. It’s distressing that medical folk seem to be a enormous risk.

It seems that this situation calls for a huge response to minimise cases: at present testing, isolation, and social distancing seem to be really important, along with treating the sick: hospital beds, personal protective equipment, and ventilators are needed, along with hope and compassion.

New Zealand now has 451 cases of Covid 19, including 83 new cases today. Of these, 12 are in hospital, including 2 in Intensive Care, one of them on a ventilator. Everyone here realises the seriousness of this situation. Evidently eight Air NZ staff have tested positive, all of them on international flights.  Hohepa sent another inspiring update this morning.

Last night we chatted with some of our family using Zoom. I now have it installed on my phone, and know how it works. What a wonderful platform! Evidently in Australia the internet is struggling to cope with so much traffic. In Australia, the PM has again refused to pay benefits to New Zealanders. This has long been a source of friction.

Today (Saturday) I would normally read film reviews in the newspaper, and then we would go to the movies. I like the way they say It takes a lot of discussion to make a movie, and one to spoil it. Please save your conversations for later. Usually there’s something worth seeing.

I miss our and my outings. But life is a whole lot simpler now – Eat, Pray, Love – although not like the movie!

Today is Thursday, March 26, day one of a four week lockdown in New Zealand. Already it feels as though we have been in lockdown for some time. I just watched a video on the Guardian website of Jacinda Ardern speaking to the nation, after putting her daughter to bed, ad apologising for not wearing her work clothes. We are so proud of her. It’s good to have a Prime Minister we can be proud of.

Jacinda has won us over by asking each of us to pretend we have covid19, and don’t want to pass it on. Social distancing has really caught on here. We went for a walk this afternoon, and everyone cheerfully gives everyone else a wide berth.

At the supermarket, they’ve separated the entrance and exit, and limited the number of shoppers to 75. Today there is plenty of bread, so I buy some more. There are still plenty of fruits and vegetables, too.

During our walk we note that there are teddy bears in a window of almost every house, so we find some and put them in the office window, too. This is a NZ campaign to inspire children not to be afraid.

I woke during the night dreaming of more dire covid19 situations, but soon I convinced myself it was a bad dream and went back to sleep, after registering JD’s telling me that Prince Charles had tested positive, as had the medical director for the movie Contagion. I hope nothing happens to Prince William.

It is now two full weeks since our youngest son arrived from the UK. Back then, I decided not to go to my usual activities for 14 days. Now, we are in lockdown, and they have all been put on hold. Some activities are now going ahead using Zoom. That will be fun to explore. As yet, I have not been inspired to play and sing, but there is likely to be plenty of time.

Already, I am so over this, and it’s only just formally begun! Talk about stages of grief! Yesterday, I was uplifted, but having gone shopping early (around 10 am) for bread, I was then at a loose end for the rest of the day. Today I am a bit frustrated, especially when others (namely, Australia and the US) do not take this situation seriously. Today the number of diagnosed cases in NZ has shot up to 283, including 78 new cases today.  We have been warned that the number of cases may increase before it dies down. I think most of us are prepared to do whatever it takes, to bring it under control.

Sadly, someone who worked for Hohepa as a contractor, tested positive for Covid19. Presumably this was someone from an agency. This brings the danger very close indeed. We are none of us immune.

There are some big anomalies out there. In Australia, numbers for weddings and baptisms have been greatly reduced, but evidently you can have ten people at a funeral! In NZ, even last week, most funerals were private, family services, with a memorial service to be arranged at a later date, when it would be considered safe to have it.

India has announced a lockdown for three weeks. While this is a very brave move, Prime Minister Modi apparently said If you can’t go back for 21 days, the country will go back 21 years! 

The death toll in Spain is alarming, but in Italy, which has suffered so badly, it is still bad but not growing, suggesting they are over the worst of this viral epidemic.

The UK seems to be policing its lockdown, and furthermore, they’ve developed a faster way of producing ventilators. This sound very ingenious! One is reminded of their “finest hour”, and all that. Many medical people and others have offered to help nurse the sick, as needed. This is encouraging.

They are also developing an antibodies test. The reasoning is that if you produce antibodies to Covid19, you’ve probably had it, or been exposed to it, and are no longer infectious, or likely to contract it.

The US continues to cause enormous concern. The stimulus bill is decried as favouring rich businesses and failing to assist those who desperately need help. The richest, greatest country on earth (to use their phraseology) cannot get it together to provide testing, protective medical equipment, or ventilators. The pro-life party seems to regard many lives as expendable. The President, who claims his country wasn’t made to be shut down, recently declared a national emergency to build a wall to keep people out, stating that America was closed.

On the other hand, there are wonderful stories of American improvisation and desire to help others, in terms of counties providing testing, local authorities issuing stay in place orders, building field hospitals, and medical students graduating early so that they can look after patients in Intensive Care Units. Some State Governors have been inspiring in this situation: Jay Inslee of Washington and Andrew Cuomo of New York come to mind.

Rigorous testing (whether you have symptoms or not) and isolation seem to be key to identifying who has the disease, but this is very unlikely to happen. It is now being recognised in some areas as important.

Here in Wellington it has been a warm, sunny day, although there’s quite a strong northerly wind. It is very quiet. There is little traffic noise. I saw one empty bus go by, although aeroplanes keep flying overhead. Just who has so much essential travel, one wonders?

Tomorrow is Friday. I would maybe catch up with a son and grandson at the new library in Johnsonville; we might have our art group; my cleaner might come. None of that will happen. But I will go for a walk, and write my blog.

Today is Wednesday, March 25, CV1.

NZ is in lockdown, moves into lockdown at midnight tonight, what does lockdown even mean?

Our loved ones travelled safely back to the UK and caught a train to their home city. The trains were running, and busy. They can get food, and fruit and vegetables, delivered. Yet the UK is in lockdown. How does that work?

It’s interesting that the mood here in NZ is one of acceptance, and there is support at all levels (even in the media) for what Jacinda Ardern is doing. We are lucky to have her. She feels our pain, while announcing really tough measures – a severe lockdown for the next four weeks. We are fortunate that the government and banks are being sensible – no one should go hungry here, and there are mortgage holidays and there is relief for some businesses. There are many formerly Airbnb properties available now as rentals. I haven’t gone fully into the details of the relief packages yet. There is widespread support for this move, and a sincere hope that this pain will slow the increase of diagnosed cases of the virus.

In Australia, ScoMo seems running to catch up in emulating her wise move. It’s probably far easier to do it here, in spite of undoubted hardships. The sight of crowds fills me with dread. To quote Dr John, “Two metres distance determines our existence”. Social distancing seems to make a lot more sense now.

I just watched some Australian news briefings. The state of journalism there leaves much to be desired. In my view, they are all over the place with what’s allowed, and what’s not. NZ and its strategies do not get a single mention.

There seems to be wilful denial here. There is a lot of talk about potential economic impact; certainly, that is likely to be severe, but surely life is more important. It would certainly be very inconvenient to lose any of your loved ones, not to be able to be with them in their suffering, and not to be able to go to their funerals. That is the alternative. It’s like climate change, really. Oh, we can’t afford this! Well, it’s her and happening, now, coming ready or not.

This situation we face is very difficult indeed, but we don’t have natural disasters such as earthquakes, flooding or tornadoes, war or radioactive fallout. So things could be far worse. Surely we could all agree that human life is what matters most here. Our lives will surely change – in many ways, for the better.

Hohepa is not going to send our daughter back to Wellington. I have booked to have a flu vaccination on 20 April (they are really busy – that was the soonest appointment), and Access will not send a cleaner for the next four weeks.  That is frustrating – I thought care services were essential services.

There have been random acts of kindness. Public transport is reverting to a Sunday timetable, and all travel is free – you don’t have to use your snapper card. With the buses, you get on and off using the back door, so as not to expose the driver. The library have renewed all items until 4 May, there is no need to return books in the meantime.

The “shoulds” are greatly reduced.

This morning I walked to the local supermarket soon after 10 am, hoping to buy bread (it’s delivered at 10 am). It’s fine and warm outside. On the way, people are avoiding each other, but cheerfully.  At the shopping centre, there are lots of cars in the carpark, and the supermarket is busy. Asian people and checkout operators are wearing masks. There is no crowd control. There is plenty of bread, although only two loaves left of Molenberg toast-sliced bread. I buy one, and some apples, and a muffin for morning tea – probably my riskiest purchase.

Today:

• The Head of Harvard University and his wife have tested positive
• Dr Fauci is back at WH news conferences but not looking happy
• Spanish deaths are up – 514 overnight
• Italian deaths are slightly down
• New York is very badly hit indeed
• The US President wants to get the US economy going again by opening it up, against the advice of most people.
• The Olympics have been postponed.
• WHO has warned that the US may become the centre of the pandemic.
• In NZ, Warehouse stores will close. They are not essential.

Senator Lindsey Graham said something sensible. After all, you can’t work if you’re dead or sick. I doubt it sacrificing the older people is going to do much good either – you’ll end of nursing them, or attending their funerals (as permitted). Then who will mind your children?

In NZ we have an institution called the Correspondence School. In the past, it has been a great backup for times when for various reasons children couldn’t attend school, during the polio epidemic of the early 1950’s, or perhaps certain subjects weren’t offered at certain schools. Far from its providing a sinecure, I have met some of the very dedicated people who seek to inspire students, albeit at a distance. Could this be ramped up again? Now this would be a great activity for retired folk.

I see many countries are looking to retired medical people to return to the heath work force to help out. I see several drawbacks to this. Most of these folk are older, i.e. 70 or more, and haven’t kept up their registrations with annual retraining and exams. It would make more sense to graduate nurses and doctors early. They will be treating Covid19 patients, and will learn a great deal on the job. Any necessary refresher courses can be done after the immediate danger has passed.

We await the 1 pm briefing to learn the latest situation here. There are 50 new cases, bringing the total to 205. The Prime Minister has declared a state of emergency, and warned that the number of diagnosed cases may climb before it declines. I have been trying to sign up to Stuff’s daily newsletter, but they require a strong password, and I have trouble confirming mine. Why, one wonders?  What is there to hide? I already log in to put the paper on hold when we (used to) go away, but that login won’t do.

Tomorrow (Thursday) I would have gone to singing at the Khandallah Town Hall from 11 – 12:30. I enjoyed that, they are a great group, but now the singing is off and the Khandallah Community Centre is closed. Just getting there and back was usually enough for the day. I was on the desk, too, noting payment and attendance, so had an added responsibility.

All my activities are cancelled for now, and one is only allowed to go out for essential shopping and a walk.

I enjoy writing about this situation. Somehow, there is always plenty to say. It certainly helps me, and I hope is useful to others. And it takes up some time!

Today is Tuesday, March 24, CV1. 

The news today is confusing. My youngest son and his wife are still en route to the UK, where a state of lock down awaits them. Perhaps their lockdown is not quite as strict as ours. In NZ lockdown begins officially at midnight, but it feels as though it has started here already.

I just went for a walk to our local supermarket. It is relatively busy; you can’t buy any bread at all, and there is absolutely no crowd control. On the way there I passed several people out for a walk, who all studiously swerved to make way and otherwise ignored me. No “Good afternoon” greetings here, then.

We are all wondering just what are essential services, not necessarily our local newspaper’s interpretation of them.

Hohepa asked if we want to bring our daughter back to Wellington (some families have already uplifted their loved ones, apparently). We said no – her home is in Hawkes Bay, and she’s in a good spot. We are satisfied that Hohepa are taking stringent precautions appropriate to this changing situation. I assume they provide an essential service; the people they support would be living with their families if that were possible and the best outcome for the person concerned. They needed to know pretty well right away, so our decision is that she’s better off there than here in Wellington.

Early this morning I rang the Medical Centre to make a booking for a flu jab. they said no, they couldn’t do it during the lockdown for the next 4 weeks. When I protested, they suggested I ring back after 8:30 am and speak to a nurse. I did so, and spoke to a doctor, but the answer was the same – basically no, not during the lockdown. I am in a supposedly vulnerable group, over 65, and I take daily medication for asthma, so I think I should have the vaccine. I was messaged when it arrived, but I stayed away deliberately because of our visitors from overseas. Using Manage My Health I messaged my GP, making her aware of the situation, and my frustration with it. I am probably overreacting, but this feels a bit like a ventilator-decision moment.

I look up the Stuff website to see that the Warehouse stores consider themselves to be providing essential services!!! This seems ridiculous. The shelves are close together, they’re large but compact stores, and most goods have no doubt been handled often. It’s not like shopping (or window-shopping) at a David Jones store. Postscript: the Prime Minister has indicated the Warehouse may not provide an essential service. I would regard libraries, cinemas and cafes as fare more needful than the Warehouse.

We hang out for the 1 pm daily briefing. Today there are 40 new cases, 6 in hospital, where they are stable, 4 cases not related to travel, and therefore probably contracted via “community” transmission. Thankfully, no one is on a ventilator, no one is in Intensive Care, and no one has died.  More tests are being done, and will be done, and there is not a shortage of masks.

On the other hand, the news from overseas is distressing. The UK is to put a lockdown in place (will it be policed?); the death rate in Italy is 9.25%, and in the US the president is recommending easing the restrictions; US  lawmakers cannot agree on a much-needed stimulus package. Oh, and the stock markets again are in freefall. When will this be over? Nobody knows. Perhaps never.

There is confusion about infection levels. Are people, or things they’ve touched, more infectious? Can the virus live on surfaces for 2-3 days, or 17? How long do airborne droplets survive? Apparently many people are asymptomatic, but test positive. They should then be isolated, but they probably won’t be unless they’re in China or South Korea. And how effective are protective measures like hand sanitisers, face masks, disinfectants, alcohol-based rubs? Everyone recommends handwashing with soap, warm water, and thorough drying. Full marks to the rest rooms that have disposable paper towels.

Odd facts collected today:

• Amy Klobuchar’s husband has tested positive.
• Idris Elba’s wife has tested positive.
• Sadly a New York Times reporter, who worked on the situation in New Rochelle where they had drive-through testing and cleaned everything thoroughly, has tested positive. These folk were really careful, and I enjoyed listening to the podcast they made about this.
• A Victoria University staffer, who came into contact with students and staff, has tested positive.
• The Olympics has not yet been cancelled or postponed.
• Loss of the sense of smell may be an early sign of having Covid19.

It’s important to have some kind of routine, while most of the things one used to do to stay sane and busy (have adventures) are now denied. While there is now no need to dress up or put on makeup, I have decided to use up all the hair product in my bathroom vanity before buying any more. I feel quite good about that.

On Wednesdays I would go to hymn singing at the Presbyterian Church in Khandallah. I really enjoyed this: the church seems to be a busy, community centre, where one feels really welcomed. We would sing, standing, upstairs in the organ loft, to the accompaniment of the rather beautiful organ. This started at 9 am, so it was quite a challenge to get there, given that the traffic at that time is quite heavy. Afterwards, I would have coffee in one of Khandallah’s cafes, and then catch a bus into Wellington.

Starting so early, there was plenty of time. Sometimes I would go to a movie, have a bite to eat, and catch a bus back to the northern suburbs. That way, I saw the Helen Kelly documentary at the Lighthouse Cuba cinema in Wigan Street. What a lovely person she was, and what a sad loss, her early death was.

There are a number of contradictory statements being made as people struggle to adapt to and make sense of this new, ever-changing reality.

“We are all in this together”. Well, we are, in a sense, in that we are all threatened, and the virus doesn’t distinguish its hosts; on the other hand, I am not caring for or teaching young children, or trying to hold on to a job, or desperately short of money, or homeless. If you have more money, it’s not much use to you now, although it may get you faster access to testing, better treatment, and a more comfortable living environment. We are all lonely, and some of us handle that better than others. Money can’t buy one protection.

“We are at war”. In a sense we are, but we can’t see this enemy; at least we aren’t being bombed, or sending our loved ones off to fight, which is a huge relief.

My favourite saying, for now, is “Fear is the enemy of compassion”.

Today is Monday March 23, year one CV (thanks to the bugle podcast).

Early this morning my youngest son and his wife left to fly back to England. It seems they left just in time – to transit through Singapore before such measures are banned from midnight Monday, and on possibly one of the last international flights out of New Zealand. On their return, they will have very limited ability, if any, to move around.

Today in New Zealand we learnt there are new cases of Covid19 taking the total to 102.  Still, this is not exponential, and no one has died here yet. There is, however, some community spread – not all the cases are related to travel from overseas.

I slept poorly last night, and during the night, new realities bore in on me. There is no new “normal” – unless one counts constant change as the new normal.

Yesterday, I learnt that Community Advice Bureaux would no longer give face-to-face advice. No big deal, really.

This morning I discovered that I am to have the flu vaccine in the Johnsonville Community Centre, rather than the Medical Centre, and then wait in my car outside for 20 minutes!  But I don’t drive anymore. Is the Community Centre cleaner than the Medical Centre, given that you aren’t supposed to go there if you have symptoms of Covid 19?

I also learnt that doctors would only do virtual appointments, by phone, skype, or video, so no going to the doctor.

Yesterday (Sunday) NZ was at level 2, apparently. That all changed today.

This morning I learnt that in the Wellington area there are 50 drivers over 70, so they will not be allowed to drive, and some services will be cancelled.

This morning I also learnt that the WHO claims that present measures (stay in place) are not working, whatever that means.

Today, whatever was yesterday/today’s news is out of date.  We are in lock-down. Schools are to close, and only essential services are to remain open. The Khandallah Community Centre is to close. My weekly hymn-singing will no longer take place. All shops, cinemas,  cafes, pubs, restaurants are to close, even takeaways are no longer allowed. Public transport is to close down. One is only allowed out of the house to buy food (where essential), or to go for a walk. A new reality bites.

I walked to the local supermarket this morning. It was quite busy, not crazy though. I bought a baguette (they looked nice), and a couple of pies, the first one best before 3 April. When I got home, I found that the second pie was best before 23 March, so I picked out the receipt, and decided to take it back and exchange it for another one. In the meantime, we were advised about the coming lock down.

We drove to the supermarket again, where, to our surprise, the carpark was almost full. I took the last trolley, and we proceeded into a very busy store, where many shelves were already empty. No crowd control here! We had to queue up for a checkout, the end of the queue being at the entrance to the store! Everyone was very well behaved. Some were wearing masks; another woman yawned without covering her mouth. It was a pretty crazy scene.  We really do have plenty of food, and other supplies. There are still lots of fruit and vegetables available.

Meanwhile, the figures overseas get more dire. Cases of the virus are spreading in prisons, and there seem to be varying responses to treating those who need to be in care, whether they be people with special needs, the elderly, or prisoners. You get the feeling that medical folk are doing an amazing job everywhere, in the most distressing circumstances: treating really sick people, and, in many cases, being unable to get appropriate protective gear. All these wonderful people have their own families and loved ones, too.

I fear for our children going back to the UK, which seems to be following Italy’s example, but expecting a different result.  They got out of NZ just in time, I realise. I hope they get safely home again, although that may take a while.

There is lots of crazy new information.

• Angela Merkel is in self-isolation, after her doctor tested positive for Covid 19.
• Germany has banned gatherings of more than 2 people. Gatherings?
• Harvey Weinstein has tested positive.
• Senator Rand Paul has tested positive.
• Trump has written to North Korea (where there are no reported cases of the virus) offering help.
• Families will not gather for Mother’s Day.
• Trump has made lots of promises but failed to follow through on them.
• More tests are coming available in New Zealand.

Yesterday the prediction was that half of us would get this disease. Now it’s predicted that a far greater percentage will get sick. I’ve given up on these predictions.

Tomorrow is Tuesday, normally a Tai Chi day, and my “big day out”. We would leave home by 9:40 am at the latest to get out to Mana. The class would run from 10 – 11 am, and I would catch the train back to Wellington. Then I would catch a bus into the CBD, have lunch at a café, and do some shopping, usually, before catching a bus back to Johnsonville, and then the shuttle bus to Churton Park. Often I would walk from Willis or Manners Streets back to the Railway  Station, and catch a bus from there. I was always tired, but it would be exhilarating too to survive these adventures, using my Super Gold Card on public transport. I look forward to doing this again.

Today is Sunday, March 22.  There are 14 new confirmed cases of covid19 in NZ today, following 13 new cases yesterday (on Saturday – one was counted twice).  This brings the total to 66. The good news is that no one has died here yet, from Covid 19, and the infection rate is not yet growing exponentially. However I think that when our youngest son arrived from the UK on 12 March, there were only three confirmed cases in NZ. Many thought that we had this thing here in NZ under control. Then we heard about the cruise ships which had stopped here. I, for one would not be sad to see a huge decline in the number of cruises (or tattoo parlours, beauty salons, tanning salons etc).

On Friday evening we spoke to our daughter in Hawkes Bay. Thankfully she sounds well and happy. She is riding her bike a lot. We were going to visit her for Easter, but we received email advice from Hohepa that family visits are not welcome at this time, and that they’re thinking of closing the workshops. They’ve already eliminated the “fun” things they used to do.

But I guess this makes good sense. While we wouldn’t want any of the people Hohepa supports to get sick, we certainly wouldn’t want any of the wonderful people who care for them (or anyone in their families) to get sick either.

I am so grateful that our daughter has moved to the lovely house in Jervoistown (near Taradale), in a semi-rural area, where there are fewer staff and there is more independence.

Thankfully, the Fundraising Dinner and Auction have been postponed.

Yesterday I went to buy bread. The local supermarket was extremely busy. The bread is delivered at 10 am. At 11:20, I bought the second to last loaf of Vogel’s toast bread. The Molenberg was all gone, but I bought a Freya’s sour dough loaf and some ciabatta rolls. The check-out operator wondered if I was buying too much.

Today I went again. Many items are restricted to two per customer. All the Sunday Star Times have been sold, and again there is no Molenberg bread. It is quite busy, and there are many empty shelves.

There are plenty of fruits and vegetables, though. While, sadly, apricots, nectarines and black doris plums have now finished, you can still buy raspberries! And they’re good, often large, and keep quite well. At $4.99 a punnet, I think they’re a great buy. And now beautiful big feijoas are in stock, peaches and plums are still around, and varieties of pears are coming.

Yesterday our youngest son visited with his wife, and brought some lovely goodies for us. All much appreciated.

Back to Covid19. I am not 70 yet, my asthma is under control (at present), so in theory I will be free (from 26 March) to go to the medical centre to have a flu jab, to use public transport, go to the movies, and patronise shops and cafes that are still open. I really appreciate Alfred’s giving me a bottle of hand sanitiser, since I still haven’t found the one I bought some time ago. You haven’t been able to buy hand sanitiser here in Wellington for several weeks now.

This morning I heard (from several sources, including Dr John) that 50% of us are likely to get Covid 19. That is truly alarming.  While one doesn’t wish to panic, or overreact, I think we all should take this seriously.

Yesterday the NZ Government advised that over 70’s should stay home, and there should be only essential domestic travel. Not only should we not drive to Napier, we shouldn’t drive anywhere for a break away. Also, there are four levels of risk, although I couldn’t find out which one we are on. Apparently, we are on level 2, a fact that I found out today. The schools have five levels of risk. Bother those parents who travel overseas, and let their children keep going to school, and go on school trips! One would like to think the schools here are safe.

I confirmed today that the Wellington mayor has deemed that libraries, pools and other council facilities are to close indefinitely. Libraries, again!  We mourned the loss of Wellington Central Library (an earthquake risk), which closed suddenly a year ago. The new library in Johnsonville, Waitohi, recently opened, to huge public appreciation, although I was used to libraries being quiet places, which this one isn’t. Nevertheless, it had an elevator, plenty of comfortable seating, a wonderful children’s area, helpful staff, and I could wait for the #19 bus inside the library, instead of outside in the cold, windy, street. There is no safe access, unfortunately.  One has to use a pedestrian crossing, up the road a bit, in a very windy, busy road. There is no bridge. There is no controlled crossing. And they’re pleased to call this area a “hub”.

I used to request books, which would then turn up in the request section (email notfiication), where I would use one of the self-issue machines to borrow them (these machines are much improved, and the library seems to have cancelled the $1 fee for reserves). Oh, and there’s quite a nice café beside the library, which opens at 7:30 am and stays open till 6 pm on weekdays. The only downside is that the café is really busy, and seating is very close. Clark’s at the old Wellington Central Library had well-spaced tables, making it a good place to meet people, and offering some privacy.

Perhaps the Porirua Library at Pataka will still be open, or the Lower Hutt Memorial Library. Any library is a great place to sit comfortably and read The New Yorker magazine. There are many books to read or reread at home, although I try  to keep up with new ones that interest me.

This morning I found out that Tai Chi classes are cancelled indefinitely. This is so sad. It’s a non-contact activity, so apart from greeting each other and socialising during the break, we are apart from each other. On the other hand, most folk are older, and most have health issues and challenges, so this news is not really surprising.

I am wondering if my weekly hymn singing in Khandallah will continue. I do enjoy this half hour. We sing wonderful old hymns to the organ there (up in the organ loft). Sadly, as many have found, prayer and church-going does not necessarily protect one from catching or passing on infection. It is sad to hear of embracing, shared chalices, and close interactions happening under the supposed cover of religion. After all, if you knew you had cholera, or had been in contact with someone who had, you wouldn’t go to church, would you? It seems to me that the Lord has protected us by the fact that we know Covid19 is extremely infectious. Fortunately one can still pray, and one can still sing, and one can still play the piano.

We are in a new world of pain, and I doubt it’s going to get better any time soon.

It has been good to have contact with close family recently. We are all social animals, for the most part, and while one enjoys one’s company to some extent, it is a great pleasure to interact with others.

I am thankful not to be responsible for young children, and not to be 70. I wonder what news tomorrow will bring?