Lots of my friends have been posting a post similar to
this on their facebook pages, so that it will reappear as a memory in years to
come. To remind us just what our days, routines and life became with this
COVID-19 pandemic.
I thought I would do it here instead.
Life is definitely slower, I have a list of things I am
going to go while I can’t go out and about so much and while I am making
progress there is still a certain amount of procrastination happening. I, like
most of us, am acquiring new IT skills as we all jump on Zoom, House Party,
Messenger, WhatsApp, FaceTime, GoToMeeting (and Skype if we must) to connect
and reconnect with our families, friends, workplaces, classmates and teachers.
Life is very different – more planned. No more
spontaneous trips to the supermarket or the mall. Even here in Australia where
things are slightly more relaxed than in New Zealand. Thankfully everybody
seems to have come to their senses and stopped panic buying at the supermarkets
and pharmacies. There are still some items in short supply but we all seem to
be doing okay. The days of arguments and brawling over essential grocery items
– pretty appalling and embarrassing displays of behaviour – seem to have
passed. Neighbours helping neighbours and communities helping communities where
necessary. No more weekend drives, or day trips to see friends on the other
side of town, interstate or to go to the beach.
The confusing thing about Australia is that although
there are national rules in place for social gatherings and travel there are
differences state by state. We are in our bubble, inside our state bubble,
inside the whole country bubble. In some states that’s it. Just you and your
bubble people. In others you CAN have visitors but only two. How on earth do
you police that ? It should be none, I feel. It also feels a bit like a
competition; state against state – who can do it better ? They all have
different legislation as well. Every press conference is broadcast live;
interrupting normal programming, then played ad nauseam over and over with the
media sensationalising many aspects and twisting the facts (although they say
they are not). It just makes it more confusing – was that rule for NSW or QLD
or was it for everyone ?
When you go to the shops (and here there are more than
just supermarkets open) you have to be sure that you are socially distancing
yourself from others. Four square meters per person, if a retailer can not
ensure this then they must close. There is masking tape on floors, chalk marks
on pavements so that we don’t stand too close to each other as we wait to get
into the supermarket or to collect our takeaway food or coffee.
In Australia, cafes and restaurants are allowed to remain
open only if they can offer their meals and drinks as takeaway only. In New
Zealand there is none of that. In New Zealand Burger King has gone into
receivership. The postal service is still pretty much fully functional in
Australia – it is not in New Zealand (hardly surprising given New Zealand
Post’s business model). Post has never been stopped by war or weather or
pandemic before. It is all well and good to make use of the new technology
available to us to keep in contact with people – but we are not a completely
online, tech savvy population. Grandparents and elderly relatives locked down
in aged care complexes or in their own home don’t all have access to the new
fangled gizmos – and some would have no idea where to start. BUT they all have
a letter box and we are all allowed out for exercise and could deliver direct if
we lived that close – or drop our letters, cards, kid’s art or photos into a
mailbox to be distributed by the postal service. What a way to brighten
someone’s day – what a new skill to master for our tech reliant kids and youth.
In New Zealand everyone who can work from home IS working
from home; every school student is going to school at home. In New Zealand if
you have a job in a non-essential industry and you can’t work from home – you
still have to stay at home. If you are over 70 or you have underlying health
issues a weakened immune system or in an at risk ethnic group you must stay at
home; not even go to the supermarket. In Australia things are more lenient. Schools
are open – but mostly they are there for the children of essential workers to
attend – parents who cannot just stop working, and cannot work from home. Every
other parent has the choice whether to send their kids to school or to keep
them home and essentially home-school them with support from teachers, schools
and education departments. Supermarkets have dedicated shopping hours for the
elderly, those with disabilities and their carers as well as for essential
workers.
Governments across the world have closed their borders.
Only returning citizens and permanent residents are allowed to enter Australia
and New Zealand. Domestic travel has also decreased; in Australia states have
closed their borders to each other. It is mandatory to self isolate for 14 days
after entering the country (and state). Initially this was advised to be at home,
but changes and pressure throughout have meant that now quarantine/self
isolation is taking place in hotels with buses transporting passengers from
airports to hotels where they are locked in, provided food and security guards
ensure nobody can leave freely.
Airlines have stopped flying by up to 90% and because of
the social distancing rules many hospitality businesses have closed down – the
unemployment market is flooded with hospitality and travel industry workers. Virgin
Australia have entered voluntary administration and may not survive. But many
other business around Australia go on, tradespeople, public transport, postal
workers, hairdressers (but not beauticians and nail technicians), garden
centres, banking, council workers…Pubs, clubs, music and sports events and
venues were among the first to be ordered to stop operating since they were
places where large numbers gathered regularly.
Panic buying set in during in the early days; stage 2, 3
and at the start of stage 4 in New Zealand and in Australia before restrictions
began to be put in place. In fact it turned out this was the case all over the
world. We had no toilet paper, no disinfecting supplies, no paper towels no
laundry soap, no hand sanitizer, no flour or yeast. Today, day 91 since WHO
began providing daily updates in developments, there are still shortages of many
of these staple items.
·
There is tape on the floors at food supermarkets,
post offices, on footpaths outside takeaways and cafes to help distance
shoppers 2m (6ft) from each other. Stores can only have a limited number of
people inside stores, therefore line ups outside the store doors. I haven’t
seen this so much in Australia, but it is commonplace in New Zealand to queue
for 40 minutes to an hour to get inside a supermarket to begin to shop.
·
Non-essential stores and businesses, trades
closed.
·
In New Zealand supermarkets, pharmacies, dairies
are the only shops allowed to open
·
Drs and Vets remain open but must phone ahead;
many consultations via phone/skype etc
·
Children's playgrounds, bush trails, water
activities, visits to the beach, swimming pools, gyms are off limits.
·
Entire sports seasons cancelled. Concerts,
tours, festivals, entertainment events - cancelled.
·
Weddings, family celebrations, holiday
gatherings - cancelled. In Australia only 5 people can attend a wedding;
minister/celebrant, the couple and two witnesses.
·
Funerals limited to only those within the
deceased's bubble. In Australia only 10 people including the staff from the
funeral home and venue can attend a funeral.
·
There are no religious services, churches,
mosques, temples are closed.
·
Schools/daycare/universities are all closed. No
gatherings are permitted.
·
Those who are lucky enough to have a job that is
able to be done from home without the need to have physical contact are able to
continue to work.
·
Not allowed to physically able to socialise with
anyone outside of your household bubble. In Australia this rule is different in
every state; in Queensland you can have up to 2 visitors enter your bubble. In
Australia, as well, couples who live apart are able to see each other.
·
Exercise is encouraged , people are allowed
outside for walks/cycling but must stay within their neighbourhood and observe
the 2m rule.
·
An idea to reproduce the children’s story “Going
on a Bear Hunt” gathers momentum worldwide and teddy bears and other soft toys
start appearing at windows and on porches for children to look out for when out
for a walk. Similarly drawing and painting rainbows to be placed in windows, or
drawn on pavements spreads around the globe.
·
Communities gather – in isolation_ on their
balconies, front steps and porches and driveways to sing and play music
together, to clap in a show of thanks for the healthcare workers, some share
drinks (very innovative) and Easter eggs from a distance, others even play
tennis between windows or from one roof to another.
·
Museums, Art Galleries, Gardens and some tourist
attractions offer free virtual tours online. Ballet companies, theatre
productions and musicians entertain us with free streaming performances and
concerts from their living rooms #TogetherAtHome
·
We watch a lot of tv, movies, box set series. We
read. We bake – breaking out skills we didn’t know we had and share recipes on
social media – and post photos of the results. We use our time wisely, to learn
new skills, complete tasks we never have time for and to reconnect with
ourselves while connecting with our friends and families in new ways.
·
Worldwide there are concerns about severe shortages
of masks, gowns, gloves for front-line workers.
·
Around the World there are shortages of
respirators, hospitals, beds, nursing staff and Dr's.
·
Petrol prices have fallen dramatically. In New
Zealand it is as low as $1.83 pre COVID-19 it was normally around $2.20 per
litre. In Australia prices which normally varied between $1.25-$1.69 in a
cyclic market pattern have dropped to as low as 85cents per litre. Prices not
seen for many years – and the irony…nobody can go anywhere to take advantage of
the phenomenon.
·
Many countries, New Zealand and Australia,
included have put in place economic measures to support workers and businesses
who find themselves out of work due to the restrictions or lockdown.
·
Manufacturers and other businesses have morphed
and diversified; distilleries and vineyards are producing hand sanitiser,
others are making PPE, cafes and restaurants have adapted to a takeaway world
(in Australia), others have quickly established an online presence.
·
Some people are wearing PPE in public. In some
countries this practice is mandatory.
·
Our Politicians and Chiefs of Health become
regulars on our tv screens providing daily updates.
·
Roads are quieter, many towns and cities
resemble ghost towns.
·
Pollution levels reduce dramatically – and
quickly – air quality improves at the same time. All around the world. The
waterways of Venice are clear, and filled with sea-life rather than tourists
and boats, the night skies are starrier with less light pollution, the
Himalayas are seen from Northern India for the first time in thirty years.
As of today Monday 20th April 2020 New Zealand
has been in level 4 lockdown for 26 days. Authorities are confident that the
curve has been flattened and announced that in one week on Monday 27th
April at midnight they will return to level 3 and potentially to level 2 after
a fortnight.
This is the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic, which
was declared March 11th, 2020.
It has changed us all, and it has changed what our future
lives will be, day to day.
Life is precious.
We all have a new appreciation for what we have along
with a hope that we will not take the things and the people we dearly love for
granted.
Be thankful. Be grateful. Stay connected. Live slowly. Be
mindful.
Be kind to each other - love one another - support
everyone.
Let’s all hold on to what we have learnt about ourselves
and each other
Let's not put this experience behind us
Let’s talk about it
Let’s fight to keep the connections we have built,
restablished, cherished
Let’s remember
Let’s not go back to our old habits, our rushed
disconnected lives,
Let’s build a future we can be proud of.
