Living the Pandemic - Two Months In

Isolation Manor 2 - May 18th, 2020

Total Confirmed Cases = 4,800,000     Total Deaths - 316,500

Deaths per Million Population - USA - 275    Canada - 153

So here we are.  Things started to come apart around March 12th and one month ago, total deaths from the virus were "only" 136,000.

Various countries have started "opening up" parts of the economy.  There have been protests from various factions concerned that their "freedoms" are being infringed upon.  Things have become even more political.  The usual suspects have been pointing the finger of blame at China.  The American government has repeatedly shown stunning incompetence but not enough to dismay ardent supporters.

In Brazil, they apparently have two viruses to fight - the corona virus and the Bolsonaro virus.  In that country, the second health minister has quit and the previous one fired for disagreeing with the President.    Some hospitals in Brazil are near collapse.

The UK continues to lead Europe in cases and deaths.  Sweden, sometimes presented as a role model on how to deal with the pandemic without shutting down the economy, is experiencing a "surprising" number of deaths.  Even the country's chief epidemiologist is  surprised.  Personally, I would not like to find out that my nation's chief epidemiologist was surprised by something like this.

Attitudes on mask-wearing seem to be changing rapidly.  In a matter of a week or so, people have taken to this as an acceptable and desirable course of action.  Everything I've read or heard about mask use would suggest that such a practice can help limit the spread of the virus.  The irony is that only a year or two ago the nation was in the throes of a rather nasty argument over whether a few women should be allowed to wear face coverings in public.  My, how quickly things change.  I wonder if Quebec will re-visit its recently-passed laws on this, especially considering that the province leads the country in COVID-19 cases and deaths.  If there is one good thing about this virus outbreak it might be that we won't have to listen to stupid comments about face coverings for a few years.  Perhaps women wearing a niqab will be seen as just being ahead of their time.

We have seen our grandkids a bit - the boys at a somewhat cautious distance, the girls online.  Pandemic education continues and it appears that will be needed for months.  There will be no regular school until fall and even then it won't likely be full time for everyone.

Stores that have remained open are relatively busy but generally people have been respectful of each other's personal space.  I haven't seen any instances of jackass behaviour.  Even in the parks, people seem to be keeping their distance from others.

I continue to do what I always do - work at home on projects.  The only time I go out is to get food, some supplies and help with fire mitigation work in the woods around the subdivision, and that only with one other fellow.  We keep our distance from each other.

Life goes on.

Isolation Manor Out.