At the start of the day, things are still feeling deceptively normal. Yes, I have read more and more concerning news of COVID-19 world wide, I have experienced the empty supermarket shelves, I have started to feel the need for closer and more regular links with my close friends and family. And now, I am in isolation, on account of a simple cough.
Whilst I am quite capable of working myself into a stew, life's experiences have taught me that worrying achieves nothing. And that I do have a degree of control over how much I let things take over my thoughts.
So I settle down to work on my laptop. I don't usually work from home, but it is not unprecedented, nothing feels too strange about that.
But as a two hour team meeting over a web cam link concludes, it hits. The whole direction of my efforts at work will change for the foreseeable future. My priorities are different. And for now, everything is COVID-19 related. There is to be no escape from the sea of hype and hysteria that envelopes me on social media.
By evening, I listen in to the Prime Minister's briefing. Everything changes again. I let my husband know that on account of my minor cough, he too has to be isolated. And it is not 7 days, but 14 days. Our fathers, who live alone in their late 80s are now to stay at home - we can not visit them - and their grasp of technology will leave them wanting.
Everything starts to feel uncomfortable, but still this crisis feels like a book script. The virus is not yet real in our lives - only the consequences of it. We spend the evening unpicking our social engagements and other commitments for the next fortnight.
You surely would not have to isolate unless you had contact with another coronavirus victim? They won't test anybody here unless all the facts are there!
This is a midnight madness picture - all the more fun!
@maggiemae on Sunday, it was announced by our government that anyone with a new persistent cough, or a temperature must isolate. I have a new cough. We will not be tested unless symptoms get really bad . So most of us will never know whether we had it or not.
The photo perfectly illustrates what many of us are feeling. It is still so unreal, yet reality is staring us in the face. I hope your cough is just a cough and I hope your fathers will be the recipients of the kindness of others that we are fortunately hearing about.
Your picture is so appropriate to some of the feelings at some time of the day and it’s a beautiful picture. Some other times, however I tend to see life in colors and, I have just noticed, it reflects in my photos. It will happen to you too. And from what you say it will be only a 14-day long lockdown. Here we don’t know when it will end. I hope it will last as long as possible, as the Chinese did in Wuhan, to obtain good results
But in the end, as you say
Very scary image, I am guessing that most of us will have to self isolate sooner or later. My daughter who lives in London called in a panic wanting to come home, which is not that easy now, anyone coming in has too self isolate for two weeks. If she did get home it could be six months before she is allowed to go back and that messes up her idea for citizenship. She decided to stay and will spend some time up North with her friends family, as all her room mates are going home as they are all working from home at the moment. She is not alone and has a lot of people who care about her but I really would like her home right now.
The image is spot on emotionally. I feel for you and wish the best for you and your family. I am probably near the age of your Fathers and we are in a vulnerable group, especially if we have pre-existing health issues.
It is good that we don’t have to isolate ourselves from our 365 friends.
Stay strong and safe.
I’m so sorry, Helen. Disorientation, is what we are experiencing these days. Italy is in total confusion. We are not in isolation, but however forced home. It is difficult. Be well, 14 days will be over soon.
Love your shot, matches your narrative. Doesn't seem real here either. I'm glued to the news channel and it's like watching a very slow moving film evolve, the ending unknown.
sort of like the chaos i picture in my head. aces! here, you need to be tested, and have to have all the symptoms. when i was sick last month, i asked the doctor if i should be tested for covid-19 and she said that i need to have all the symptoms.
for your cough, boil some ginger and drink it with a little bit of honey. how i got rid of my cough fast was i gargled with warm water and salt -- disgusting but it worked.
March 23rd, 2020
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This is a midnight madness picture - all the more fun!
But in the end, as you say
No one knows what lies ahead
It is good that we don’t have to isolate ourselves from our 365 friends.
Stay strong and safe.
for your cough, boil some ginger and drink it with a little bit of honey. how i got rid of my cough fast was i gargled with warm water and salt -- disgusting but it worked.