It's March 15th and the Covid 19 pandemic is infecting and killing people around the world on a daily basis, with infections really starting to ramp up in the UK. The number of coronavirus cases in the UK rose from 1,140 to 1,372 overnight. However the government has decided that it will only be testing people that are hospitalised now, so it's impossible to know the true numbers.
Within the last two hours Ireland has announced that all pubs in Temple Bar will be closed with immediate effect and they are asking all pubs to follow suit. Rumours abound that the same will happen here come March 23rd.
All plans remain up in the air. I have to go to work tomorrow, but luckily I work in a small office of just 10 people and am keeping my hands thoroughly washed and sanitised. I haven't left the house since Friday when I met a friend on the beach to walk her dog. She was shocked when I said that I wasn't doing hugs. We haven't been shaking hands in the office for over a fortnight. In fact I haven't touched a single person in over two weeks. I must confess that I did stroke some dogs on the beach though! Schoolboy error?
The news is full of people panic buying. I foresaw all of this on the day that Lombardy was suddenly locked down. I went out and calmly bought enough dried foods and loo roll to last me for a possible two weeks of quarantine on February 23rd before most people had even thought about stockpiling. Then I slowly stocked up on wine over the following week. I have a freezer full of food too so I think I'll be fine.
My sister is currently on a guided tour of India. She arrived 5 days before they cancelled all tourist visas. Then visited the Taj Mahal the day before it closed for a month. So she's doing fine so far. I just hope that she'll be able to get home when the tour finishes in a week's time. Lots of flights have been cancelled. Italy went on lockdown first, then the USA announced no foreign flights, Spain has now followed suit and Germany has just announced it is closing it's borders. My friend tells me that loads of British Airways planes have arrived in St. Athans to be stored whilst they are grounded. Her son is currently working towards his pilot's licence. He flew over Southampton yesterday where all the FlyBe planes were parked up (they went into administration a few weeks ago). He asked air traffic control if he could go through their airspace. They said do what you like, there are no restrictions as there's nothing flying in or out.
My Dad has had a nasty cough for over a week. Not Covid 19 but still he has been out to the pub every night this week. In a bid to 'social distance' he and his cronies (all in their 70s) have decided that they will now go to a less busy pub and not sit in the snug. Meanwhile mum has self isolated all week apart from a trip to Sainsbury's, but that's all been kiboshed by Dad's galavanting. He seems to think he's invincible. They are supposed to be coming to visit for a week next Monday, but we'll have to see about that.
Today they announced that there is one confirmed infection in the Vale of Glamorgan. I'm expecting that to increase rapidly in the next few days. Stereophonics had a gig at Motorpoint Arena last night and are having another one tonight. It looked heaving. Why are people being so irresponsible? It beggars belief.
This is one of my favourite images currently circulating on twitter with the hashtag #StayTheFHome.
I'm assuming that every festival is going to be cancelled this year, then if they do go ahead it will be a nice bonus. I missed every festival last year due to my hip replacement so was really looking forward to getting back in a field this year but if lives can be saved I'm happy to postpone everything. I'm supposed to be going to stay with an old school friend in Devon next weekend. She said she's happy for me to visit. I'm also supposed to be having a spa day in a fancy hotel in Braunton the day before. Who knows if that will go ahead now. We just have to take things day by day. I'm expecting a full lock down at some point in the next few weeks.
The government announced that they may ask people over 70 to self-isolate for as long as three months. I really cannot see my Dad doing that. Mum would, but not Dad. He's too stubborn and loves the pub too much. What can you do?? Lock them up?
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