Week 5 since our first case of the Coronavirus was announced, and we’re getting more used to being locked inside our homes. Some people are lucky enough to have a garden to spend time in the sun. The brilliant dry-season weather, with glorious pink and yellow Poui trees blooming everywhere, is mocking us as we are not allowed to go to the beaches or a park or anywhere.
Today the official figures from the daily government briefings are 114 confirmed cases, 8 deaths and several people discharged. Rumours abound about suspected untested cases and even deaths. Lawyers are proving to offer an essential service, as a few patients and quarantined persons are retaining their services to secure their freedom from the state facilities, even when they are still deemed to be infectious. The Minister of Health has announced that they are now doing random surveillance testing through the health clinics, in order to capture any community spread.
Schools are closed, likely until September, though home-schooling is required now that the Easter Holidays are over. This highlighted that many students don’t have access to the Internet. The government ordered all fast food outlets to close, including deliveries, as people were congregating at those sites. Of course, this announcement, at very short notice, caused more panic-buying of the popular take away and street foods. Similarly, there were crowds outside various government offices because of people trying to access food cards and salary relief grants.
How are Trinis to manage without KFC and doubles? The government announced that they will soon be distributing packets of seeds to some households so that people can grow their own food. I’ve only had failure when I tried growing tomatoes in a pot, and my pimento plant is a magnet to some vegan creatures. I have successfully established a herb garden though. Hope I don’t starve.
On the rare occasion that I have to go out for an essential purpose, I don a mask as above. The first time, I put on lipstick out of habit. The government had originally advised us not to wear masks as they gave a false sense of security, and were more needed by health workers. But we are all learning about this pandemic, and now the advice is to always wear a mask as it protects others from your contaminated droplets. I must say that I feel more comfortable going into an establishment if everyone there is wearing a mask. Some supermarkets are not allowing non-mask wearers inside at all.
How do I spend my day? I seem to be as busy as ever. I spend more time communicating with distant friends and relatives, listening to government broadcasts, and cooking all my own food. Technology has been a life-saver as my bridge group and yoga group continue to operate online using the Zoom app. My friends and I are even having virtual limes using WhatsApp video. It’s a chance to put on makeup and a nice top to feel almost normal. I realise that if I don’t wear earrings every now and again, then the holes in my ears will close up!
The Prime Minister has warned that these restrictions could go on for months as the government is taking advice from the experts as to what is best for the population. They have set up an impressive list of professionals from various sectors to come up with a recovery plan. It seems that this group is encouraged to take advantage of the situation and present new and better options for living and working. Life will never be quite the same.
