12 April 2020 – Lockdown Day 31

Tarbena Circular – 11 April 2019

Saturday 11 April

Jan went to the Farmacia in Parcent and bought two pairs of face masks.   We were a little disappointed that after paying almost 4 euro each, they turned out to be one time use paper masks.  

Face masks have been impossible to get since the start of the lockdown, and we were warned that when available they carried a high premium.  But it is still disappointing that a Farmacia is hiking prices for such an important item.

Despite this we were relieved to finally get one each.   I doubt if I will use mine, because I do not go outside the house.  But at least Jan will have them when she next goes shopping in Jalon.

This afternoon we heard on the reliable daily podcast that the Spanish government now has sufficient face masks to supply all emergency staff, and will soon make them available to the general public free of charge.   Apparently they have already started delivering them to households at the rate of four per person.

The lockdown is being relaxed to allow non essential workers to return to work from Monday.   And apparently face masks will be issued free at bus and railway stations.   I read this in the UK papers, so it might or might not be true.

In addition the daily stats were good again today, as they have been for a couple of weeks now.  There was a slight increase in infections, but apparently that is because they are testing more each day.

So we are hopeful that we may be allowed to leave the house to exercise at the end of the month, when the next review is due.

Bolulla Castle –11 November 2019

Sunday 12 April

I am sure we are not alone when I confirm that each day is like a roller coaster during this very strange period.  

The past few days have been exciting, waiting to see what the Spanish government would do about the end of the first phase of lockdown.   What they did was extend it for another two weeks.  

Because the daily stats were improving there was a lot of speculation that there might be some relaxing on the restrictions.   There was, but only for some workers.   For the rest of the population no change.

Still not allowed to leave the house except to shop or for medical attention.   Lots of publicity about the number of fines 600 euro fines issued – half a million so far!!   That is a lot of money, and it clearly indicates that the police are taking this lockdown very seriously.   It also ensures that no one is going to leave the house unless in line with the current law.

So today has been a bit of a non event.  

It is Easter Sunday, but it does not feel like it.  In fact it feels exactly the same as each of the previous 31 days since lockdown was imposed.  But in addition we are faced with at least another 14 days of the same. 

Not surprising that it is sometimes a little hard to put a brave face on it all.