Saturday, April 18, 2020

17 April 2020 – Lockdown Day 36


15 April 2019 – Lliber to Senija
                  
Wednesday 15 April
After a week of reasonable weather, the cold and wet kind has returned

Since the start of lockdown we have had three weeks of miserable weather, followed by one reasonable week and now back to the cold and wet.   Central heating back on today, and lit the wood fire tonight.

There have been ten walking days (Monday or Thursday).   Only four of them have been dry enough to walk, we would have cancelled the other six!   It is not unusual to have a couple of wet days in March, but we have never know so many in such a short period.

So even without the lockdown we would all have been talking about this long spell of miserable, wet and cold weather.   But to have that on top of being confined to the house really is rubbing salt in the wound.

Thursday 16 April
There is a lot of speculation about what will happen when the current lockdown comes to an end on 26 April.  

Everyone is agreed that it will continue, but the debate is whether there might be a relaxing of the restrictions.

The Spanish president has said that the want to extend the full restrictions for another two weeks, without any relaxing of the rules

However PP, the main opposition party, want to relax the personal restrictions.   They are asking for families to be able to exercise outside the home, which is allowed throughout Europe.   Only Spain insists on full house arrest except for essential shopping, medical or dog walking.   And it is strictly enforced by the police.   They confirmed earlier in the week that they have issued 600,000 fines since lockdown.

We are trying to be prepared for the worse, but after six weeks it will be a bitter disappointment if the full restrictions go on for another two weeks.

Friday 17 April
We finished five weeks of lockdown today.   It was out last visit to Calpe to do the weekly shop, have a walk along the promenade and a coffee and boccie in our favourite café.   It seems, indeed it was, a different life.

Unfortunately the daily stats have gotten slightly worse every day this week, since Spain relaxed the restrictions and allowed non-essential workers to return to work.  It is too soon to be responsible for the increase in deaths.   But it could well be the cause of the increasing infections.   That might also be because they are apparently doing more tests.  

Whatever the reason the chatter about what will happen when the restrictions are reviewed next week are getting more and more pessimistic.    The chances of relaxing house arrest and adopting something like the UK system seem to be getting less likely day by day.

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