Sunday, April 5, 2020

4 April 2020 – Lockdown Day 23


       
Fig Tree Walk – 4 April 2019
                        
Friday 3 April
Bright and sunny morning, just what we need to cheer us up

For the past few days we have been greeted with low cloud, grey skies and rain.  So it was a real pleasure to open the curtains and find the sun shining.

The coronavirus stats are published each day, and once again both are rising.   So it was no surprise to hear at lunchtime that the state of emergency in Spain has been extended to 26 April, another two weeks.   I don’t have a problem with this extension.  Given the current rates of infection and deaths I think we are all more than happy to avoid physical contact outside the house.

What does surprise me is that there appears to be no real discussion about not being allowed out of the house to exercise.   I say “appears” because we do not read the Spanish press, nor watch the Spanish TV.   But there is a lot of translated Spanish news on Facebook.   And to date I have never seen anyone even suggest that it might be a good idea to be allowed a short period of outdoor exercise each day.

Even with the generous UK allowance of one hour a day to exercise outdoors, there is quite a lot of discussion about whether folk should be allowed to drive to their favourite area to walk.   So I would imagine that there would be an uproar if all outdoor exercise were banned.

We have always been cat people, rather than dog people.   But now I do envy our dog owning friends who are allowed to take their pets out for a short walk.   It is the only reason, apart from essential food shopping and medical visits, that we are allowed to leave the house.

The prospect of another two weeks, making a total of six weeks so far, confined to the house is pretty daunting.   Let’s hope that at least the weather continues to improve, so we can at least get out on the naya or in the garden.
Pinos Fossil Walk – 4 April 2019

Saturday 4 April
Jan should have done her weekly shop today, but has decided to put it off until Monday, or perhaps Tuesday.   Apparently we have enough food to last until then, and it makes sense to leave it as long as we can.

I think the longer this lockdown goes on, the more you start to accept the restrictions, and become really afraid of mixing with strangers.   This feeling has been made worse by the recent debate on the media about face masks.   Until this week it was generally accepted that they were not necessary for people who were not infected with the virus.   It was said that they were only necessary for someone who might have the virus, to stop them passing it to others.

However all along there has been bitter debate about whether medical staff has the correct PPE (Personal Protection Equipment).  They were complaining that they ONLY has face masks, and in fact needed much more.

In addition it makes sense that wearing a face mask must offer some protection against an air borne virus.   Certainly all of the Far East have been wearing them for many years.   And now it has become policy in America that everyone should wear them.

The problem is that long before the lockdown it was impossible for members of the general public to buy a face mask.    We asked in our Farmacia many weeks ago and were told not only were they out of stock, but we could not even order them.

Apparently a lot of clothing factories throughout Spain are now making face masks instead.  Obviously, and quite rightly, they will go to “front line staff” first.  But it seems likely that they will eventually reach Farmacia, perhaps even the one in Parcent.  

Until then Jan is experimenting with making a face mask, and something will be in place before she next drives into Jalon for her weekly shop.


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