The Adjusted Normal, 8. Silent Traveler.
As was to be expected, there is a surge in infections in nearby Ribeira and Pobra do Caramiñal. A person who lives in Ribeira returned from Brazil via Lisbon, at the beginning of the month. He was fine, but he infected nine people within his circle, and I think about fifteen others have been put in quarantine, just in case. From what I've read, it's a strange case. Apparently, he had a PCR test when he came and was negative, but when the cases appeared, he got an antibody test, and tested positive for IGg antibodies, which means he passed the infection a good while earlier. None of those infected are seriously ill, so the viral load must have been low.
One person and nine known infected. Yet, the borders to other countries in Europe have been opened yesterday, except for Portugal, which will open July 1st. Some of those countries have high rates of infection still, like the United Kingdom. I can just see the infection rate rise along the Mediterranean.
It's true we can't keep the borders closed forever, and most of those flying in were returning home, but vacationing in a foreign country in these times is for thinking twice. Sleeping outside your home doesn't sound relaxing, at all. I will do a day trip this week, but to the interior, where there are fewer people, and I will try to avoid getting close to anyone, or spending much time inside an establishment. Before all this blew up, I had been thinking about re-visiting Porto or Asturias, only I wasn't sure when to visit either one, if during Easter vacation, or the last week of June. Well, neither. At most, I will stick to small towns and villages with small populations.
The state of alarm is no more, and each region is on its own to track and test people, with the help of the Ministry of Health. There are some regions that do not inspire confidence, such as Madrid, where the elderly residences were rented out or sold to vulture funds that ran them only to make a buck. Thousands of elderly died in apalling conditions, most of them. The regional government denies that they were abandoned or excluded from hospital ICU's, as some claim. Yet, it seems, from witnesses that have appeared, that doctors were ordered not to take those elderly to hospitals. At some residences, it seems that the only ones taken to hospital were those with private insurance. I do not trust the Madrid regional health services to monitor and follow any infected people.
Yet, many national tourists here are people from Madrid who own second homes, or rent out apartments by the week in summer. It seems something called madrileñofobia does exist, as people in other regions of Spain do not want to see anyone from Madrid in their towns. But, then, when this started, Chinese people, some living here for many years, were also targeted with hatred because of the origin of the virus. It's true that the fact that someone is from Madrid does not mean they are infected. But fear is not rational. And the virus hasn't disappeared.
At any rate, I suppose we should still try to be ready for any type of quarantine. At least two weeks worth of food and supplies, just in case. Otherwise, we would have to call someone to do us a favor and go shopping for us. During the lockdown, the township had a special number at Social Services for those who were quarantined to call if they needed supplies. But, now, I suppose we are all on our own.
I just hope we can get through the next months without large outbreaks, and without many more deaths from this plague.
Life continues.
One person and nine known infected. Yet, the borders to other countries in Europe have been opened yesterday, except for Portugal, which will open July 1st. Some of those countries have high rates of infection still, like the United Kingdom. I can just see the infection rate rise along the Mediterranean.
It's true we can't keep the borders closed forever, and most of those flying in were returning home, but vacationing in a foreign country in these times is for thinking twice. Sleeping outside your home doesn't sound relaxing, at all. I will do a day trip this week, but to the interior, where there are fewer people, and I will try to avoid getting close to anyone, or spending much time inside an establishment. Before all this blew up, I had been thinking about re-visiting Porto or Asturias, only I wasn't sure when to visit either one, if during Easter vacation, or the last week of June. Well, neither. At most, I will stick to small towns and villages with small populations.
The state of alarm is no more, and each region is on its own to track and test people, with the help of the Ministry of Health. There are some regions that do not inspire confidence, such as Madrid, where the elderly residences were rented out or sold to vulture funds that ran them only to make a buck. Thousands of elderly died in apalling conditions, most of them. The regional government denies that they were abandoned or excluded from hospital ICU's, as some claim. Yet, it seems, from witnesses that have appeared, that doctors were ordered not to take those elderly to hospitals. At some residences, it seems that the only ones taken to hospital were those with private insurance. I do not trust the Madrid regional health services to monitor and follow any infected people.
Yet, many national tourists here are people from Madrid who own second homes, or rent out apartments by the week in summer. It seems something called madrileñofobia does exist, as people in other regions of Spain do not want to see anyone from Madrid in their towns. But, then, when this started, Chinese people, some living here for many years, were also targeted with hatred because of the origin of the virus. It's true that the fact that someone is from Madrid does not mean they are infected. But fear is not rational. And the virus hasn't disappeared.
At any rate, I suppose we should still try to be ready for any type of quarantine. At least two weeks worth of food and supplies, just in case. Otherwise, we would have to call someone to do us a favor and go shopping for us. During the lockdown, the township had a special number at Social Services for those who were quarantined to call if they needed supplies. But, now, I suppose we are all on our own.
I just hope we can get through the next months without large outbreaks, and without many more deaths from this plague.
Life continues.
Comments
Post a Comment