New Year, Same Old, 16. It Will Take Time

Yesterday, various regions announced curfews that would begin at eight in the evening. But, the central government warned them that the declaration of alarm only considered a maximum curfew from ten in the evening to six in the morning. Many regions are asking to have that changed.

Here, in Galicia, curfew is now at ten, but our regional president has declared that, if necessary, he would advance it to eight or six in the evening. How possible that could be is iffy, because though it would mean having stores close much earlier, there are other workers that end their work day at around seven, such as some construction workers. There are also factories that have three shifts. Those companies, I suppose, would have to give each worker a certificate showing their work hours, in case they are stopped.

Those that can't, because they illegally have their workers doing much longer than eight hour days, will probably cut out the lunch hour, and have their employees work continuously, with a minimum break, until close to curfew. There's more than one way to skin an unlawful cat.

I would have to give up a few hours of class, since my last one ends at eight. It's frustrating, all of this, because, after almost a year, we are all pandemic-weary. I understand that, if we were in a war, we would be going stir-crazy. I can understand the jubilation at the end of the First and Second World Wars. It meant an end to the suspension of normality, the return to a life without restrictions any greater than personal ones. The end of the pandemic will not be so clear-cut. Vaccination has begun, but it is slowing down in Europe because Pfizer has said it can't deliver as many vaccines as it has been delivering, for a period of time, while it rearranges production. So far, in our region, most elderly living in residences have been vaccinated, and now it's the health workers' turn. After that, great dependents and elderly above 65 with health problems who don't live in residences. Only just over one percent of the population has received the first dose of the vaccine. This will go on for a long time.

And we face another year with cultural cancellations. If Sevilla had already cancelled its Holy Week processions, and its Feria de Abril, now Valencia has cancelled its Fallas in March, and the principle towns where Carnival is celebrated in Galicia, Laza, Verín, and Xinzo de Limia, have cancelled the celebrations. So has every other city and town. And, yes, our minds are weary of the grayness of the pandemic, which is why so many celebrate their own private parties, and create super-spreader events. Humans are the same everywhere and in all the ages. Even when the Black Death was roaring through the continent, some partied and lived like they would die the next day. And many did. 

On the good side, contagion in our township is going down. I just wish that were the case everywhere.

Life continues.