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| If cats can socially distance, why can’t humans? Credit: Coleen Joice Aquino |
News blues…
Covid is stressing Western Cape residents and health care workers to their limits. There’s even talk of potentially bringing in the SADF - military - to ensure compliance with basic preventions such as wearing masks, hand sanitizing, and social distancing (4:04 mins) What does it take to make the uncompliant Covid conscious?***
A helpful coronavirus dashboard presents a series of virus-related topics, from health care to available resources ***
Holidays in South Africa are accompanied by the growing tally of deaths on the roads. This year the tally is lower than last year but still outrageously high: 690…and counting. KZN has the highest rate of fatalities. (5:25 mins) Healthy planet, anyone?
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| Credit: Nicholas Georgiadis |
In 2008, workers searching for diamonds off the coast of Namibia found a different kind of treasure: hundreds of gold coins mixed with timber and other debris. They had stumbled upon Bom Jesus, a Portuguese trading vessel lost during a voyage to India in 1533. Among the 40 tons of cargo recovered from the sunken ship were more than 100 elephant tusks.
To date, this neighborhood has been mercifully free of Covid infection. If this neighbor has contracted it, already tight restrictions will tighten and fear and suspicion will increase.
With the emergence of the even more highly infectious Covid variant, I’m more freaked out more than I expected.
I hesitated to bring her to this house as I was stymied by how to, 1) carry her up the 20-plus steps to the dining area, and 2) shoehorn her - and The dog - out of the house to return her to the Care Center afterwards. Calling the cops or ambulance personnel to extract an old lady who refused to depart her own home for a Care Center she “hates” would not align with the spirit of the “festive season.”
Miraculously, we agreed I’d bring her a platter of mince pies – a British colonial “festive season” fruit pastry – and spend time with her at the Care Center.
Then, inspiration! I purchased enough mince pies for the whole of A Wing and, on Christmas Day, we’ll share mince pies and fruit cake with all her fellow A Wing inmates. I’ll also encourage people to approach my mother in friendship as she’s “too shy to reach out directly.”
Lordy, I hope this breaks her stubborn regime of self-imposed, reclusive isolation.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch…
Covid has confined my elderly neighbor to her house for 9 months. I visit her once every 8 to 10 days. Recently, I arranged for our domestic worker to work for once a week for this neighbor. Yesterday, after our domestic worker spent the morning working there, my neighbor notified me that her neighbor, a physically compromised diabetic, was tested for Covid. He expects results of the test later today.To date, this neighborhood has been mercifully free of Covid infection. If this neighbor has contracted it, already tight restrictions will tighten and fear and suspicion will increase.
With the emergence of the even more highly infectious Covid variant, I’m more freaked out more than I expected.
***
I’ve been in South Africa since January 28, 2020. I expected to return to California on May 28, 2020. Then, I planned to return mid-March 2021. Now? Who knows when I’ll return? A notice issued yesterday from the US Embassy:
Location: The Republic of South Africa
Event: A new variant of the COVID-19 virus, known as 501.V2, is driving infection rates in areas of South Africa. This discovery is gaining increased international attention and currently as many as 15 countries have banned flights and travelers who have spent time in The Republic of South Africa in the last 10 days.
Actions to Take:
- Travelers should consult with their airlines to inquire about potential flight cancellations and rerouting
- Check destination and transit countries' rules and regulations regarding traveling from South Africa
- Exercise increased hygiene measures and social distancing in South Africa, especially in areas where COVID case numbers are increasing.
- Visit South Africa's COVID information and resource portal, https://sacoronavirus.co.za, for additional information.
- • Monitor local and international media for continuing developments.
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I’ve been fretting about what my mother would agree to do on Christmas Day. My brother invited her to his house then changed his mind. The gathering planned by his large and exuberant family morphed from “just family” to “just extended family” to “what the hell, everyone is welcome!” Not a safe situation for anyone, never mind a fragile 87-year-old.I hesitated to bring her to this house as I was stymied by how to, 1) carry her up the 20-plus steps to the dining area, and 2) shoehorn her - and The dog - out of the house to return her to the Care Center afterwards. Calling the cops or ambulance personnel to extract an old lady who refused to depart her own home for a Care Center she “hates” would not align with the spirit of the “festive season.”
Miraculously, we agreed I’d bring her a platter of mince pies – a British colonial “festive season” fruit pastry – and spend time with her at the Care Center.
Then, inspiration! I purchased enough mince pies for the whole of A Wing and, on Christmas Day, we’ll share mince pies and fruit cake with all her fellow A Wing inmates. I’ll also encourage people to approach my mother in friendship as she’s “too shy to reach out directly.”
Lordy, I hope this breaks her stubborn regime of self-imposed, reclusive isolation.
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