22 March 2020
Sunday · five days before lockdown
The South African National Coronavirus Command Council met to discuss measures to address the coronavirus pandemic. In the Free State, authorities started tracing 480 worshippers from the Divine Restoration Ministry, which had five congregants test positive after a service. Italy recorded 800 new coronavirus-related deaths, with over 5 000 total deaths and more than 60 000 confirmed cases. The Italian government requested support from the United States (US) military stationed in the country in combating the virus. The Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, spoke publicly for the first time of the possibility of postponing the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and the Canadian Olympic Committee called for the Games to be postponed by a year.
I watched church online with my family this morning. After the service we had a family meeting to discuss the virus and what we as a family plan to do to stay safe and adhere to the government’s requests. We came up with various precautions in order to minimise risk of contracting the virus. We decided that if we needed to leave, we have to change clothes immediately when we get back home. We have a spare room near the front on the house so we will change there and leave those clothes there until they’ve been washed so that the germs don’t spread. We also won’t have unnecessary interactions with people outside of our household. There are hand sanitisers at the front door and in the kitchen and each family member also has their own sanitiser.
As we were speaking, I realised how many people don’t have the luxury of taking these precautions. Some households in South Africa consist of one room that is shared by nearly ten people. Throughout this whole ordeal, I’m becoming more and more grateful for things I never really took note of before.
* * *
Today I made the decision to accept our circumstances and accept fully our new reality without trying to question my actions the whole time. […] I also spent some time just mulling [over] how crazy it is that we can relate to people almost all over the world right now. We are literally all in the same situation. Maybe this is all happening because a common threat would unite us globally. Could this be the antidote [to] racism, gender discrimination and xenophobia? Could this make people across the world realise that things we have come to love and value are all so temporary and that relationships with others and how we treat and perceive others are so much more important? I’m so curious to see the world at the end of all this when we start to recover. I would like to think that there will be significant changes in what goes on around the world, for the better.
* * *
Speakeasy informed the public that there would be insane lunch specials coming up during the quarantine. My friend and I went to go check it out today. We asked them why they have these specials on and their response was that they need more business; they used to get double the number of customers before the outbreak. The waiter at Speakeasy told us that the tips she makes contribute to her rent. If she does not get enough tips, she will end up on the street. This is terrifying because it means that South Africa’s poverty could rapidly increase as the coronavirus infects more people.
* * *
I was extremely conflicted this morning. I received an invite to go to Jonkershoek nature reserve with a group of friends. Every day there is increased pressure on social media to self-isolate. There have been a lot of hateful comments directed at people who post things on social media of them doing things outside of their houses. This made me doubt whether I would be doing the right thing in going.
However, the government hasn’t restricted nature reserves or beaches yet. I also have the feeling that restrictions with regard to enjoying public areas are only going to intensify, so I figured that I might as well enjoy these things while I can. In a sense, we were isolated because our group wasn’t near any other people, and we had found a completely deserted and peaceful spot to spend the day. It was such a nice feeling to be in nature and it made me realise [that] we shouldn’t take it for granted.
* * *
So, it is Sunday today, I woke up around 7:00 am. I usually start preparing to go with the family to church in Bothasig, but no gatherings of more than 100 people are permitted. The church and the Bishop of Cape Town have used livestream technology to broadcast their masses, so I just attended an online mass. Pretty weird but cool to see the church adapt in difficult circumstances. […]
I have been hearing a lot of people say “this is the end of the world” or “it is a sign” etc. Uhm, I basically call bullshit and implore people to think rationally. During these times of distress and uncertainty, I think a lot of people [are] leaving themselves vulnerable to fake news, causing unnecessary panic and the spreading of further fake news.
* * *
Socially, having the virus or coming into contact with it almost seems shameful. I can compare it to the ancient responses towards those with leprosy. Organisations have been active in preventing the identities of those with the virus from being disclosed. There is a profound, negative stigma attached to having the virus.
* * *
My usual Sunday routine back in Stellenbosch includes going to church, but that’s not happening at the moment. Instead, church is brought to our homes. This is just one example of how organisations are using technology to their advantage and adapting during this time of crisis. My church is just one of many who are using online streaming to bring their sermons to the people. One should never disregard the effect of religion on the lives of people and the impact that believing in something bigger than yourself – a God in whom you can place your trust – has on your mental health. I see it with my friends and with my family – some are believers and others not. What strikes me is how frantic those are who place their faith in humanity because, let’s be honest, this is quite the battle we are facing and few people are able to see how we are going to get to the other side.
* * *
274 cases. Highly doubt this is accurate, apparently 75% of these declared cases have been privately tested, which means that the government has only tested and declared 70 people. This is ridiculous. Discussions abound on whether or not the disease has made its way to the townships, and what this will mean for the country. Many people in the townships have underlying health problems, are aged, or have weakened immune systems – the spread of the virus in these circumstances could be catastrophic and could result in many deaths.
* * *
It is Sunday now, and although everything is running normally, the rumours about lockdown [are] increasing. My family is practicing social distancing, and so we decided to not go to church. Many of our church members did not attend church due to the spread of the virus.
It was announced this afternoon that the president will be addressing the country this evening. Everyone is expecting a lockdown. The president has been meeting with all the other political leaders and business owners to make this decision.
It is a difficult decision as a lockdown involves the stop of most economic activities. Already the South African government is [in] a lot of debt and there are rumours about Moody’s deciding to downgrade South Africa to “junk” status. A lockdown will affect all businesses, their employees and families. There is much uncertainty about how and if salaries will be paid.
* * *
At first, I was surprised by how little my brother had to say about the Covid-19 pandemic. He was the first to alert me of its spread around the globe. However, once my father, who I have mentioned is quite involved in many decisions made by the government [in] preventing the spread of the virus, and my mother, who has always [been a] keen health enthusiast due to her profession as a nurse, started talking, I realised why my brother was exhausted by the topic. I haven’t been home for long so I don’t share his boredom and was eager to listen to my parent’s thoughts. My mother spoke of washing hands and using sanitiser constantly, always coughing in a tissue then discarding it, changing clothes after being in public and many other tedious but important precautions. My father did not hesitate to give me the scoop on what lay ahead for the nation. He knew that a nationwide lockdown was probably coming.