23 March 2020

Monday · four days before lockdown

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that a national lockdown would be implemented to curb the spread of the coronavirus. It was explained that all South Africans would be required to stay home except for health workers, security services and those involved in the production, distribution and supply of food and other essential services. Individuals would only be allowed to leave their home to seek medical care, buy food or medicine and other essential supplies, or collect social grants. Amazon suspended more than 4 000 sellers because of coronavirus-related price gouging and false claims related to how products could benefit buyers regarding the virus. Cuban authorities announced that Cuban and foreign residents returning to the country would be required to undergo supervised quarantine for two weeks.

I woke up at 2:00 am. I was having corovirus related nightmares. […] I am starting to really think that this is God’s punishment to us. It would not be the first time. I have reached this conclusion because it is only humans that are getting it – then again, babies are not getting it. As ridiculous as it might sound, I have reasoned this to be because they are innocent. This is all in religious terms. There are probably scientific explanations for the virus. Why is this happening, though? Not how it is happening, but why; that is what I want to know, and I believe I can only find the answer religiously.

* * *

My domestic worker came in for the first time since Friday (she usually has the weekend off ). When she arrived, I feared that she may have picked up my flu as she could not stop coughing. I noticed that her cough, unlike my wet one, sounded rather dry – which is a symptom of Covid-19. After a bit of questioning, she explained that she also [had] uncontrolled and unnatural sweating since 21 March. I then said that, due to these strange times, she must not come to work, but will be on paid leave.

Like many South Africans, I have a close relationship with my domestic worker. She has looked after me since I was five and she is a part of my family. Because of this I, perhaps irrationally, decided to give her a lift back to her house, sharing the car with a possible corona victim. I did the best I could to prevent contracting the virus by wearing a face mask and washing myself thoroughly afterwards, yet this might not help. If I do contract the virus, it will be from this day.

* * *

A 21-day lockdown, effective from 26 March, has just been announced and I applaud it. From a political point of view, our president has shown immense leadership skills and has acted remarkably quickly and pro-actively – something which I honestly did not expect from South Africa. I think President Ramaphosa’s leadership has united the nation a little bit; people are feeling more certain now that we have a set plan of action and most of the people I know support the decision. From an economic point of view, I wonder whether stock prices won’t settle a little bit […]. Whilst I know that the economy will surely suffer under a three week closure, I think that consumers are a bit less apprehensive and uncertain about the short term future. However, I think this will still have immense adverse effects on our economy. Businesses are closing and a lot of citizens rely on their businesses or jobs being open to receive income – if businesses cannot pay their employees for these three weeks, living standards could decrease in the short term.

* * *

I’m sitting here trying to fight back the tears, while surrounded by a couple other extremely privileged white people who are going on about how horrible it is that there is to be a nationwide lockdown.

Never have I ever felt the guilt of my privilege like today. How can we complain about the situation that we are in? Do not get me wrong, I am not perfect, and I too have found myself being rather pessimistic at times about this situation, going on about how boring it will be etc. etc., but this has taken me right back to reality. A nationwide lockdown has been announced.

I am extremely lucky. I cannot stress this enough. I will never be able to understand why I was put where I am. I am in such a privileged position and I am aware of it, although it is easy to forget. I have always told myself that I want to use my position to do good, but in situation like this how can we? It seems our only option is to throw money at the problem which I do believe might be productive if given to the right people.

A nationwide lockdown. Who would ever have thought?

My mind cannot come to grips with what is going on: I cannot fathom how we can shut down a whole country that is so dependent on a day-to-day income. Yet I know it is the only thing we can do.

Children are being forced to stay at home with abusive parents, people living on the streets have nowhere to go, people cannot afford to buy food, and thus, if the virus doesn’t take them, starvation could …

* * *

Today the number of confirmed cases increased from 240 to 402 people. I was hanging up washing and I heard what sounded like guys playing rugby. So, I went to check outside and there were about 20 guys playing touch rugby in the park across the road from my house. I was so upset. I can’t believe that people are still not taking this virus seriously! I messaged one of my friends who was amongst the group. He seemed to think I was joking. I don’t understand why people can’t comprehend that it’s not just about themselves when their choices can put others at risk too.

This evening the president addressed the nation once again. It was decided that the country will enter a 21-day lockdown starting on Thursday 26 March at midnight. All citizens will be required to stay at home. Certain stores will still be open for households to get all their essentials in terms of food and medication. The president mentioned that social grants will be paid out earlier. I am worried for poorer households and what this lockdown means for them. After all, some people need their daily wage just to put food on the table.

* * *

I can definitely tell that life in quarantine is starting to affect everyone in my family. It’s just me, my mom and my dad at home, but the fact that they are not able to leave the house to go to work is making them feel restless and ineffective. I am, however, grateful that they are able to continue working from home. I hear so many stories of people sitting at home temporarily without a job or salary. Many companies are going bankrupt and having to lay off their workers. These are often people who cannot afford to be without a salary […]. This morning I went to buy groceries with my mom at the local supermarket and we bumped into a family acquaintance who spoke about how worried she was that the current situation might ruin a family trip to the United States in August. She mentioned all the money she might have wasted on Broadway tickets. What a luxury it must be to have that as one’s worry during a pandemic.

* * *

The day has arrived when our president has announced an official lockdown. I do not know whether to be thankful or disappointed. Reading the news out of China, where they have had their last infested person leave hospital, I am actually excited for South Africa to take responsibility for the virus and to implement this lockdown. The number of infected persons is rising at an exponential rate. My stepdad is a professor at Tygerberg hospital. He told me that they already have an entire hall of patients infected with Covid-19.

* * *

Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation a few hours ago, and amongst other things announced a national lockdown as of midnight on Thursday.

After beginning his speech by praising the nation for their combined efforts to curb the spread of the virus, as well as abiding by the recent regulations imposed by the government, Ramaphosa went on to emphasise the importance of the next few days. He also spoke about dangers the virus might pose to South Africa in particular.

South Africa has the largest HIV epidemic in the world (7.7 million people) and the world’s sixth largest tuberculosis [TB] epidemic, with this disease the leading cause of death in the country.

[…] I agree with the early implementation of a national lockdown, and I do believe the South African government has, as of this moment, handled the situation fairly well. I do fear though that those citizens below the poverty line may resort to desperate measures. I thus call upon the government, as well as other citizens, to assist those in need during this period. If we simply think of others and don’t put ourselves at the centre of the universe, we as a nation can very easily overcome this virus. My fear though is that humanity has become too self-gratified, and that Covid-19 will consequently take many more lives than necessary.

Prove me wrong Homo sapiens!

* * *

This just gets getting more and more surreal. Last week this time I honestly thought we would still possibly be going back to varsity soon after 30 March. Now that that has changed it makes me wonder what kind of space we will be in next week this time.

* * *

Today my father is travelling to Johannesburg for work. He opted to travel with a N99 mask and a pair of latex gloves in order to reduce his vulnerability to the virus. He reported to me that the airports, both OR Thambo and Cape Town International, remain fully functional and relatively busy. However, people are definitely making a conscious effort to reduce the spread of the virus by wearing masks and gloves. He also noted that the airports were being feverishly cleaned and that there was hand santiser everywhere. […] Also regarding Johannesburg, the SADF [South African Defence Force] were spotted in full effect at the Craighall barracks. This development comes after the army was mobilised just days ago.