25 March 2020

Wednesday · two days before lockdown

The South African government urged citizens not to panic buy as they rushed to shops to purchase goods amidst fears of possible food shortages. These calls went largely unheeded as South Africans queued outside grocery and liquor stores to stock up. Airlines around the world cut back on flights. Alaska Airlines, for example, reduced their flying schedule by 70%. The US Government called on retired medical military personnel to assist in responding to the medical crisis precipitated by the virus, while New York authorities set up temporary morgues in the city to prepare for coronavirus deaths.

My mind has shut itself off any good thoughts today. I wonder if coronavirus shall decrease the crime rate. Do gangs know about this virus? […] I have been awake since midnight, just staring at the roof and wondering.

I heard that Donald Trump has been giving hydroxychloroquine to the citizens of America. I know it is a cure, but it hits very strongly. My mother told me that they sold it in my country (DRC [Democratic Republic of the Congo]) and then they stopped because it was just too strong. One person apparently died from an overdose.

Unbelievable how someone can die and life still goes on. I heard someone playing music as they drove by … people are still visiting each other. I called my friend and for the first time I allowed myself to talk over the phone.

Even though this whole virus is making me afraid, it is also helping me understand where my interests lie and making me reconsider many things in life.

* * *

This morning my father came into my room. He asked me if I was showing any symptoms. I told him that I felt fine. He then explained that I should get dressed to greet my mother because he must take her to the hospital. He also explained that we will not be allowed to visit her until she has tested negative. I showered, got dressed and went to our kitchen. My brothers also stood there waiting. My father came to us and told us that we must decide for my mother, because she feels that she cannot decide on her own.

The two options were: go to the hospital and get physical support, but not any emotional support or be allowed to see us. The second option was to stay at home, still receive emotional support but without medical monitoring. I immediately told my family that we should not decide for ourselves but rather only take my mother into consideration, but we all knew that already. We called a hospital near us that is prepared for Covid-19 patients. They asked us the following questions: “What is her blood pressure? What is her blood sugar level? What is her blood oxygen level?” We answered all the questions. When they heard what her blood oxygen level was, they told us that she should immediately be hospitalised. Their next question was: “How fast can you get here?” It was decided.

The next moment my mom came out of her room. She was crying. She told us that she loved us. We tried not to cry and answered that we love her and that she would be okay. The worst part was that we could not even give her a hug goodbye. We were not allowed to touch her. After they left, we all just sat and cried – still not allowed to give each other hugs. After 50 minutes my father sent a picture with my mother smiling. He said that the hospital is going to take good care of her. He said that the nurses are friendly and will be able to give her emotional support as well.

* * *

Today I woke up early because my friend and I planned to go get our hair cut in town. […] My barber owns the shop, so out of interest sake I asked him how this coronavirus pandemic would affect him. He told me that he won’t be able to generate income through the barbershop, but will still cut the people’s hair in his community. He also has a ‘side-hustle’ where he creates frames, furniture and other objects out of wood. He has a passion for this, so he won’t get bored. He also mentioned that being a small business owner, he rarely gets a holiday and so he will put this lockdown holiday to good use spending time with his family.

* * *

How many people are actually going to die from the virus? Is it really as bad as we think it is, or are people just overreacting?

I think this is so important to address, because the measures that are being taken are very extreme, and if things are not as bad as they seem to be, we might be putting our economy under a lot of strain for no real reason.

Do the benefits really outweigh the costs right now?

I think that many lives are going to be lost due to the lockdown. People will not be able to provide for their families if they are not working. Poverty is rife in South Africa and most people do not have a vast amount of savings to fall back on. This time is going to be hard for them, and there is a huge possibility that we could lose many people, economically active people, to things such as starvation and malnutrition.

* * *

The minister of health says we are allowed to go for walks but the minister of security is saying otherwise. Personally, I do not often go for walks, but lockdown is making me think that maybe that’s what I have been missing out on my entire life …

I am making a promise now that when the lockdown is lifted and we are free of Covid-19, I will take more walks.

* * *

Tomorrow the lockdown commences, and my family feels well prepared for it. My brother and I will be home and in isolation for the duration of lockdown. However, my parents are not so lucky. My father is obligated to work as his position in provincial government demands it. My mother is a health worker who has been tasked with the important duty of educating and coaching nursing services managers around the city in 60 clinics on the necessary procedures and measures that must be adhered to during the Covid-19 pandemic. Their jobs will keep them from home most days and put them at risk of coming into contact with the virus. They have bought masks and gloves to wear at all times while moving around. My mother should be provided with a mask at work, but masks are slowly dwindling as they have become very popular over the past few weeks. She has now decided to purchase her own reusable masks. My parents have assured us that they will be very careful.

* * *

Today I felt particularly anxious. Perhaps it is because the lockdown starts tomorrow night. […] I know that I have little to complain about: I am staying in a house with family that cares about me. Not all South Africans are this fortunate, especially not during times like these. I saw videos of the army roaming the streets of townships during the day and I could not help but think about similar photographs in 1985 after a state of emergency was announced in South Africa. Currently we are not yet in a state of emergency, only a state of disaster, but I can hardly see the difference.

* * *

Saw many old people out and about today. My one set of grandparents in Johannesburg don’t want to shop online. They are very set in their ways to do their shopping themselves, even though they are vulnerable. My other granny lives with us […] we are scared to infect her, so we have to speak to her and have tea through the security door.

* * *

Every Wednesday my boyfriend and I have date night, but this Wednesday we could not go out, so we decided to have our date night at home. We set a table with candles and my mom made us some spaghetti. My sister was our waiter and kept refilling our glasses. Later, we drove to McDonald’s to get our last McFlurry. It was so romantic; we didn’t even need a fancy restaurant.

* * *

Following the president’s address to the nation two nights ago, we received a communication that Stellenbosch University has had to extend the March recess by another two weeks. […] We are still unsure whether this means that we will resume contact teaching or if university will now operate online.

The thought of online classes is a bit daunting as nobody knows exactly what form they will take. This I suppose will also mean that students would have to work at their own pace and take their studies into their own hands. This could definitely be a struggle. There are usually a lot more distractions at home.