Day Thirteen:

Day Thirteen:

I’ve been reading about Covid Conspiracy Theories (well, you have to do something during lockdown).

Some are a little bizarre, to say the least.  

Are we really part of an experiment by aliens?

Douglas Adams first made this point in H2G2, The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1978).

Some believe we’re in the power of multi-nationals whose evil geniuses have planned to take every penny from our pockets and bank accounts. 

If so, they seem to be succeeding beyond their wildest dreams.

One report has it that we’re being ‘softened up’ by enemy powers prior to invasion.

That’s scary but rather more Star Trek than fact....a bit like Trumps' new space logo.

Do the ‘enemy’ intend  invading every country of the world simultaneously whilst we’re still highly infectious?

The Duke of Wellington famously said, "Time spent on reconnaissance is seldom wasted," and normally one would look for a build-up of military and hardware, to indicate an  intention to invade.  

In this case, we’d need to look at a huge increase in the sale of sewing machines as civilians and support staff are pressed into service making billions of face masks for potential invaders.

In the main, cons- piracy  theorist  both expose and allay their own fears as they seek to prove themselves astute and perceptive.  

They aim their peculiar claims at any group they dislike, decry or despise. 

Well, I may as well join the barmy army.  As Corona sweeps the world,  I'll choose something I don't particularly like and blame them for the outbreak.

It's all the fault of fresh coriander leaves.

Day Twelve:

Day Twelve:

And now - the good news.

Yes, in amongst all the bad stuff, there are a few sparkles of joy and hope.
 

• The Oxford Centre for Evidence Based Medicine (CEBM) revised their estimate of Covid-related deaths to 0.1–0.26%. 

They also say that due to an acute lack of testing equipment, it is likely many death currently attributed to C-19, in a ‘better safe than sorry’ statistic, are not related to the virus at all but from pre-existing health issues.  They state that even if the patient has tested positive, it is still not certain the virus itself was the fatal factor.

•  Across the world, researchers have raced to find a vaccine and the University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research,  say they have already identified two already registered mediations which have completely wiped out the virus in test situations.

•  World-wide, people have flocked to give help and support. 

  People have given time, expertise, experience and money. Biologists, statisticians, engineers, civil servants, medics, supermarket staff, logistics managers, manufacturers and the ordinary, good-neighbour have given tirelessly.
The level of unselfishness and altruism has been unsurpassed.

There are still many, many good people out there. 

•  Proving that necessity is still the mother and father of Invention, new ways of working, new research and new pathways for all walks of life will make it much easier to cope with future disasters, as well as normal life.  
• Ordering goods online has increased which in itself will be more convenient for the consumer,  lead to more jobs delivering,  revive the failing postal services and lead to less travel and pollution.

 

•  Young engineers have cobbled together cheap and  effective ventilators from all manner of equipment, including scuba gear.  These designs have been made available free to medical facilities across the globe.

•    Sewing machine in every corner of the world have whirred night and day, turning out millions of masks for at-risk workers and others.  Most of the masks, as well as the time and materials,  have been given free.

In my own area, Haven Falls Community Trust's workers made and distributed, free of charge, 2,300 masks.

Newspapers who have known for decades that humans are more attracted to bad news than good, have nevertheless, featured a Good News Page.

This includes news of the many cities where pollution has dropped due to the stay-at-home policies  keeping vehicles off the streets and canals. 

In Venice the water is clear for the first time in decades.

•  Pollution, which in itself leads to thousands of death each year,  has meant fewer health problems

•  China has now lifted restrictions on movement after ten weeks. Fourteen temporary hospitals in Wuhan have been closed as people recovered and returned home.  Let’s hope this pattern can be repeated  in other countries to.

•  Uber Eats in the USA decided to waive all delivery charges as a way of supporting local restaurants and cafés. 

 Please don’t flock to New Zealand’s UberEats as we are  on complete lockdown in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19.  The service as well as all restaurants and cafes are  closed.

• Several celebrities, Elton John included, have given concerts and readings from their homes in place of the live entertainments their fans would normally enjoy.

Many people have compared the Covid Crisis to war-time.

 We are under seige and the enemy is at the gates but the best of humanity comes out in adversity and what is happening around the world is a wonderful defiance and determination not to be beaten.  

 

Day Eleven:

Day Eleven:

I awoke this morning to a sound I hadn’t heard for a long time: the hum of traffic on the distant motorway.  

The main road near my home is also buzzing with vehicles. 

When I say ‘buzzing’, I mean one every couple of seconds, not the nose to tail convoys usually experienced on the busy West Coast Road.

 Residents and visitors to our small road often sit at the junction, unable to get out and sighing with impatience at the constant stream of cars, trucks, buses and bikes.

The more forceful ones, usually courier drivers in their brightly coloured vans,  edge out inch by inch until an oncoming motorist gets the hint and lets them into the stream.  Otherwise they’d spend precious time-is-money, waiting for what seems like hours.  

So obviously, despite the fact we’re still at Level 4 Lockdown here, many people are on the move.   

Perhaps they’re volunteer workers, stepping in to relieve exhausted medical and support staff?    

Perhaps they’re shoppers, still feeding their addiction for yet more beans, spaghetti and cleaning fluid?

Or maybe just stir-crazy rebels, desperate for pastures new.

Who knows?

I’m still stuck here, a non-driver and dependent upon people who, at the moment, are not allowed to have any contact with me.

This includes my normal home-support workers who, in better times, would be here on Mondays and Fridays to help me buy essential food.

The agency who employs them has decided,  despite the fact I am in the 'elderly and vulnerable' category,  to withold this care, including buying vegetables and essential supplies.  

They know I cannot do this for myself.    I phoned them; they didn't seem to care.

It's fortunate then that for a number of years, I've been a member of a Maori social group and in the Maori world, elders (Kaumatua and Kuia) are regarded with respect - and their wellbeing prioritised.

So while my world,  the world of the Pakeha (non Maori) has decided I am not worth helping,  I will be supported by a Maori organisation who will bring me a box of vegetables, groceries and hygiene products (gloves, anti-bacterial wipes, toilet rolls etc).

God bless them.