Stuck

So, when you first heard about this flu-like virus that reared its ugly head in China, what did you think? Did you think the world had gone mad or did you think the world had come to an end? To be honest, I was very much in the first camp. Closing off an entire city? Stopping people from leaving their homes? Canceling all travel to and from? It was a flu!

Until it traveled a bit further afield. An infection in Iran, Germany, Italy, Spain. It was coming closer. They closed off parts of Italy and then the whole country seemed to come to a standstill. And I still felt it was a bit much. It was a flu!

The first region in the Netherlands was quite severely hit. Apparently carnaval and people from all over will do that. Also quite a lot of people had spent their winter holidays in the north of Italy and came back with the virus. Worries started to appear in the Netherlands. Hospitals were shut, people were urged to stay at home with the slightest symptoms. It was a flu!

Then the virus started spreading. Other regions had to deal with it as well, albeit not as badly as the first region. Folk started bulk buying food and toilet paper. Theaters were closed, sports games were canceled. And as of yesterday: all restaurants, hotels, cafés and the like will be closed until April 6th. Schools will be closed until April 6th. People are told to work from home. Keep their children home as well. For a flu!

Yesterday it was quiet in our little street. Normally you would see children playing outside, as the weather was fine, but not so yesterday. Eerily quiet. Well, apart from next door, where the Dalton brothers were wreaking havoc (there are 3 and a baby). My parents didn't have to go to church (closed), there is no sports on television (canceled) and the only news we got was Corona Corona Corona. A flu!

Now, I say it's a flu and of course that is only partly right. It has flu-like symptoms, but can develop some severe breathing trouble that will make it necessary for people to be admitted to hospital and even intensive care. Most people who die of it, are elderly or have pre-existing conditions that makes them more vulnerable. They would be on the front line with a regular flu as well. 

The question for me is of course: do I still think it's a bit over the top? In a way I do. But mainly because the media is blowing it up out of all proportions. Last night the news had two items: Corona and the weather! As if nothing else is happening in the world!! 

But, and this is a massive but that should be capitalised really: BUT: this virus shows us how a virus moves in today's conditions. With all of our traveling (I include myself) and all of our 'we own the world' stuff, we have made ourselves more vulnerable as well. Because, right now it's a flu-like virus. What if the next one is more serious, more deadly? 

There are some positives to note after all this though. How long they will last is anybody's guess and knowing people and the learning from history bit, it won't last very long. All those factories just standing there, all those tourists not traveling, all those far-away products that can now not be bought, all those places that can not be visited: nature and the environment thank us! 

For the coming three weeks however, my parents and I will stick to the house mainly. Finding things to do as there is no work, no church, no choir, no jeu de boules, no lace making club, no social gatherings. Three weeks. I might have to get my dvd's out of storage!