For many years we have been warned by experts that the world was at risk for a pandemic. A deadly virus was only a plane ride away, they said. Well, now that time has come. Government officials here have said you can only go outside if you have a good reason, such a trip to the grocery store to get food or to the pharmacy to get medicine. No more social gatherings. No more going out to eat or drink.
All the activities I do each week have been cancelled. No more book discussion groups, no more choir rehearsals, no more yoga, no more writer’s groups, no more military history presentations. I love to go out and do things and be with other people. So this is going to be hard. My to-do list has shrunk down to how many books I can read. I am about to start reading Peter the Great: His Life and World by Robert Massie. He won the Pulitzer prize for this 856-page book, so that should take me a while.
I am confused, though, about the details of this state of emergency. Can we take our dog for a walk around the neighborhood or will we get in trouble with the police? What will people who work on a cash-only basis do to survive? For example, all outdoor markets are closed until future notice. So how do people sell their produce then? How do they still make a living? What happens to all the small business owners who must shut down for weeks? What about the waitresses, bartenders, cooks, maids, etc. who must stop working because the restaurant or hotel where they work is closing? So much hardship and uncertainty ahead. Spain is so reliant on tourism to keep its economy going and now people can’t go out and spend money.
I do understand the rationale. We want to flatten the curve of corona virius transmission. The numbers have gone up rapidly in several weeks. One month ago, there were two reported cases in Spain. On March 1, there were 84 cases. One week later, on March 7th, there were 525 cases. As of today, there are 6,391 cases of Covid-19 in Spain, including 196 deaths. So the number of confirmed cases has grown 12 times over what it was a week before! Time for drastic measures such as self-quarantine.
Let’s hope people keep their heads during this pandemic and don’t getting into fist fights over the last roll of toilet paper at the store. I saw on Facebook that there is a new drink called the quarantini. It’s the same as a martini but you drink it at home by yourself! We better just make the best of this national emergency. Keep laughing, keep reading, stay connected to others via social media and help out others who are less fortunate. Do like my husband Rick did on the last day before restaurants and bars closed here until future notice. He gave the local bar owner and the waitress at the local Italian restaurant 20 euros each in addition to paying what we owed. Such a thoughtful and generous soul. I am glad I married him! I just hope we don’t kill each other after being stuck in the house together for the indeterminate length of this national emergency!
US Author Nancy Klein in Spain 
Lovely post. Cheers to your quarantini!
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Great post, Nancy. Just popped over from Darlene’s blog. It’s similar circumstances here, too, I’m in British Columbia, Canada. Our province just announced state of emergency as well. They do it partly because they can get funding from the federal government, plus pass temporary laws that they would not be able to without the state of emergency being claimed. In any case, I hope you are feeling well and I love the idea of a Quarantini…Ha!
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Thanks for reading and you stay safe, Lisa.
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The world seems to be in the same holding pattern. BTW,love your Twitter bio LOL 🙂
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I’m in California (SF Bay) and we are under “shelter in place” orders too. We have a nitwit president and so the real work of containing the virus is on the state and local governments. Luckily California had a surplus to begin with and I live in an area that believes in science. Good luck! Hope all goes well!
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Hello, JT!
Our two sons and their girlfriends also live in the San Francisco Bay area. I am glad you have a shelter in place order. That is very sensible! Now, I don’t need to worry that my loved-ones might get infected by Covid-19.
You are correct that Trump is a nitwit. People will die as a result of his incompetence. Hopefully, he won’t be re-elected.
Stay safe!
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How to avoid infection by a Coronavirus :
This coronavirus has come from the body of the animal to the human body. And all those who have been infected are non–vegetarian people.
https://improvelife.co.in/2020/03/how-to-avoid-infection-by-coronavirus.html
#Corona #CoronaAlert #CoronavirusOutbreak #COVIDー19
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Eating a vegetarian diet is better for the planet too!
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Truth..
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Hi, Nancy and Darlene – I’ve learned a great deal from this post, and from the comments. Thank you for sharing them. I also like the anecdote about Shakespeare. Very Inspiring! Stay safe.
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I came from Darlene’s blog. Good to hear what is happening on the other side of the world. I’m from New Zealand and our lovely leader has put everyone who comes into New Zealand on self isolation for 14 days and God help them if they don’t do it. She has the power to force it. Knowing that we are heading into winter in the next few months (high flu season) we have to act now if we are to get through it and being an isolated island we should be able to slow it down. (So far 8 cases confirmed, no deaths.) All cases here have been from people arriving off planes. Our leader will close down our boarders if it gets worse. (Her words… “We have to go hard and fast now in order to save our people.” No wonder we love her.
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Thanks for letting us know what is happening in New Zealand, Diane. I already knew you had a very competent leader when I read how she handled the problem of gun violence after you had a mass shooting there. Too bad the US couldn’t learn from her decisive leadership and take away people’s semi-automatic weapons to stem the tide of gun violence in the U..S.
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Yes she is very compassionate and although young she is no fool. Pity US didn’t learn from her. (I believe on her trips overseas last year, both the UK people and the Australian people actually asked her to help run their countries – go figure!
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You have an excellent leader, Diane. Stay healthy and safe.
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You to my friend.
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The UK Government is ignoring it. It is something that happens to Johnny Foreigner. It has its BREXIT ostrich head on!
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It seems to be the case. I am surprised at how The Uk government is dealing with this.
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So are most people in the UK!
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Andrew, let’s hope the UK government starts taking it seriously because lives are at stake!
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It does seem as though they might be waking up now!
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I arrived too via Darlene’s blog. I’m sure if the whole world self-isolated for a couple of weeks all at the same time then we’d get it over with. Stay safe…
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I agree.
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That’s a very idea, Stevie! You stay safe, too!
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Darlene led me to your timely post here, Thanks for the info in your corner of the world.
I tweeted this! 🙂
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Thanks for the retweet, Marian!
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So well said. Followed Darlene’s advice to come here. Thank you!
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Thank you for positive feedback, Chris!
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A good, common sense post! I arrived via Darlene’s reblog. Keep safe and well – here in the UK our government has been slow off the mark but I think we’ll be following Spain’s lead shortly.
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Hi Clive. Thanks for your kind remarks. I, too, hope the UK follows Spain’s lead very soon! You keep safe as well!
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Indeed
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I’m pushing locals here in Vermont to buy gift certificates to their favorite restaurants. Then, when this is over, roll them out slowly. Thanks for a useful, informative post on what’s going on in Spain. That is a dramatic increase, for sure. Stay safe; stay healthy; stay home.
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That’s a good idea about the gift certificates, Janet. Thanks for the positive feedback about my post. You stay safe, healthy and home too!
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I will share a Quarantini with you (virtually of course).
We are self isolating as our eldest has come home with a persistent cough. We were due to fly to Istanbul with him on Wednesday!
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I hope your son gets better soon. It’s not a good time to travel but we can all self-medicate with quarantinis!
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Indeed!
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Reblogged this on Darlene Foster's Blog and commented:
I planned on writing a post about what is happening here in our corner of Spain, but my friend wrote one that says it all. So I am sharing it with you as I couldn’t have summarized it better myself. I love how she ends the post as it is so true. We will all need to be very patient as we work together to deal with this situation.
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Told it like it is. Good job. Hubby
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A good read Nancy. Yes I am missing book group already – maybe we should have a video group chat for anyone who is feeling rather isolated at times or just wants to re-connect during this time. We could have our book group next Friday by skype perhaps!! Enjoy Peter the Great. Sue
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Thanks for reading my blog, Sue! Have you read Peter the Great?
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A great post, Nancy. Yes, you can still walk your dog. It is listed as one of the things you can do. I just read this, “Remember that when Shakespeare was forced to quarantine because of the plague, he wrote King Lear!” I’m going to bake some muffins and write another chapter.
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