Self-Isolating in the Age of Corona: David Muscio

A malevolent creeping shadow is passing over our world as we await a dip in reported cases of COVID-19. We are to practice social distancing and self-isolation. Social activities have been curtailed and we are urged to stay in our cave. While there I plan to explore fulfilling pastimes and consider what we’ve lost and perhaps what we’ve found. My journal will trace perceptions of the threat and attempts to prevent the encroaching shadow from reaching my toes.

In the interests of a statistical beginning to measure future scale, the status of the virus as experienced by Australians to 6:30am Sunday morning 22^nd March, 2020, is as follows:

1,098 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 224 new cases in the previous 24 hours. 127,000 tests conducted. NSW has 469 of the caseload. To date there have been 7 deaths Australia-wide.

Day 1 Sunday 22^nd March

Armageddon officially arrived today with cancellation of the 2020 AFL season and a total of $189 billion (9.7% of GDP) thrown at the fight by the federal government and the Reserve Bank collectively. No longer referred to as an economic stimulus package but survival for lives and livelihoods. Restrictions mandate personal space while school closures are considered. States are closing borders and partial closure of pubs and bars begins tomorrow, cafes and restaurants offering take-away only.

Over the last week I have scaled back human contact so no gym or Socratic Society meetings. I did get to the chemist for diabetes medication. I visited my daughter with puppy Arya where we could walk on the beach. There was footy to watch on TV, played in front of no crowds, and now extinguished for the year. And the ironing was done.

The discipline has to be maintained and community responsibility accepted. It will be a simple life for an essentially social being. Introverts and nerds should thrive in the digital playground. Nutrition and exercise will be valued, along with reading philosophy and writing biography. I plan to learn more about online tools like Zoom (thanks Lyndal) and develop my WordPress blog Awesomely Astute (thanks Julie). There will also be more training for puppy Arya.

Day 2 Monday 23^rd March

For NSW, 141 new cases in the preceding 24 hours for a total of 704. National cases total now 1,709 (313 new cases). 135,000 tests have been conducted. Queensland today joined WA, SA, NT and Tasmania in closing its borders. The Federal Government yesterday announced shutdowns to be enforced to ensure social distancing is observed, effective today. This will now ensnare pubs and clubs, gyms, casinos and cinemas. Restaurants and cafes are restricted to take-away. Indoor sporting venues are shunned and church congregations become an anachronism. Even beaches are closed after flagrant displays of civil disobedience with regard to social distancing.

Schools will remain open but parents are advised to stay at home with their children, confusing many. School holidays will be not as we remember them. Distance learning will now have its time in the pedagogical sun.

Planning is based on a guesstimate of six months to top the rise and possible 12-18 months for a vaccine. Another $100 billion drop on the share market. Breaking news is suspension of the rugby league season. The Tokyo Olympic Games is postponed. Worldwide numbers are now more than 300,700 confirmed cases and 13,900 deaths.

Democracy is challenged by denying the right of assembly. Today saw the beginning of depression style queues along the streets adjacent to Centrelink offices.

Began the morning with a 50 minute puppy walk. Breakfast of egg and bacon. An uneventful day of home chores and errands. Plans advanced for purchase of new lounge room chairs.

Day 3 Tuesday 24 March

NSW, the premier state, has 149 new cases for a progressive total of 818. The canary in the coal mine is Italy, with 600 deaths overnight but with the rate of new cases declining. The metaphor of all in the same boat breaks down when cruise ships provide the most virulent contagion. Our existential wicked conundrum is how do we cohere emotionally but not spacially, to be together but separate? Thematic sentiment is Bryan Ferry’s “Let’s Stick Together” while reality is Bette Midler’s “From a Distance”.

By early evening we hear the share market has risen from its trough somewhat but alas, another death from a cruise ship passenger, bringing total deaths to 8. Australia’s upward trajectory continues its inexorable climb with no bend foreseen. The national total cases now numbers 2,043 (327 new today). The world has seen in excess of 343,000 cases and over 15,000 deaths.

After a quiet day without incident I was moved to write some alternative lyrics to Bette Midler’s wonderful song “From a Distance” (listen on Youtube):

From a Distance (Alternative Lyrics for the Pandemic)

Day 4 Wednesday 25^th March

Weddings, parties, anything banned. An extended suite of businesses to close to ensure social distancing. The Prime Minister announced last night that the following activities and businesses will not be allowed to continue:

• Amusement parks and arcades
• Indoor and outdoor play centres
• Community and recreation centres, health clubs, fitness centres, yoga, barre, spin facilities, saunas, wellness centres
• Public swimming pools
• Galleries, museums, national institutions, historic sites, libraries, community centres
• Auction houses
• Real estate auctions and open house inspections
• In-store beauty therapy, tanning, waxing, nail salons and tattoo parlours, spa and massage parlours (excluding allied-health-related services, like physiotherapy)
• Food courts within shopping centres will only be able to sell takeaway
• Hairdressers can only have a customer for less than 30 minutes
• Weddings limited to 5 people, funerals a maximum of 10
• No groups of 10 can meet outside together

Each morning brings new statistics. Never before have so many people been interested in epidemiology. NSW recorded 211 new cases, the largest intraday increase so far, for a total of 1,029. Australia now has 2,423 confirmed cases, an increase of 287 since yesterday. They include the first children under 10 years old. Over 169,000 tests have been done in Australia. The world now has 400,000 cases and 18,500 deaths.

Elective surgery has been trimmed. Following the ban on overseas travel, domestic travel is now also curtailed. Virgin has cut its domestic fleet by 90% with 125 aircraft grounded and a loss of 8,000 jobs. Tiger no longer operates, Jetstar may follow. Victoria and ACT have closed their schools. Australians are urged to stay home unless absolutely necessary.

US President Donald Trump’s parallel universe is on a collision course with reality as he commands a virus turnaround by Easter. Other world leaders assume about six months. It is unthinkable that America should be less than great.

It’s like we know our future’s history already as we climb the curve that’s not curving enough. Tomorrow will inevitably bring more reported cases. Today we managed another puppy romp on Coniston beach with our daughter. We enquire after neighbors and phone those we spontaneously think of.

Day 5 Thursday 26^th March

So it goes still. Life as stasis, a screenplay not marked by rythym, not punctuated by people or events. Waiting for an interruption to geometric progression of the corona curve. Waiting, as in Neville Shute’s On The Beach, for an unseen predator to envelope us all. Virtually reaching out to share the experience.

Thirteen deaths to date from 2,799 cases reported in Australia (376 new today, 178,000 tests). NSW has 1,219 of these this morning, a daily rise of 190 which is a falling rate. The world now reports 460,250 cases and 20,857 deaths. ‘Leading’ the way for reported cases is Italy 74,386; US 68,960; Spain 49,515.

A grounding puppy walk, chores, TV news and coffee. A haircut today feels like a naughty indulgence, a little whimsy among social distancing.