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It was quiet and eery.
Our family snuck out for a short walk around the block with our dog, Bernie. I’m not sure who needed the walk and fresh air more—Bernie or us.
“I don’t see any police around,” I said to Vincent.
It was 7 p.m. Typically, our town’s streets are full of people walking, running, riding bikes, and following their dogs on a leash. The Spanish love their evening stroll— paseo.
Now, the streets were empty. The parks were barricaded with police tape and locked doors. It felt like a ghost town.
It was quiet and eery.
It was quiet and eery.
A Hush
There was a hush in the city.
On Friday, March 13, 2020, the Spanish government declared a national emergency as the number of Coronavirus cases tripled in a 24-hour period. Schools had already been closed for an entire week in many regions in the country.
On Saturday, March 14,
Non-essential businesses were demanded to close immediately. People were advised to stay indoors and to only leave their homes to purchase food, gas, to go to a hospital or pharmacy, or to go to and from work if they couldn’t work from home.
Enforced Lockdown
Since Monday at 8 a.m., police are patrolling the streets and enforcing the lockdown, imposing major fines for any infraction.
Up to this point, for the past 10 days, we have all been self-isolating for self-protection. However, now, we have reached an entirely different level. We are now being forced to isolate, to quarantine.
Police and military may stop us if we are out of our house walking or driving a car. We have to be prepared and ready to answer questions and to show proof of our comings and goings
This week, I have to drive to the hospital in town to accompany my friend who was just diagnosed with cancer. I will need paperwork showing her hospital testing appointment and the letter stating that I am needed to translate in Arabic for her.
Trapped!
Patrolled, controlled, quarantined.
I feel claustrophobic. I feel trapped.
“I’ve never experienced this before,” Vincent said to me as we were walking on the deserted streets.
“Me neither,” I answered. “This is serious.”
I’m thankful that I have a dog. I read an article about what we can and can’t do during the lockdown.
“But those with dogs are to be allowed to walk them if they maintain basic social distancing rules such as maintaining a safe distance between other dog walkers.”
The Local Es
I think Bernie will get more walks around the block during these next two weeks than in his entire 13 years of life! I won’t be walking him. He will be walking me!
I’m also exercising with Pierre with “Walk at Home” and “Just Dance” videos on YouTube. Last night, I even found myself looking at trampolines, stationary bikes, and treadmills on Amazon. Help!
We are trapped . . . quarantined . . . in lockdown.
Lockdown . . . this is not a movie. This is our new reality.
I feel claustrophobic. I feel trapped.
—THE CULTURAL STORY-WEAVER
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How is the Coronavirus outbreak affecting your life and causing disruption? Are you stuck at home, self-isolated or enforced? How do you feel?
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