The Coronavirus Diaries - Day 2

The Coronavirus Diaries - Day 2 - March 17, 2020

Romania announced 49 new cases today and we end the day with 217 official cases. It's been the largest upsurge so far. Loverboy, the public service retiree with the mistress, is said to be responsible for a total of 52 infections (20+ today, all who work at the hospital) following his romantic getaway in Israel. Needless to say, when he's all better he will be charged with whatever 'endangering public health' translates into. However, I can't help but imagine him laid out in his hospital bed while nurses make a point of telling him just what he's done and what they think of him. "Asa domnule, ati mai infectat cativa astazi, bravo."

There were also reports about an infected patient who took off his mask and spit at nurses and medical staff in a Bucharest hospital. He, too, will be charged when he's all mended - rumors were circulating that it might be the one and same Loverboy, but I'm just not willing to believe that.

In fact, the whole thing might be fake news, and that's another aspect of this entire situation which I find disconcerting; what, and who, are you supposed to believe? Take the above story, for example, which is very similar to a story initially reported five days ago in Italy, where a man waiting to be tested had taken off his mask and spit on nurses. Whether it is true or not, it does sound like clickbait.

My sister, who has just returned from Switzerland, is in legally-imposed quarantine with the kids for the next two weeks. Lucky they have a yard they can use as the weather is supposed to warm up by the end of the week. Although she is supposed to be quarantined, along with whoever she gets in contact with, she was allowed to take a cab home. Other people on her flight were due to travel by bus to Constanta where they won't arrive until tomorrow, early in the morning, and where, after ten hours of travel, rest stops, and a cab home, they begin their own quarantine. Let's just hope they're fine, I guess - which sounds like it's exactly what the authorities are thinking, too.

Which brings me to the emergency measures that the government is supposed to impose. Clearly, they're playing fast and lose with the leeway given to returnees from 'red zones' but, just being realistic here, with the level of organization and coordination required to manage this crisis, it's a wonder anything is happening at all amidst the chaos that is Romanian bureaucracy. And certainly the government cannot be blamed for massive mismanagement when, during checks on people who were supposed to be quarantined at home, 12 - today alone - were not found at their residences, and up to 48 people are under investigation and likely to be charged for breaking quarantine. Another massive case is that of a man who took a flight from Spain -with another 60 people aboard - after testing positive for the virus. With co-citizens like these, why worry about the government?

As for the emergency measures, here are the the latest updates:

- Bars and restaurants to close - drive-through and delivery only (I think there are like two drive-thrus in all of Romania, both at McDonalds)

- Flights to/from Spain are cancelled

- Any crimes committed during this period will carry added charges due to the national emergency

That's it for now, let's see what tomorrow brings. In the meantime....

Comments

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