On the radio we listen to a podcast that looks at statistics that occur in the news. It's usually light-hearted but inevitably with the corona virus all over the news the recent editions have been more sober listening. One edition had a look at the high rates of infection and deaths recorded of BAME people in the UK. Currently the research does not throw out one particular reason - it is most probably a combination of causes. However, there was reference to vitamin D deficiency which is common for people with pigmented skin in the UK. There is no evidence to suggest that vitamin D can help against Covid-19 but it has been identified as a positive factor in helping the immune system fight other respiratory illnesses. So we are determined to keep sunbathing despite the heat.
I started to read an article about the damaging psychological effects that the virus is having on people, but the more I read the more anxious I became and I had to stop.
All has been peaceful in La Paz during the quarantine. There is little traffic on the streets . However, the one sound we do hear clearly from our casita is of sirens. They are not frequent, but they are noticeable. The government's official figures show that Baja California Sur is one of the states with the lowest number of known cases of Covid-19 but at the same time it is in the top states for the highest rate because the population is relatively small. The government publishes a series of charts and graphs each day on their website. I also check the english-speaking Mexico Daily News for a report in english and a local website for news specific to the state. Chatting with Juan, our neighbour, one day he looks cheerful. "The curve is flattening. It's good news." But we've just read that the last three days have had the highest recorded case numbers. Juan has been looking at the government website too. How could we have such differing views of the situation? Sure enough, the government graph shows the curve flattening but the actual table with case numbers over the past three weeks shows a steady increase. After 7 weeks of quarantine the numbers are getting worse.
I am finding that I am more emotional these days. I get irritated more quickly. Raise my voice when a politician annoys me. Sitting listening to a particular piece of music can make me feel joyous. An interview on the radio can bring tears to my eyes. I'm not used to these emotional swings. One day, on a walk to the shops to stretch my legs and just get out for a change of scene, I come across a huge bougainvillea bursting out of the confines of a garden fence and pouring colour onto the street. The flowers are vivid purples and reds. I stop walking just to stare at it, a whole mixture of feelings running through my mind. I think I'm going soft. Gayle just thinks I'm being moody.
In an inspired moment of experimentation we have devised a new cocktail for our daily sun-downer. It has a slice of lemon, 2 parts gin, 1 part iced earl grey tea, and 3 parts Indian Pale Ale. We have named it a 'Downton'.
A large queue outside the local supermarket. No 'sana distancia' (health distancing). Half of the people are not wearing face-masks (the city rules are currently stating that masks should be worn for all public activity, even driving your car). The supermarkets have a limit to the number of customers allowed in at one time. I decide not to wait and walk on to another supermarket. Here there is also a queue. The security guard is getting people to distance properly, but still half the folk are not wearing face masks. Why is there a queue? I ask the man in front of me. Hay cerveza, he tells me. I raise my eyebrows. Do I stand in the queue and risk it for beer? I look at three or four customers just yapping away to each other, unmasked. I feel edgy. I walk off.
Today the government announces the end of the national quarantine. Confusingly the health emergency is not over. Restrictions will be enforced by each state, based on a traffic-light system based on health criteria. A red light means maximum restrictions, orange allows for businesses and factories to re-open, then there is yellow and ultimately green. The health minister displays a map of the country which shows every state, bar one, is red. Jalisco is orange. So that probably means they can start making tequila. For everyone else it's more of the same.......
 |
| Mexicans have another ready source of vitamin D, sold in 1 litre tubs. |
All has been peaceful in La Paz during the quarantine. There is little traffic on the streets . However, the one sound we do hear clearly from our casita is of sirens. They are not frequent, but they are noticeable. The government's official figures show that Baja California Sur is one of the states with the lowest number of known cases of Covid-19 but at the same time it is in the top states for the highest rate because the population is relatively small. The government publishes a series of charts and graphs each day on their website. I also check the english-speaking Mexico Daily News for a report in english and a local website for news specific to the state. Chatting with Juan, our neighbour, one day he looks cheerful. "The curve is flattening. It's good news." But we've just read that the last three days have had the highest recorded case numbers. Juan has been looking at the government website too. How could we have such differing views of the situation? Sure enough, the government graph shows the curve flattening but the actual table with case numbers over the past three weeks shows a steady increase. After 7 weeks of quarantine the numbers are getting worse.
 |
| John and Juan discuss lies, damned lies and statistics |
 |
| located opposite a school |
In an inspired moment of experimentation we have devised a new cocktail for our daily sun-downer. It has a slice of lemon, 2 parts gin, 1 part iced earl grey tea, and 3 parts Indian Pale Ale. We have named it a 'Downton'.
A large queue outside the local supermarket. No 'sana distancia' (health distancing). Half of the people are not wearing face-masks (the city rules are currently stating that masks should be worn for all public activity, even driving your car). The supermarkets have a limit to the number of customers allowed in at one time. I decide not to wait and walk on to another supermarket. Here there is also a queue. The security guard is getting people to distance properly, but still half the folk are not wearing face masks. Why is there a queue? I ask the man in front of me. Hay cerveza, he tells me. I raise my eyebrows. Do I stand in the queue and risk it for beer? I look at three or four customers just yapping away to each other, unmasked. I feel edgy. I walk off.
Today the government announces the end of the national quarantine. Confusingly the health emergency is not over. Restrictions will be enforced by each state, based on a traffic-light system based on health criteria. A red light means maximum restrictions, orange allows for businesses and factories to re-open, then there is yellow and ultimately green. The health minister displays a map of the country which shows every state, bar one, is red. Jalisco is orange. So that probably means they can start making tequila. For everyone else it's more of the same.......
