Stay in Place
It seems somewhat surreal this whole ‘Coronavirus thing’. While this isn’t the first of its kind in my lifetime, it certainly seems the most serious. I stress the word seems. The media today is not the media of years past during epidemics/pandemics. It’s everywhere, it’s instant, it’s fake news, it’s hyped, it’s clickbait.
Maybe it’s because I lived through SARS while actually being in China and I feel a personal ‘Been There, Done That’. Maybe it’s the research psychology university degree implanted in my brain. From the beginning of this crisis, I have managed to be rational, taking it all very seriously yet with a rational, educated mindset.
We were in California when this all broke out. My 10yo always concerned niece asked Mark and I in the first days, “So what do you hear about this Coronavirus?”. To be honest, we answered, “We don’t know much yet, Jocelyn, but one thing we know is we will be educated about it and not listen only to the news headlines”. I will always be truthful with my nieces and nephews.
And the truth, to gladly share with you all, as we see it and live it is:
Reported numbers need to be put in context. Don’t look solely at the top line numbers, you need to do the math. Percent-to-Total EVERYTHING and you will get a rational, and real, context.
Look at the processes being deployed surrounding the virus. From the immediate onset, Italy has been tracking down everyone associated with confirmed cases and actively testing them. Unlike the USA for example, they are not waiting for symptoms to arise. Italy is testing anyone that has come in contact with the virus, sick or not, and being transparent with the results. To me this is impressive and respectable. More testing equals more positives, which in turn equals more asymptomatics, more recoveries, and unfortunately more deaths, being reported as Coronavirus instead of mis-labeled as flu.
While the media has been reporting Italy country numbers, the most widely affected area is in the north. There is a great distance to where we are from the major hot spot (Eureka to Los Angeles, Denver to KC, as example). Our exposure is nominal (and most likely far less than in California).
It is still a known fact ‘the flu’ has taken more lives this season in Italy and the USA.
The recent 'Stay in Place' order is just that. It is a stay where you are, don’t travel out of your local region, stay at home as much as possible, stay one meter away from other people while in public. It is not a ‘Lock Down’, it is not a ‘Quarantine’.
Where we live, people are still working (I have construction workers next door banging and chiseling away on the common wall as I type!) , people are still going to the grocery store, restaurants and bars are still open during the day (and for the first time offering Take Out!), children are playing on playgrounds, people are living their lives. And, hey, USA, no one is hoarding!
Stay in place restrictions have worked in China and South Korea effectively halting the virus in its tracks. We are hopeful that come April 3 or soon after, Italy’s collective efforts will have the same results and normalcy can start to creep back. These actions, while devastating as they may seem to the economy, are necessary, welcome and, key word, temporary.
In Italy, there is a strong camaraderie now to make sacrifices for the next few weeks in order to top the bell curve and move the trajectory of the virus down for the benefit of the country’s physical and economic wellbeing for the upcoming tourist season.
Mark is still riding. This is a very important to note because quite honestly, I can’t live with him if he can’t ride his bike. FACT.
Elliot and I still take our daily walks. Although with the cold temps, I am quite confident Elliot would prefer a full quarantine under the bedcovers.
We are glad we left California when we did. We feel safer here.
We are homebodies by nature and happy to stay at home. This isn’t cramping our style in the least.
Our season is on track and we look forward to sharing our Toscana as in years past.
While it is a fluid, day-to-day situation, we remain centered in truths. With every news report, we seek balance in research and authority. It’s a constant validation process. It’s a steady practice of mindfulness. It’s remembering the past and staying positive for the future.
Con calma. Con pazienza. Con prudenza. Con tranquillità.
If we all remain calm, have patience, be prudent, and practice tranquility; together we will help usher in a new post-coronavirus era. May you all remain safe and healthy wherever you are in this small world. Forza!
While we are not professionals or authorities on the current situation, we can share our personal experiences. If you want to learn more from us, please feel free to reach out via email or comment below.
