In case you're reading this from the future and have no idea what I'm writing about (I mean, hopefully that's the case, right?) - I'm referring to COVID-19, a coronavirus first identified in Wuhan this past December that has been spreading rapidly throughout the world. Melbourne had one of the first reported cases outside of China back in January, and even though some locals were panicking about it back then, things kind of tapered off in the news here... until a few weeks ago, it seems.
It's been really strange to be going through a huge crisis at the same time as our American friends and family (and the rest of the planet). Usually something crazy happens there (school shootings, major elections, the Superbowl) or something crazy happens here (bushfires, plebiscites, the Hiddleswift), and it's all overwhelming, but separate. While the coronavirus situations in Australia and America are different, we're still facing the same terrible threat, and similar precautionary measures.
Our personal situation is fine and convenient. We are very grateful to be together as a family, for the privilege of being able to stay home as much as possible, with multiple grocery options within a 5-minute walk from us. We acknowledge that many people are in terrible situations right now, and we're trying to help some of our local friends in need (I can't imagine bringing a baby into this world right now... and yet, a few of my friends will be doing just that within the next few weeks).
At the time of writing this, Melbourne has now closed gyms, pools, libraries and other places of interest (museums, art galleries, etc). Schools will probably follow soon (although it's a topic of debate here, whether or not it might make the problem worse somehow?). Large gatherings of over 500 people are discouraged, and many events have been cancelled.
I am privileged to only fall under the "slightly inconvenienced" category (my only personal cancellations are an upcoming 15k race and a concert in April - and obviously as a "stay at home" parent, I just need to keep... staying at home), but many people are facing larger headaches and heartbreaks - stressful work and alternate childcare arrangements, small businesses closing, canceled family reunions, weddings, expensive travels, conferences, funerals, and so much more. Some of our relatives and friends work in medical fields, and are horribly overwhelmed (to say the least) to be on the front lines of all of this. We were also supposed to meet up with my mom in July for a short visit to Bali, and our tickets were already booked, but that trip will probably be canceled or amended in some form. I'm grateful that we were able to do our big USA trip with baby Logan earlier this year, as that would have been a real bummer of a cancellation.
It's crazy to think that if something terrible were to happen to family in the States (virus-related or not), we probably wouldn't be able to travel there anytime soon (at least, not easily) and vice versa (at the moment all visitors to Australia need to isolate themselves for 14 days). This is something that's been way at the back of my mind ever since we moved here - that if a global crisis ever happened, it would be really hard to be away from our loved ones.
And even though we're taking "precautionary measures", let's not forget that over 7,000 people have already died from this thing. These people are more than figures and numbers, they're like you and me - people just trying to get by. Even if we don't know them personally, even if they live on a different continent or speak a different language or believe in a different religion, even if other horrible things kill more people in total and this is a supposedly low statistic - the coronavirus is already a tragedy.
So, families and friends, and everyone else around the world - please stay healthy, safe, and at home/away from people as much as possible. We love and miss you all.
CK
