Riz, thought of one other thing if friends could face the drive - are there keys to your car at home, have you left a home key with anyone? Because if they'd drive over in 2 cars, leave yours in airport parking and the keys at the information counter (and text you the parking bay number) you could collect the keys and drive yourself home. No health risk to anyone and I imagine you'd be happy to pay their petrol. I did collect my car once that way.
My neighbours have a key to my house, and I to theirs, but I do know that's the exception rather than the rule so the suggestion could be utterly useless.
Good news GS I also have an elderly dog and worry about her - the short walks required by the lockdown suit her fairly well although I'm taking her out more often (to avoid stircrazy) and she gets a little weary about it.
Riz once you are safely back dragging your suitcase for a day or two for that last final walk home - or leaving it at the airport until you can get your car and go back for it?
BTW buses are still running here. You have to be at least a metre from the driver (ie buy your ticket from a machine not from the driver) but that implies that while airports are open at all, airport shuttles might run still, if that helps at all.
That's the second one I've heard of that may prove helpful - another was a drug where development stopped because it wasn't achieving its original purpose. At least the scientists have a scarily large test pool of patients with nothing left to lose
One of my gloomier FB contacts reminds us the virus leaves lasting lung damage, as does the use of ventilators so the sooner a treatment can be found, even with side-effects, the better.
OMG Riz what a terrifying situation to be in - I read somewhere that when Poland closed all airports at fairly short notice people were having to cram into cars to drive out. Not sure how helpful your travel insurance is being, either, I in theory have an all-bells-and-whistles package which I keep topped up year after year in case I have to do an emergency dash for family reasons back to the UK - I had a look through it last night and there is a degree of ambiguous wording ...
I'm guessing you're on semi-permanent standby at the airport and have contacted your embassy, they can't just abandon you to be stranded and homeless - can they? All hotels are closing in Spain on 24th and I assume the Spanish authorities are straining every sinew to expel every tourist safely to another destination, not have them clogging up the health system here.
Almost afraid to mention this in case more foul their pants in panic but I noticed Italy now has 35713 cases. At this rate they could soar any day now to .1% (not 1%, point one percent) of population. WTF? China has 81139 cases which doesn't even register as a percentage on 1.386 billion citizens.
Time for us all to rush to Russia which has only 147 cases and I'm sure would welcome millions of asylum seekers under the unprecedented circumstances
Riz - I suspect it is only you and I looking behind the frenzy to see what items might be on the agenda
Social media been a nuisance? The gutter press being a pain in the proverbial? Could be sorted.
Illegal immigrants who will have to either register for treatment or take their chances in this inflated panic? Could be sorted
And now I am really going to sound paranoid, brace yourself - governments supporting more elderly and frail than in all recorded history, now making a huge display of doing everything possible to protect them so that nobody will ever be able to say they did nothing to stop the virus cutting a swathe through some very expensive dependents ...
Ok I will go lock myself up. Sheesh. Brain must be boiling.
I am genuinely impressed to have got so many comments on a contentious viewpoint especially from the pro-panic brigade - the anti-panic brigade don't like the idea of opting out so are giving me a clear berth even though we share some points of view
Z, my point is that the panic and furore was deliberate and the backlash will not only be deliberate too, it will even be seen as a relief to most. And that's really pretty clever - can you imagine the uproar if the powers that be had tried to shut down 'freedom of the press' and 'the voices of the people' under any other circumstances?
Jac, I wasn't clear - I meant more that when older relatives are living as part of the family, the whole family is aware that if member of the family brings the virus home the risk is higher. My great-niece in England has a mild attack and the family are self-isolating but not in panic. If my sister was living with them instead of a safe 100 miles away, there would be extreme anxiety.
I'm completely aware that in the long term most of us will be exposed to it, but this has always been, and always will be, the case when a viral infection is roaring around the place. I'm completely aware, too, that the dice on this particular virus is quite loaded against some more than others.
Where I have a breakdown in understanding is why, when historically risk has been downplayed and keeping calm and sensible has been urged by the powers that be, this particular virus is being manipulated into a full-blown panic.
I think we are only seeing the start of controls and that with every week and month that it lasts, we will be more stampeded into giving up freedoms and rights we will never fully regain. If Ireland and most other countries continue to encourage self-isolation and sensible attitudes, that will be absolutely great and I will be wrong and glad to be. If more countries bring in what is effectively martial law - scary.
I agree with Riz, though. Ï also think social media has become such a thorn in global government's side that this will be shortly used as an excuse to shut it down along with the more hysterical vocal media sources to, ironically, contain panic.
Jac, whatever arrangement that person had in place will presumably continue. If it does extend indefinitely situations will of course change and people who are fine now could need more help in future. It will be sorted. One incredibly admirable thing about the Spanish is their strong commitment to family - after care in hospitals is pretty much left to family because that's the way they want it, and old age homes are very rare because it would be unthinkable to put your elderly relative in one. It's one reason perhaps that the restrictions are so draconian, because we'd all agree the elderly are very definitely very much at risk and that puts the entire family at risk, since they will all be involved.
Who'll volunteer to talk me down from the rafters once I'm gibbering up there after extended weeks in near total isolation, though?
Art, of course she's worried, you're still honeymooners! Couple more years and you'll be 'honey, do I look okay to you? I feel a bit ill today,' and she'll be telling you to get her a cup of tea before she'll answer?
Jac, the only exception to no visiting is at least here one can get permission to help an elderly person unable to dress or cook for themselves. It will likely be best to carry a confirmatory letter from the doctor.
We were self-isolating up to last week and it was a bit of a lark, a nice bit of community spirit building up, I was talking to my neighbours (we were standing 2 metres apart) about ways of helping each other out on shopping trips, that sort of thing - they are both in their late 70s. No hugs goodbye with my shopping buddy, we bumped hips instead. All fully on board with being sensible and proactive.
The reality here is suddenly very different. Community spirit is decidedly against the rules. How much of this is because of the Spanish authoritarian temperament and how much will be echoed in other country's official lockdowns, well, we will learn over the next few weeks.
But I never thought I'd miss my bi-weekly Spanish lessons
And one of the things I did say in earlier comments was that 15 days, a breeze.
Months - which is now being hinted at by several other countries, including the UK - bloody hell.
VivianLee2 Blog Comments (524)
I'd be too scared to wear them in case they were ripped out of my ears 
RE: The Isolation Blog