Chronicles of COVID-19

Title

Barry, Cork

Contributor

Barry

Subject

COVID-19 (Disease)

Coverage

Ireland; Cork; 2020s:

Date

8 April 2020

Language

English

Creator

Cork Folklore Project

Rights

Cork Folklore Project

Description

GENERAL PHYSICAL LOCATION RIGHT NOW

Knocknaheeney, Cork

USUAL LOCATION

Fermoy, Co. Cork

Q. 1 STAGES

I have a fascination with the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 - 1920, and I don't want to sound flippant, I like zombie movies. Both of these prepared me for how the pandemic would play out in terms of exponential growth and socially like panic buying and shortage of key supplies. Obviously, there's a big difference between predicting these things happening and actually living through them. The toilet paper shortage I did not expect.
From personal observation, it was interesting to note the difference between people who were concerned from the beginning and those who were more blasé. The former seemed like doomsday preppers to the latter. And then the virus started to rampage through Northern Italy. A defining moment for me in the pandemic was my first-time grocery shopping during semi-lockdown. I saw Gardaí outside the supermarket checking for implementation and adherence to the new social distancing guidelines. While in queue, a lady was behind me, acting as though it was an 'ordinary' queue. After a couple of minutes, I suggested that maybe she should take a few steps back. She looked taken aback, but not insulted. Just surprised that this is what we do now.
I've only been to the city centre once since full lockdown. There's a tension in the air, and everyone looks purposeful. Actually, that's not quite true. There are still addicts on the streets using, owing most likely to the policies of hostels and shelters. How can you order someone to shelter at home if they have no accommodation?
My housemate is a good illustration of a shift in view. At first, he thought this was just the seasonal flu. He kept attending large group meetings, and generally acting like it was an overreaction. He then went to visit his father in his nursing home, and wasn't allowed in. He was only able to speak to him through a closed window. And then the penny dropped for him.

Q. 2 EVERYDAY ROUTINE

My week was planned and structured: work, hobbies, recreational activities, NA meetings, house chores. Structure and routine is necessary for my over-all well-being, and now it is missing. It's difficult to keep a routine solely through self-disciple. After a few weeks of this, I'm so bored and restless I can't even muster up the enthusiasm to do anything about it! Even though I have more free time, I'm being less productive than when I have things that need to be done. Having set activities at set times and day was my 'life clock'. Right now, the only thing separating one day from the next is sleep. I don't watch broadcast TV, so even the TV schedule can't give me orientation.

Q. 3 GROUPS

I'm an addict in recovery and attend NA meetings. At the beginning, people were mostly indifferent, even shaking hands and hugging at the end of meetings. Then the government message about avoiding physical contact became clearer, and so that ended. Then with a more formal message of social distancing, the seating layout of meetings allowed for about a meter space between people. Following on from this, all public gatherings were prohibited. AA and NA meetings now happen on-line through the Zoom teleconferencing app, but they have major short comings. Often meetings are 'zoom bombed', where people enter the chat and shout obscenities and show pornography. This can be very distressing to members. The end point of addiction is the addict alone in a room with their drug of choice. While I have serious philosophical issues with 12 step programmes, the human connection and support offered in the meetings is invaluable. The Minnesota model of addiction treatment is the most common form in Ireland, and is based around utilising 12 step programmes. I think of it as continuous psycho-social support. This means that 1000s of people have now lost their primary addiction support.

Q. 4 WAYS WE TALK

The handshake/ fist bump being replaced by the elbow bump or toe tap. It's interesting to see just how important physical contact is to us socially, no matter how small. Social distancing, the 'not' talking affects me most. When I'm passing someone on the street, I now try to avoid them by two meters, and they the same. It's almost like actively rejecting each other. I'm using Zoom to keep in contact with others, but it's a poor substitute.

Q. 5 COMMUNITY RESPONSE

Simon Harris telling people to 'cop on'. I can't think of any other country where a minister could speak so casually to the populace. And of all the subtle connotations of the phrase (irritation at peoples’ foolishness/ berating people for not using common sense/ people acting like assholes and deserving to be called out on that behaviour).

Q. 6 THOUGHTS AND PREOCCUPATIONS

How long various measures will need to be in place, how can I create a sense of normality in abnormal circumstances?

Q. 7 SIMILARITY TO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

No Response

Q. 8 CHALLENGES AND COPING

No Response

Q. 9 THE FUTURE

The Covid-19 virus is going to be an issue in itself for at least another 18 months. The economic and social problems will last for years. The focus on economic recovery is currently on stimulus rather than austerity, which gives me some hope. Social distancing will be in place until there is a high enough proportion of herd immunity, so I could see people feeling a sense of alienation from each other. During the last recession, opportunities of all kinds dried up for me. It was a fairly bleak time for most. I'm hoping not to experience that same sense of hopelessness. This time we probably won't have the same mass immigration; where are they going to go? Things are uncertain, but not bleak (at least not in Ireland).

Q. 10 IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT SPRINGS TO MIND?

No Response.

Q. 11 IN A NUTSHELL

Negative, of course, but not overwhelmingly so. The uncertainty of it all is frustrating, but there already is a mind-set not to tackle the socio-economic fallout as we did the 2008 crash. This gives me some hope.

age

26-35

gender

Male