Chronicles of COVID-19

Title

D.M. Glanmire

Contributor

D.M.

Subject

COVID-19 (Disease)

Coverage

Ireland; Cork; 2020s:

Date

20 April 2020

Language

English

Creator

Cork Folklore Project

Rights

Cork Folklore Project

Description

GENERAL PHYSICAL LOCATION RIGHT NOW

Glanmire, Cork.

USUAL LOCATION

Same

Q. 1 STAGES

Stage 1: Seeing it unfold in China on the news, Dad talking about how serious it was, me accusing him of being a doomsday merchant, him accusing me of not taking it seriously and being dismissive, me saying there's not much point in worrying about it now. Stage 2: It becomes apparent that this is going to be a global crisis. I travelled to Cambridge the last week of February for a conference, there are no signs in Stansted Airport about Covid-19, there is a big sticker on the floor in Cork Airport when I arrive back, saying if you have symptoms tell Airport Security, and look up the HSE website. At this stage there have not been any confirmed cases in Ireland or England, but this changes soon after. Stage 3: Working away in the higher education sector, but becoming aware that a shutdown of the education sector is imminent. Lots of misinformation via What’s App, Monday 9th March Dad sends on a message saying the universities are closing soon, so I take out 5 books from the library just in case. Thursday 12th March I get a text from my boyfriend that Leo Varadkar is about to go live on TV from Washington. I tune in on my laptop, and watch him announce the closure of crèches, schools, and higher education institutions from 6pm that evening until Sunday 29th March. Boyfriend told that he will be working from home for this period. We agree that he will come stay in my family home for that period, rather than be on his own in Dublin. Stage 4: Boyfriend arrives down to Cork on the train, we go for a socially distanced lunch in Cork Golf Club with my parents, home to watch the Cheltenham Gold Cup - Al Boum Photo wins, Willie Mullins becomes Championship Trainer, so our bet comes in. We go to Dunne’s to buy my boyfriend some casual clothes and slippers for the fortnight. Stage 5: Working from home commences, we build a routine, and it becomes the new normal. Stage 6: Wider lockdown begins; shopping becomes an extreme anxiety-inducing sport. I complete the weekend shop, and my parents do one other shop in the week. Working from home is going to last a lot longer than originally mooted. I feel lucky to be with both my boyfriend and my parents; I have not had to choose.

Q. 2 EVERYDAY ROUTINE

The most obvious change to my everyday routine is that I don't leave my home for work or study. The dining room has become my office. Breakfast is now a cheery communal affair, I would have eaten on my own on my normal working day. Not being on campus was strange at first, but I have gotten used to it quickly. Individual study has not changed much, if anything I have been meeting my PhD supervisor more frequently, albeit virtually. Exercise and leisure activities wise: Cardio-tone class and tag rugby league have been cancelled/postponed for now. We complete PE every day, either playing tennis or camogie against the back wall. We are aiming to increase our volleying record every day, we are up to 84. We walk or run most days, even if just up and down the lane. Playing with the puppies also gets the heart rate up. For the first week or two I completed Cosmic Kids yoga routines with my niece via Face Time, to give my sister and brother-in-law a rest. This tapered off, but we completed a Yoga with Adriene routine last weekend, and my sister and mum took part, for their first ever yoga class. I took up drawing princesses for my niece also, following YouTube tutorials. We have completed 3 x 1000 piece jigsaws - a new endeavour. I have taken out my tin whistle, after a 12 year break. We watch communal television programmes: The Tunnel, University Challenge, Ozarks, the news. Myself and my boyfriend watch Bosch and The Wire. Birthdays/weddings/funerals: Many birthday drinks are cancelled, thirtieths go unmarked. Four weddings so far have been postponed, one to October, one to November, two annoyingly to the same day next May. A friend's father dies and we are unable to attend the funeral. We search for a florist who is still delivering, and send flowers. We sign the online condolences book on RIP.ie

Q. 3 GROUPS

I am extremely lucky to be living at home with my parents, without rent or mortgage pressures. We have space to set up an office in a generally unused dining room. When my contract is terminated, I access the COVID-19 Emergency Payment easily online. Many other groups do not have these privileges. People in uncertain accommodation face pressure to maintain rent payments. Asylum seekers in Direct Provision are unable to socially distance. Homeless people do not have appropriate shelter or sanitation to complete the required hand washing and hygiene practices. Sex workers cannot access the COVID-19 Emergency Payment, so are forced to work in a very unsafe environment. People in rural areas do not have access to high speed broadband and thus cannot participate in online schooling or work. People who are not technologically competent miss out on work and socialising opportunities. Working parents struggle to balance working with minding their children. People in dangerous home environments cannot escape to work/school or other areas of refuge. Trans people cannot access regular hormone treatments, and are self-medicating or being injected by their friends or family members. Workers in supermarkets, food production establishments, and sanitary services are expected to take up a massive burden, despite being some of the most precarious and often poorly paid workers in our society.

Q. 4 WAYS WE TALK

"I hope you are keeping well in these uncertain/unprecedented/challenging/topsy-turvy times" 'PPE' is bandied about by all and sundry. Tony Holohan takes on godlike status, the Chief Medical Officer is trusted by all, and "looks exhausted the poor man". 'Social distancing', 'self-isolating', 'cocooning', 'in quarantine' are used as synonyms. Most people have had a Zoom quiz, or have discovered the House Party app, Google Hangouts, Microsoft Teams, or Skype in the last few weeks.

Q. 5 COMMUNITY RESPONSE

No Response.

Q. 6 THOUGHTS AND PREOCCUPATIONS

No Response.

Q. 7 SIMILARITY TO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

No Response.

Q. 8 CHALLENGES AND COPING

No Response.

Q. 9 THE FUTURE

No Response.

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

No Response.

Q. 11 IN A NUTSHELL

No Response.

age

26-35

gender

Female