Chronicles of COVID-19

Title

R. Cork City Suburb

Contributor

R.

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

Rochestown, near Garryduff sports club

USUAL LOCATION

Same

Q. 1 STAGES

Well, we were aware of it from late December onwards, I recall discussing it with a friend who was visiting from Kentucky, USA, for a couple of weeks over New year/early January. My husband is a doctor and was taking keen interest in the story. From before half term, mid-February, he was becoming more anxious about its spread and questioning why there was no official action nationally on the issue. I recall sitting with a friend in the student centre in UCC in late February talking about it and thinking it'll never really affect us...

Q. 2 EVERYDAY ROUTINE

Our entire lives have been upended. We have 3 kids whose schools and crèches are closed. My husband is working from home as much as possible, to remove himself possible contamination from CUH, and he has never worked from home before. So it's strange having him at home too. We are also going through vast quantities of milk - I have to up the order with the milkman! After being at home with kids for 8 years, I had finally gotten a one year post-doc position in UCC and this year, 2019-2020 was to be my year to be back at work, in UCC, making contacts and trying to re-start my career. Instead, I'm stuck at home trying to muddle through with the kids, working late nights and weekends. I really thought I was going to move away from that work dynamic this year with the security of a one-year contract and an on-campus office. In terms of everyday routine, I don't have to do 1.5 hours of school runs in the morning, 1 hour of housework and 1 hour of commuting, before getting to my desk for 9.30am. So I am less tired, and have some energy to exercise again. But instead, I have to spend 3 hours of my morning home-schooling 3 different aged kids. I find this extremely challenging - this is not my area of expertise and I don't want to do this. That shows when I'm trying to work with the kids. We spend a lot more time on video calls with family, but we haven't visited family since January. I have written an article for RTE Brainstorm on our birthday experiences which I will send to you separately.

Q. 3 GROUPS

My husband is a consultant - whilst he is a frontline worker, his experience is very different from ICU doctors/nurses. He is seeing patients with non-Covid medical conditions who are delaying coming in for treatment because of fears of exposure to C19 in the hospital. This has a very real impact on their treatment and recovery options. Stroke is a particular example of this, early intervention (within 4 hours of a stroke onset) is crucial and people who are afraid to present will not benefit from early intervention. My friend who visited from Kentucky is in a challenging position. She is one of a very small Asian population in her Kentucky town, although originally from Chicago, but she has been threatened by drivers who have seen her out walking with her child and her dog. My father is a quadriplegic and relies on a team of 6 personal assistants for his daily care. My mother provides 24 hour care for him also. His team are only coming in for 3 hours in the morning and 30 minutes at night-time to provide care. In total he is receiving less than 30 hours care a week - he requires 80+ hours of care for physio, skin care, assistance with feeding, medication, bathing, grooming, and dressing. He is in danger from his PA's, but they are essential to his lifestyle. They are wearing masks and gloves at all times, but their presence is a constant source of stress and worry for my parents. My mother has put her back out and has been in bed for 4 days with stress. My children are suffering too. They can't see their friends and they are not getting enough physical exercise - this is bad for their health. We are lucky to have a big garden where they can run around, but they need freedom and space to roam. Academically, they are bright and will have no problems making up the school work in June or in September, but we are a very highly educated (both parents have PhDs), wealthy, privileged middle class family - a dynamic which I am very aware of at the moment.

Q. 4 WAYS WE TALK

My kids are talking about what we'll do 'when coronavirus is over' .

Q. 5 COMMUNITY RESPONSE

My own community is one of small kids and unwanted home-schooling - there's a lot of angst and anxiety over expectations of school/home-schooling and there's a very big difference in attitudes between parents who work full-time and those who do not. My husband keeps seeing the neighbours chatting outside, but at less than a 2m distance, and jokes about calling the Gardaí on them.
On my walking routes I see a great deal of gardening and home improvements going on!

Q. 6 THOUGHTS AND PREOCCUPATIONS

How are we going to tell the kids our much-anticipated and needed two week holiday in northern Italy isn't going to go ahead this year... How much longer is it going to be before I can go home and visit my parents. Will I get to bring my kids to my nephew's 1st birthday party in June? What about my career? This was my year to network in UCC and now this opportunity has been taken away from me. On the plus side, the kids are delighted to have me at home again...

Q. 7 SIMILARITY TO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

No Response.

Q. 8 CHALLENGES AND COPING

No Response.

Q. 9 THE FUTURE

I don't know how much it will affect my immediate social circles - heavily privileged middle class as I say. A case in point is that we are simply to have to lose the 2000 we have already paid for our holiday to Italy - but we can afford that. Not many people can afford that. I'd be more fearful that it is simply going to exacerbate the differences between the Haves and Have Not’s, those who have money, privilege and can access resources through connections and those who do not.

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

Personally, I feel that this is going to have a huge impact on parents of younger kids and those with caring responsibilities. My kids are 2, 6, and 9, they need constant attention from someone, as opposed to 10, 15, 18 year-olds who are much more independent. Similarly, anyone with physical/cognitive disabilities who needs assistance will suffer because of social distancing. There are going to be very significant long-term impacts on society as a result of the next year. To an extent, our family (again, because of privilege) are having a relatively 'good' lockdown experience. But we are lucky. And the weather is good which helps. Doing this in January won't be fun. And I anticipate this is going to go on for a long time, with periods of more and less adherence to the new norm as infection rates naturally rise and fall until we have a vaccine and treatment sufficient for a global scale.

Q. 11 IN A NUTSHELL

No Response.

age

36-50

gender

Female