Chronicles of COVID-19

Title

Russell, Cork City

Contributor

Russell

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

Gurranabraher on the Northside of Cork City

USUAL LOCATION

Same

Q. 1 STAGES

At first I was of the opinion that it was something that would only affect those who lived where it was first reported, I had no idea of how dangerous it could be. During the early weeks of the reports from China, I discussed it with family and colleagues and never once imagined we would be taking precautions against it just felt sympathy for those who were experiencing the lockdown. On March 10th we had a Board Meeting at the Community Centre I work for and that was when reality hit home as we had to take the decision to close the premises to the public to safeguard our work with the Meals on Wheels service we provide and those who work with us. Initially we received criticism for over-reacting but this was soon replaced with compliments when the government followed suit and slowly started to close everything down. In various consultations with fellow Board Members, Community Employment Supervisor and the HSE/EHO we have taken steps to ensure our staffs are equipped with the best personal protection equipment we can obtain and this has come from a concerted effort from all involved to use whatever contacts they have or have made during this crisis. We are now well regimented in what we are able to do and where we have to draw the line and are living on a day by basis with no planning for anything personal as we none of us know when the lockdown restrictions will be removed. I have come to terms with the way I am being forced to live and work and it seems petty to even voice my main irritation of not being able to get my haircut but working in a kitchen it is a big issue to me personally.

Q. 2 EVERYDAY ROUTINE

Very little has changed for me as I am still working although my hours have increased because I insist on working alone in the kitchen to safeguard my own health, that of my colleagues who now only come into the Centre for deliveries and that of our customers who are all in the high risk category due to age or underlying conditions. We use to provide a service four days a week but because of cocooning it was decided that for the benefit of our customers it would be sensible to increase it to seven days whilst the crisis continues and this has been very well received and is much appreciated. So far we have not missed any immediate family birthdays but one of our volunteer drivers is a Spanish lady who came to us to offer assistance because of what was happening in her own country and could do nothing to assist her fellow Spaniards and as fate would have it her birthday is this Saturday so as she will be alone for it away from family, I have arranged for her to be delivering for us that day, our Chairperson will be making a cake for her with "Feliz Cumpleanos" piped on it (Happy Birthday) and we will present it to her with a card and celebrate with her adhering to social distancing in the Community Centre hall with her fellow volunteers. With regard to funerals I have seen at close hand how difficult it is, an elderly neighbour passed away and my wife who has known the family for over 50 years could not pay her respects or support other than from the garden gate to his sister who had lived with him all their lives and was in bits but had to deal with everything alone which at 85 was very difficult to watch. Another friend lost their mother and was told that they would have to choose among themselves who attended as the maximum was ten people, the lady had fifteen children and no one was willing to step aside so they had to put their names in a hat and the last five did not get to go to the funeral to the lady who had given birth to them and raised them and been there for them every day of their life and that is hard to accept as justifiable however dangerous the virus is, they have to live with that memory for the rest of their own lives.

Q. 3 GROUPS

From the start the young and the elderly have had fierce problems coming to terms with the restrictions imposed on them, the young as they believe they are above catching it and will be strong enough to fight it and the old because they have not ever been told they must do something and are very set in their ways and in many cases obstinate to the point of sending you round the bend yourself. The drinking culture is a huge problem as whilst the majority of pubs have closed, back or side door entrance is still available at certain venues and those who have observed the pub closures and moved onto purchasing their choice of alcohol from off licences are still congregating with others to consume it as they get no buzz from drinking alone.

Q. 4 WAYS WE TALK

I feel everyone is fed up to the back teeth with mention of the virus and wherever possible attempt to change the subject but it always seems to revert back to it at some point usually with mention of the number of deaths each day and the various stories that come from all the different media sources but very rarely ever agree on what has happened or is happening or will occur in the future. The information that we receive is always treated with doubt as no one I know believes that the figures that we are told are the true figures and then we always seem to move onto the lack of testing and start to question how many of us might be carriers or have had it without even realising it. The one constant when you talk to others is that if they get through this crisis alive they will never complain again about trivial ailments and will do their best to build a relationship with those they have become estranged with.

Q. 5 COMMUNITY RESPONSE

The general response from the community has been terrific with most people bending over backwards to offer whatever assistance is required, the people that work with me were all given the option to self-isolate and stay away throughout the period of the crisis if they wished to and not one of them chose to, preferring to pledge their support to working for others who are all less able and of the high risk category. It seems that the crisis has instilled a positive we will survive attitude in the majority of people, personally I have seen very little that I would class as negative behaviour other than from those who still insist on hanging around in gangs or forgetting about social distancing as soon as they enter the supermarket and start leaning over others rather than waiting until people have moved away. There is the problem of people who still insist on traveling despite them being asked not to but I feel this has to be left to the Garda to deal with, there is nothing to be gained from people getting into personal arguments about it however much it may make their blood boil as it can often end up with feuds and the last thing the HSE needs is to be dealing with injuries that are not necessary or can be easily avoided.

Q. 6 THOUGHTS AND PREOCCUPATIONS

I concentrate on what is immediately ahead of me the next day, making sure 60 vulnerable people are fed and checked on to make sure they are coping with the pressure of being shut behind their front door, as their wellbeing is more at risk than anything I might feel or suffer. I am thankful that my own mother passed last December as there is no way she could have got through this crisis and I enjoy seeing my colleagues each day come and go as there is a great camaraderie among us and we manage to lift each other’s spirits whatever fate throws at us each day, whether it be a death or something trivial like getting soaked through to the skin when out delivering and looking like a drowned rat when they return to the Centre, there is a never a dull day when you work with Norries.

Q. 7 SIMILARITY TO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

No Response.

Q. 8 CHALLENGES AND COPING

No Response.

Q. 9 THE FUTURE

It may make people think more but I very much doubt it, once life returns to something like normality this crisis will be forgotten as quickly as it came upon us and we will all return to our usual lives, most much poorer a few to get much richer because of it, life tends to go in cycles, our forefathers had wars we have had an epidemic but our tales I very much doubt will last as long as those who survived wars.

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

I feel the survey is most comprehensive and covers an awful lot in only a small number of questions, the only observation I would make is that those in power have failed in many aspects to do what they were elected for, why politicians believe the truth is too much for us mere mortals to deal with is beyond me, this rubbish about we will see in three weeks’ time is and always has been a copout, they should have said from the start lockdown is required for three months minimum but they were afraid that people would be upset and rebel, if you are trusted and elected to run a country then you should have the backbone to come out and tell people what is needed not stagger it over a number of different updates that just keep moving the date to what you could have said in one initial statement.

Q. 11 IN A NUTSHELL

Life changing for a short period for most, myself included but because it has come from something that is invisible, we will all be happy to forget about it and return to our previous way of living, as thankfully most of us will not have been infected or effected by it other than to interrupt our normal lifestyles and being a resilient nation we will soon have forgotten it and pick up where we left off before COVID 19 was ever heard of or mentioned.

age

51-69

gender

Male