Chronicles of COVID-19

Title

Sofia, Cork City

Contributor

Sofia

Subject

COVID-19 (Disease)

Coverage

Ireland; Cork; 2020s:

Date

11 April 2020

Language

English

Creator

Cork Folklore Project

Rights

Cork Folklore Project

Description

GENERAL PHYSICAL LOCATION RIGHT NOW

Cork City

USUAL LOCATION

Same

Q. 1 STAGES

The first stage would probably have been around January. I first heard about the virus and that China was having difficulty with it. I would have heard the occasional report about it, but paid no attention to it, thinking that it wouldn't affect my life at all. How wrong was I?
Ireland had its first case of the virus on the 29th of January. February came, and China was struggling with the virus. We were notified in work from China saying that some of the warehouses were going to be delayed in the production of furniture. It had now been spreading in Italy too. Italy is only across the water but I still didn't think much of it.
March came, and airports started closing down. My sister is in Australia. She didn't want to risk her flight being cancelled so she didn't fly home. I don't think we really thought it would become this serious. With another 3 week extension to the lock down, we don't have a clue when she'll be back now, or what she's going to do for money.
The first two weeks of March I didn't think it was going to be all that serious in Ireland at all. We were working away as normal at work. We were getting containers in from China. I'm a graphic designer and I was getting my printed material in from Italy, even though they were on lock down.
In the third week of March, a Thursday, the Taoiseach announced that schools would be closing as a precaution to stop the spread of the virus. This didn't affect me as I don't have children. Anyone who could work from home was asked to do so. We were told to keep a distance from other people, and stay out of other people’s homes if possible. Anyone with an underlying condition was asked to self-isolate.
In the office that day, we had been anxiously listening to the radio all day, awaiting an announcement. To be honest we probably hyped each other up a lot. We were hearing about how dangerous the virus is, spreading easily and killing thousands. I panicked and went to HR and said I needed a two hour lunch to go to the supermarket to pick up supplies. My mum had said that Dunnes was manic, and said she thought I should go. I had seen ridiculous queues in Italy of people trying to get food during their lock down. In hind-sight, it was unnecessary, but better TO have your household ready to stay indoors if necessary.
The photographer in our office had a history of asthma which put him in the 'high-risk' category in terms of the coronavirus. He asked if he could work from home, since there was a lot of photo and movie editing to do which would keep him busy. He was told that we are all in-house staff and therefore couldn't work from home. He put in for a request for a two week holiday. He was told he had only worked up enough time for one week, so that was granted. The second week he would have to take unpaid.
The following week was a week of that I feel work let me down a bit. The marketing team was told by the director to put on the website a list on how we were dealing with Covid-19. It said that there was hand sanitizing stations around the warehouse and in the offices. There wasn't. It said we had put a stop to in-house assemblies of furniture. My man works as a delivery man for the same company. He was still expected to do in-house assemblies.
When he asked his manager about what was written on the website, he told him that it was a type mistake. I asked the HR manager about this and she told me that they had all agreed that no more assemblies would take place. The assemblies continued until the official lock down.
I am now working from home for four hours a day and have been for the last two weeks. I brought my computer home with me. My man is not working but is still on the payroll under the subsidy scheme. For the last two weeks we have been paid more than we would normally get.
The numbers of people infected by the virus is still increasing. Today they announced that the lock down would continue for another 3 weeks. To be honest, I am happy to stay in my house. I know some people are struggling with it, but it really suits me. I was far too busy before working from 7.00 - 17.30. It's incredibly nice to have time to do the things I enjoy.
I realise this will all come at a high economic price, but we can only take one day at a time.

Q. 2 EVERYDAY ROUTINE

My alarm is set for 8.00 am. I get up around 8.30. I go downstairs, feed the cat and make a coffee. I start work which is set from 9.00 until 13.00. I'm a graphic designer so I do marketing work that promotes the only thing still bringing in revenue for the company; small furniture items that can be sent by An Post. We are heavily monitored by the company. We log into WorkSnaps which takes a photo of our screens at irregular intervals every ten minutes, monitors how many times we click the mouse every minute, how many keyboard strokes we type, and what websites we go on. We also log into Zoom. They originally wanted us to be on a webcam the entire time, but we said no to that.
After work, I might make a bit of lunch. I might clean the kitchen a bit. I normally like to update my Corona virus blog every day. I also try to work on one of my side hustles too.
We turn on the news at 17.30 on VirginMedia and also watch the six o'clock RTE news to find out the latest numbers of how many new people have contracted the virus, and how many have died.
I try to take a walk around the Loch, but sometimes I just don't feel like it, and that's ok. We have dinner, and maybe watch a movie at night.

Q. 3 GROUPS

Personally for me I have it easy. I have a job, no mortgage, a roof over my head and my man by my side.
I have heard of a lot of other people suffering. Debenhams closed their doors for good in Ireland yesterday leaving over 1,000 people unemployed. It is estimated that 25% will be unemployed by June.
Older people are suffering from loneliness. Nursing homes and hospitals are not letting in any visitors. Pregnant women are only allowed to have their partners there for the actual birth. I know someone who gave birth to twins prematurely last night, but they seem ok and will be out of the hospital asap. I need to find out more details on how the birth went though.
School kids are missing their friends. Parents are having a hard time between entertaining their kids and home schooling them. Secondary school pupils have been worried about their state exams. It was announced today that the leaving cert will still go ahead, but the college year maybe have a delayed start for first years, due to the CAO probably being delayed.

Q. 4 WAYS WE TALK

Most people on the streets go out of their way to keep their distance from you; whether that means going onto the road to stay away from you on the pavement or crossing the street entirely.
The phrase 'We are in this together' is thrown around all the time on the news. On social media there's a Tiktok song that sings 'it's corona time'. It is mainly used by people to entertain themselves while passing the time.
I am talking to my mum and brother a lot more on the phone.
Visual communications about the virus is rampant. Any time you go into a food shop, however small or large, there will be a sign at the entrance stating what's asked of you. In normally includes using their hand sanitising station and keeping a 2 meter distance from each other.
What I find really weird is seeing people in the streets wearing masks. It still feels very alien to me. You will see it if you are going for a walk or in the food shops, which are the only two places anyone should really be.
As far as greetings go, I wouldn't really come across a lot of occasions like this at the moment. In the streets, I personally avoid other people, so a friendly hello to a stranger just doesn't happen. The cashiers in food markets would be my only real contact with people outside my home. Smaller shops like Centra still tend to be a bit friendly. Cashiers in larger shops aren't very friendly usually. I think they are probably overworked, and a lot of the time their plastic shield in front of their tills isn't really enough. I was in Lidl today and found myself getting a bit too close to the cashier while taking the food he had already scanned and placing them in my trolley. It can't be nice or easy for them.

Q. 5 COMMUNITY RESPONSE

There is such an incredible amount of community based supports that have happened that I can't list them all at this time. I will just talk about personal experiences.
We received a note through the door in late March from a neighbour, saying that if we needed to self-isolate because of the virus, that they would be happy to help out in any way they could; whether that be food shopping, collecting my medicine or other similar aid.
Lately people have been hanging Irish flags outside their homes. I saw 12 alone today.
Local shops like Centra are offering to deliver food to people self-isolating.
My mum and I are having daily conversations on the phone to help pass the time.

Q. 6 THOUGHTS AND PREOCCUPATIONS

I think about the economy a lot lately and the coming global economic crises. Governments can't just give out free money without severe implications. They'll have to print more money, which could lead to hyperinflation, and far less purchasing power for your savings.
I've been listening to the differences of how China and America are reporting their news. They're pretty much blaming each other for what's happening, and there are conspiracy theories circulating both countries, which is very scary.
I'm thinking about my elderly grandmother in Sweden, who two weeks ago was in a hospital there which, two days later, had a coronavirus outbreak.
I'm thinking about my sister in Australia, who was due to come back home on the 27th April, but will be staying there indefinitely now.
I'm thinking about my future, and whether we will be able to buy a house for ourselves in the next few years, or if we will be struggling for money.
I'm thinking about how the government will be able to continue to pay benefits in the coming year or two. Most countries were in extraordinary debt even before this...now they're giving out money for free. It's not good.

Q. 7 SIMILARITY TO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

No Response.

Q. 8 CHALLENGES AND COPING

No Response.

Q. 9 THE FUTURE

After all this is over, I hope that we will be able to take the positives that came out of this unprecedented crisis, and there are a lot!
Everyone has come together amazingly as a community. That won't leave me for as long as I live. So many people have found ways to support each other in any way they can. I could write a massive amount on this.
I hope that there will be more opportunities to work from home, as this has suited me massively, and can also suit the employer by only paying for time worked, and not needing an office space for them to work in.
I think that after going through a lock down, we will realise more of what's important in life. Staying in contact with the people we care about. We don't need the consumerist society we have lived in, and that spending time doing things that make us happy is more important. High street shops might suffer.
I hope we will have a new appreciation for the front line staff that got us through this. I hope another nurse never has to talk about how low they are paid, as I've heard in the past few years.

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

No Response.

Q. 11 IN A NUTSHELL

To be honest, if I'm only talking about my own life and my own life only, it has had a beneficial impact. I've been working from home for the first time ever. I've had time to do personal projects that I enjoy. I was so crazily busy with work before that it is just incredibly nice to have some time for myself. I know there will be a devastating economic depression coming, but we'll handle that when it comes. That's all we can do.
The health workers and staff still working on the front line, including food shop staff and bin men, are heroes. I never again want to hear about a nurse being underpaid.
The incredible positive actions of the community are...just that...incredible! There are so many unforgettable acts that the ordinary man has done to help their neighbour, whether it be in a big or small way.
With the Prime Minister of Ireland announcing a 3 week extension to the lock down today, mass burials in New York and a global depression on the way, here are some examples of how absolutely mind-blowingly positive the community spirit that we've seen throughout this crisis has been.
The Taoiseach started his speech with comforting words saying he 'want(ed) to send a message around the world. We are in this together. But we will get through this. And we will prevail'. In my opinion he has done an exceptional job throughout this whole process. He has led the country well, listened to experts in the health and science fields, continually been reassuring during speeches and considered people from all walks of life.
The community spirit has been evident on a daily basis shared on social media, and national and international news.
Neighbours, Gardaí and fire-fighters have come together to sing happy birthday to the elderly, the children and the disabled so as to make sure that no one is missing out during this time. A 12 year old girl had all her friends drive past her house beeping the horns of their cars to congratulate her as a surprise.
Tiktok clips have been shared so many times; nurses and doctors having a lunch time, much-needed laugh while doing choreographed moves to pop music. Older generations posting clips, which we normally wouldn't see them doing, but it helps them pass the time, and they're hilarious.
Family who don't live under the same roof as each other visit their loved ones while standing outside their house, just so they can see them. Grandchildren brighten up their grandparent’s day by spending some time at their window.
There are older people who have anniversaries but can't be with each other, perhaps because no visitors are allowed in nursing homes or hospitals. There are photos of husbands bringing roses and signs to their wives to celebrate the special occasion.
There are people who have started dressing up to cheer people up a bit. There was someone who went to the supermarket dressed as a dinosaur. People are dressing up to put their bins out, just to keep the spirits of their neighbours up.
Volunteers are providing free meals to front-line healthcare staff each day. Taxi drivers and GoCar are offering free transport to hospitals since public transport can have problems with hygiene.
Healthcare workers are placing photos of themselves outside the personal protective equipment so they don't appear as scary when approaching patients.
Neighbours sent messages through nearby letter boxes offering to be of assistance in case someone in their surrounding neighbourhood needed to self-isolate. We received one in our letter box.
People are placing messages on their bins when they put them out weekly to thank the bin men for doing their jobs as this is an essential role.
The message from the airport guiding the aeroplane in to land with the PPE equipment from China will bring a tear to your eye. He says 'Fáilte abhaile' and that on their behalf, and on the behalf of the entire nation, he would like to express his appreciation for their efforts at this time.
There are entire apartment blocks singing along to one person who decided to have a 'cheer-up' concert outside their houses and help pass the time.
There are people in Cork who used projectors to play movies on walls for the people on that street to pass the time.
Communities come together to applaud the efforts of the healthcare staff putting their lives on the line at this time. This Sunday we are asked to light a candle in the window to show our support for everyone. People are placing Irish flags outside their homes. I counted 12 flags when out today and I really wish we had one to place in our window! On the news today there was a short story on the Mater Hospital, Dublin. The staff there came out today to applaud all the efforts that the people of Ireland are making.
Children are drawing pictures of rainbows and placing them in their windows for the people walking past their house since exercise is pretty much the only thing we're allowed do outside nowadays.
The Dáil have paused political meetings to applaud the efforts of the front line workers.
"If we can winter this out, we can summer anywhere." Seamus Heaney.
There is such an incredible amount of stories of people going absolutely above and beyond to do literally whatever they can to show their support for so many people. It absolutely warms your heart and blows your mind.

age

26-35

gender

Female