My thoughts was racing, and I couldn’t cease pondering that merely not attending be college can be sufficient. It will not be sufficient to guard my little asthmatics.

My two children endure allergic reactions and have bronchial asthma. The older son takes steroids twice each day, as is allergic to a number of issues that pop up in March. Together with, in case you can imagine it. Olive bushes. 

Sometimes olive bushes blossom between March and April. These dainty, aromatic, cream-colored flowers ship my child right into a coughing match for days.  We’ve sleepless nights, and the poor child at all times finally ends up unable to breathe and spend time on the nebulizer. 

So, there isn’t any method I need to see him coughing and affected by coronavirus – on the identical time, he has his allergic reactions/bronchial asthma.

Upon waking up the next morning, Mr. Chasing the Donkey mentioned he was off to the outlets to purchase recent meat and veggies as he had a message from an individual he trusted to say it’s now time to organize for stricter measures in Croatia.

He shopped his ass off. 

He got here again with a large bag of onions, snacks of every kind, and several other kilos of meat, which I bagged up and froze.

We had been then set.

So, immediately it begins. Life behind closed doorways…nicely, perhaps not all the way in which closed. Let’s see. However definitely, there will likely be no touring, which can hit me the toughest. And, no events or socializing are in our future.

Coronavirus toll in Croatia: 27

The massive information of the day: gatherings restricted to lower than 100

March 13

Pricey diary. I joke, I joke.

Whoah, I really feel so significantly better immediately after making that drastic name to say bye-bye to the world. I slept like a child, higher than I’ve all week.

In contrast to in my dwelling nation, Australia, our store cabinets are full; nobody is silly shopping for something, nicely, not but anyway.

The Croatian Authorities has saved us all calm and is updating us so much. There are particulars about every step – each motion and – I’ve to say I’m so happy with my adopted dwelling nation!

In contrast to the dope ScoMo in Australia or Trump, the Bozo – our Prime Minister, Andrej Plenković has a mind. He speaks with calmness in his voice. He sounds assured and clever.

It’s bizarre to say, however I’m really feeling a lot safer right here in Croatia than I’d there in Australia – a minimum of from what I’m seeing on the information – or listening to from household and pals. Australia appears to be like the wild wild west proper now – what a large number.

The information this week has moved so quick—cancellations and restrictions of every kind. 

I imply, who would have thought that Croatia would have journey restrictions on individuals flying from the UK or Germany, however now we do. Extra on all of the adjustments right here.

Relying on the place you might be arriving from, international residents who should not have a everlasting residence in Croatia, are required to endure 14 days of well being surveillance in authorities quarantine or 14-day dwelling isolation. It’s completely loopy.

As I mentioned, I really feel safer every day, understanding a lot is being finished. 

Better of all immediately it was introduced that each one faculties can be closed from Monday. I breathed a sigh of reduction for my children, all children, and the academics.

By mid-morning, the varsity had contacted me with a plan. We needed to go choose up my sons’ college books, and the instructor suggested that she is going to ship us video classes that she is going to file.  In addition, there will likely be classes performed on the nationwide TV station every day. 

I actually can’t ask for greater than that!

Bravo Croatia. Simply one more reason for me to like dwelling right here.

So, now, it begs the query:

How far do I take home-isolation?

I’m but to determine this out.

Can we by no means go away the home? Can we let individuals come over? Do I take the youngsters to the park? What number of occasions can we go to the outlets?

I’m but to reply this all. And, very similar to the ever-changing guidelines that Croatia retains making to maintain us protected, I’ll additionally simply wing it and see how this all pans out.

I advised our cleaner she will be able to nonetheless come on Tuesday, as I do know she is being cautious additionally. She has aged mother and father and likewise cares for a sick member of her household. 

Plus, with two children at dwelling and further cooking and my shopper work to be finished – I additionally don’t need to take into consideration cleansing. I’ll asses that alternative once more in a number of days.

I plan to not see individuals for now. I form of need to see what our pals do. In spite of everything, what’s the level of staying dwelling, after which simply let individuals come over who might also be sick?

Gah, my heard hurts to consider it. I’m off to get a G&T.

Coronavirus toll in Croatia: 32

The massive information of the day: Strict guidelines for these coming from the UK, introduced college closures, Ryanair postpones Zadar base till 2021 (surprising!)

March 14 

I slept a little bit shitter final evening. I stayed up method too late studying the 24/7 information on-line. After which learn this piece. Whoah, this very detailed, well-researched piece from Tomas Pueyo took me greater than 30 minutes to learn, after which one other hour to try to return and digest all the knowledge.  I nonetheless can’t wrap my head round all the information – however the information are clear.

Social distancing is our solely weapon towards this struggle.

It’s scary shit.

The information (not made up assumptions) in his 6,000+ phrase piece are based mostly on what we all know occurred in China, and what’s now taking place in Italy. And all I can say its that among the world’s largest gamers (I’m taking a look at you France. Germany, the UK, the USA, and Australia) must step up.

Earlier than many die. And no, it received’t simply be the previous and immunocompromised. Learn the experiences, have a look at the information. it could possibly be you, or worse, your children.

Push your governments to do extra.

Social distancing measures are onerous. Individuals will lose cash. Actual individuals like my household. We’ve no option to pay our automobile leases or workers for our Octopus Transfers enterprise with out vacationers. And, there are not any vacationers. Nearly everybody has canceled and we refunded deposits. We’re scared, will we be bankrupted? What’s going to the longer term maintain for our household enterprise and our little boys?

However you recognize what, you could be broke in case you’re lifeless. 

These robust calls require closing corporations, outlets, mass transit, faculties, implementing partial or full lockdowns. And, the extra infections you will have, the stricter your social distancing must be. 

Thanks, Croatia for being courageous and beginning these measures now, and promising to make them much more strict if we want it. 

The info exhibits, the sooner you impose heavy measures, the much less time it’s essential to hold them, the better it’s to establish COVID-19 instances festering in your group, after which fewer individuals get contaminated.

In case you’re like many on my social media newsfeeds, and also you’re not but fearful, as a result of no one is exhibiting signs in your group, simply do not forget that 26% of an infection transfers occur earlier than there are signs. Let that sink in for a second.