We’ve just clocked past sixty days of quarantine, self-isolation, social distancing, whatever you want to call it, and many of you have asked how we’re doing. It’s hard to say.

Physically? We’re good. We take our temperatures twice a day, as required by Liv’s school and Steve’s work. We keep a record for the school, and Steve updates an APP each morning to confirm we’re all healthy. As long as our temperatures remain below 37.3 degrees Celcius (99.14 Fahrenheit), we’re fine. A temperature above this is considered a fever and we will be required to go to a fever hospital. And yes, I’m sure they’re as scary as they sound.

Mentally? I think we’re doing ok. Well, as good as can be expected under the circumstances. I did spend forty minutes cleaning and sanitising the soles of my indoor UGG boots last week. I took great pleasure in digging out all the tiny sparkling diamante studs that had embedded themselves in the rubber soles of my UGG’s after one of Liv’s craft projects. And then I scrubbed and sanitised them until they looked good as new. Is this normal behaviour? No. Should I be worried? Probably not. I’m sure it’s only a result of the heightened sense of sanitation I’ve become accustomed to and having way too much spare time on my hands.

Emotionally? I’d have to say I’m up and down like a yo-yo. I feel like we’ve been running a marathon through a long dark tunnel, toward a light we thought was getting closer, but has now almost dimmed to obscurity as more and more borders have closed and planes are grounded worldwide.

I never expected this blog to veer in this direction when I began writing it, and these last couple of months have been anything but an adventure.
I’ve found it hard to sit down and write this past few weeks. Honestly, I’ve struggled to put my thoughts into words. I’m not alone. I know others are having a hard time with this too. For the most part, I think I’ve struggled with what to say for fear of scaring people and putting people offside.

So instead I’ve just been aimlessly screaming at the television news, but that isn’t enough. After seeing thousands of people flock to the beaches in Sydney last week, and hearing all the cafes in Perth were packed with people over the weekend, I can no longer stay silent. What I’m now writing comes from a place of frustration, panic and fear for my family and friends.

Over the weekend I listened each day as the Covid-19 death count in Italy rose from over 400 people in 24 hours, to 627 the next day and then over 700 the next. These are someone’s mums, dads, sisters, brothers and children. These numbers are absurd, and this is the daily death count in a country with one of the best health systems in the world. ‘Flatten the curve’, I keep hearing. I’m sorry, but this doesn’t sound like a curve to me.

I don’t think people understand the gravity of the situation, and I don’t want to look back and regret not speaking out. We have this tiny window of opportunity NOW, TODAY to make a difference and to save lives. Please, I implore you. Stay inside if you can. Distance yourself if you have to go to work or the grocery store. Protect yourself and your family from this insidious virus.

Whether it directly affects you or not, you should still care because thousands of people are dying, hundreds every day, and it’s only getting worse. This virus isn’t the flu….we have no immunity, and at this time there is no vaccine. Hopefully one day in the not too distant future it will be ‘just the flu’, but for now, it is not.

People are still debating and complaining about whether asking people to self-isolate is socially acceptable. I would argue, it is our right to live freely without danger. So for a short time, we have to give up some freedoms to protect ourselves from this danger while it is eradicated. If we don’t, we will leave others no choice but to have to make horrific decisions.

Is it socially acceptable that doctors and nurses have to choose who lives and dies because they don’t have enough ventilators? This is happening in Italy right now. And it happened in China too. Decisions like this will haunt those medics for the rest of their lives. If you, or a family member, end up in the hospital, how will you feel about someone else having to make this decision for you?

Is it socially acceptable for asymptomatic people to walk around unknowingly infecting people and endangering the life of your family?
The virus doesn’t know or care how old you are. It can, and does, infect people of all ages and it can take up to 14 days for symptoms to present themselves. Do you want to find out how strong your lungs are, or how good your immune system is? You may not end up in the hospital, but someone you love could.

How many more cities health systems do you need to see collapse? How many more planes do you need to see grounded? How many more borders do you need to see locked down? And how many more people need to die before you realise how dangerous this virus is?

Don’t wait for someone else to make this decision for you. Please stay home and protect your family and those who cannot protect themself. If you have to go to work, or go to the shops, practice social distancing and take precautions. Wash your hands, don’t touch your face, and stay safe. Please!!