51°µÍø

The coronavirus outbreak is affecting lives all over the world. This week, the 51°µÍø caught up with former Jasperites who are scattered across the globe to see what the pandemic looks like  they are.

Stuck in Peru

COVID-19 cases: 395+

I have been travelling for five months in South America with the intention of travelling for five more before returning home to Alberta for my friend's wedding. COVID-19 has affected me because now I have to cut my travels short and I’m very sad to have to return. It was announced that my flights would be cancelled so I wouldn’t be going to Patagonia (cue tears); worse than that I was given only one day’s notice before Peru closed their borders and shut down their airport. They left tons of tourists stranded here on a 15 day quarantine. Tons of travellers are panicking trying to find a way home, but will only be able to figure things out once the quarantine is lifted. 

Peru is taking the pandemic really seriously here, with a very strict quarantine. Currently there are 15 people in my shared guesthouse not allowed to leave. We are only allowed out of the house one at a time, and only to get groceries and supplies. We make lists for the next person to go out. We have to wear a face mask when we go to the market, and we’re not allowed out past 5 p.m. 

If we go out more than one person at a time we risk getting arrested, so we’re keeping ourselves busy in here. Alcohol is illegal right now, some police have been raiding hostels to make sure people aren’t drinking. Military is roaming the streets, but they’re the only ones. 

It’s pretty crazy seeing such a buzzing city like Cusco as a ghost town. Luckily we have a view at the top of the guesthouse, so we are getting some sunlight. The people in the house are all very beautiful and come from different places in the world, so it’s pretty interesting getting to know everyone. We’re passing time doing yoga, playing cards, and even have fashioned a handball game in our little space. We watch pandemic movies, talk about what would happen if there were to be a zombie apocalypse and who we would eat first if things went under. Luckily we have a big kitchen so we’ve been making some pretty good meals too, not made from human flesh. Joking aside, once the quarantine lifts, everyone will try to make it back home, but most of us will be waiting for the go ahead to return once things get under control. 

Destiny Laine Rever, Cusco, PeruÌý

Currently we are social distancing and self-isolating. Schools and offices are impacted, so we are working from home and also trying to keep the kids busy, occupied and calm. We are fortunate that spring is here in Texas and are able to get outdoors. My parents were just visiting last week from Jasper and we cannot believe how the global environment has changed within a week. My husband’s parents live in England and his father has COPD (a pre-existing lung issue) so this is a worry being so far away, but we are all taking it in stride.

We are currently under work from home instruction through 3 April, expected to extend. Kids are at home as schools are closed through 13 April (expected to go longer). Local school districts are providing take out schools meals and an online teaching and learning portal to help parents. The local government has recommended social distancing and self-quarantine. Restaurants seating is closed but takeout and delivery is available (local authorities have temporarily allowed alcohol to be delivered!)

Yes, very seriously but people are trying to be pragmatic as this might last a while and we all need to adjust to this new way of living. There has been an element of panic buying, but staples are stocked daily; purchase restrictions and reduced opening hours are in effect at grocery stores. There has been limited COVID-19 testing to date in Houston, however this week we have seen drive through testing sites open for those with symptoms.

Holly Hawkins, Houston (Katy), Texas, USA

My company started a mandatory home office about a week ago. Together with my wife, we have now an office space in our living room, trying to coordinate our conference calls so we are not overlapping. We have been social distancing for 11 days now, going outside only for groceries two times a week. We don't own a car, but with the virus outbreak, we stopped using public transportation, leaving more space for those who have trouble walking. I'm concerned about my parents who are in one of few cities that are locked-down – too many confirmed cases in the area.

Emergency state was declared about a week ago when the numbers of infected people started to rise. The emergency measures are: we are not allowed to go outside unless going to work, shopping (groceries, pharmacy, and other essentials), helping family members. When going outside, a face mask is mandatory. The only open shops are grocery stores, drugstores, pharmacies, restaurants with delivery only, and few other vital shops. Elderly people (65+) can shop between 7 a.m and 9 a.m. Borders are closed. Sick people are in quarantine as well as those who came in contact with them.

At the beginning, people thought it's just another flu and nobody was taking the coronavirus seriously. Italy started to be affected but people thought it's only in Italian cities and so many of them visited the Italian Alps anyway. Those were the first imported cases. Unfortunately, people did not abide with the quarantine rules and the virus spread. Then the government started with the emergency measures. Now there is no way to buy respiratory or any other mask. People are sewing their own, even for hospitals. Disinfection, single-use gloves, paracetamol – all is sold out.

Pavlína Ingrid Schuster, Brno, Czech Republic

COVID-19 has affected others and myself here in different ways. This is all people are talking about right now. 

I've self quarantined, I only leave to buy groceries. Most things are sold out, I can't buy rice, cleaning supplies for the house I am managing, not to mention the toilet paper situation. No one at the house has any, it's been sold out almost immediately for weeks now. It has gotten so out of hand that stores have had to put purchasing restrictions and signs everywhere. A lot of items have gone up in price, which is a huge inconvenience not just for me, as shifts are being cut due to the pandemic. 

So now I am social distancing myself which is kind of hard and disappointing given that the reason I am over here is to work and travel.

I am a bit concerned, I have still seen crowds of people going to beaches, grocery stores, and even on public transport. However there have been a lot of other measures taken such as all international travellers being denied entry, events being called off, and limits on large gatherings. 

Hospitality in Australia has taken a huge hit with mass layoffs. This has affected myself as well as my friends substantially and left my future here in limbo. There is every reason to anticipate that people will start taking this more seriously.

Meg Deschamps, Sydney, Australia

I was working a ski season in Japan, but had to go home early due to COVID-19. Japan had no masks since it went on the news, they put a quote of one box per person. People were still heaps chill in Tokyo, people were still out eating and drinking, nothing really changed in comparison to previous times I have been there.  The Shibuya Crossing as well was just as busy with a sea of people still crossing every time.

When I got back to Australia, I was immediately placed into quarantine on arrival at the airport. I was given a fact sheet on the do's and don'ts. With social distancing, the virus has killed the hospitality industry, this has greatly affected job prospects as the economy is now in free fall which will make it harder to find a job.

As of March 23, the New South Wales government has shut down all non essential services and businesses such as bars, gyms, restaurants, libraries,  beaches and places of worship they are all banned from operating. Borders between states and territories are now closing, restricting travel of citizens. Free testing for all people including travellers to help recognize the infected and control the spread. 

There has been a wide range of responses from the public. Some have been heeding the warnings and working from home and trying to stay inside quite a bit. Others have been out carrying on as if nothing has changed. There have also been serious cases of hoarding for no reason as well which has led to a wide array of assaults including one Tamworth man who put a police officer in a headlock before being tasered due to no toilet paper in the store

Luke Hackett, Sydney, Australia

First the government shut down schools and then they ordered pubs and restaurants to close so there was nothing open for St Patrick’s Day on March 17.

My restaurant closed on Friday, but before then we were doing free deliveries or collection with payments over the phone. Food is left outside customers’ doors or outside the restaurant so there is no contact with the public. My restaurant was also giving free food to hospitals and care workers which I think was really nice. Their idea was not to make profit but to break even and try to keep us employed even if it’s less hours than usual. 

There are still people just walking outside and kids hanging out so I think soon they are going to do a proper lockdown and not allow people to wander.

It’s sad but I think here they did things fast so I’m hoping it won’t be as bad as Spain and Italy.

Mercedes Calfapietra, Waterford, Ireland

Here in New Zealand the virus hasn't really been around until a couple of weeks ago. As of Wednesday we will be in full lockdown with only supermarkets and essential work places open. 

I work in a restaurant and have now shut, hopefully government funding will allow me to still get a weekly income for rent and food. 

As we have no cases in my town, it doesn't really seem real and not everyone has taken it too seriously. Myself included. I’m glad we are going into lockdown so hopefully we can get back to normal quickly.

Laura Messenger, Wanaka, New Zealand

My office has completely closed down as of last Tuesday (nobody there) and everyone is working from home which has been quite an an adaption. Doing a presentation over Skype is not as easy as it sounds when there’s always at least one person with horrible wifi.

The tube network through London has been cut down a lot to try and encourage everyone to work from home while still running for the key workers (nurses, doctors, supermarket staff etc).

We’ve now as of last night been put on lockdown except for one form of exercise per day as long as it’s only with people from your household and you are now only able to go out for essential food and supplies and medicine.

New laws are now coming into effect where the police will be able to break up gatherings of people who are not following these rules.Ìý

To be honest I think a lot of younger people weren’t taking it seriously until recently.

Last weekend as all the pubs and bars were closed, most Londoners converged onto the parks because it was sunny out but equally weren’t following the social distancing measures. This caused most of the parks to shut down as people weren’t taking the measures seriously enough.

I’m constantly surprised as well the very few times I’ve been to the grocery store (last Wednesday and Saturday) that there has been so many people as out, almost feels like business as normal just with a lot less toilet paper and more hand sanitizer.Ìý

AndreaÌýThomas, London, UKÌý