Thoughts of a Kazakh in Portugal

Portugal is one of the few countries of Europe which controlled the spread of virus in the early stage based on the lessons of the neighbour European countries such as Spain and Italy. Introducing the emergency state and confinement measures in the earlier stage was crucial in having less cases in Portugal. 

According to my perceptions, the Portuguese people were disciplined during the state of emergency. I remember at the end of March, middle of April, when I passed over the main public and crowdy places in Porto such as Ribeira, Aliados, Matosinhos, they were totally empty. It seemed the city is totally sleeping. People were blocked at their houses in Porto, while others went to stay at the villages around Porto city. Finally, 2nd of May the emergency state finished and the Portuguese Goverment issued a 3-stage plan to reopen the economy and facilitate the restrictions. 

Today is 30th May, 2020, when the second stage is almost over. The small shops, restaurants, bookstores, establishments providing personal hygiene services (hairdressers, barbers) are open by previous appointment and maintenance of the security measures. Next Monday, from 1 June, the 3rd stage will start with opening stores with an area greater than 400 m2 and stores inserted in shopping centres. 

Greetings from Luxembourg!

Where to start?

We are the lucky ones. I used to tell people around me, the ones who complain, that we, people of Luxembourg, are really lucky. There are not so many cases, hospitals are ready for us, our families are OK, and no it's not war. We have access to internet, good food, online shopping ... I live in a house with a garden. And could you imagine that the government pays for the salaries of parents who have children so they can take care of them as long as the schools are closed? 

But yes, really, sincerely, this situation is insane. I hope sometimes that I will wake up and all this mess has faded away. I wonder when my parents, who live abroad, will hold my little daughter in their arms. But thankfully we have WhatsApp! 

I'm not scared. I respect confinement, I respect social distance, wear my mask, wash my hands carefully... I'm a doctor so I fully understand what to do. I've seen worse on individuals during my "hospital years" but the fact is that it's a sanitary disaster to have so many people suffering at the same time.

Colorful Colorado

Welcome to Colorful Colorado! I live in the Denver metro area, which has had the majority of Colorado’s 20,000 plus cases. The state has had over a thousand deaths. We were an early hot spot, thanks to our internationally renowned ski slopes. The high country had it worse at first, but most of the cases are now in the metro areas around Denver and Colorado Springs, where my parents live. Our governor, Jared Polis, acted pretty quickly to get the outbreak under control. Our statewide stay at home order started March 26th, though several counties were ahead of him. Governor Polis lifted the Stay at Home order on April 27th for a Safer at Home program. This lifted the restrictions on some business, while still leaving strict social distancing orders in place. Restaurants and bars are still not open here for anything other than take-away. And gyms, theatres, and other social places are still closed.

Walking around the village in England

I’ve been incredibly lucky this spring – I got married last year and we had trips and activities planned for most of the 2019 and the beginning of 2020, but we didn’t have anything booked or planned for the spring except for one theatre trip. My husband was in a production of Rent that had to be played online; I was in a production of Sister Act that’s been postponed to next year, but the other play I was in went ahead just before the lockdown, and my first story-telling event at the Coffin Works, Birmingham was in February, so I’ve been lucky there too. I feel so, so sorry for everyone whose wedding has been cancelled this year and I feel like we’ve had a really lucky escape!