So, when did I start taking COVID-19 seriously? Obviously not during December or January, while the impeachment was going on. I think I can be excused for that. Most Americans were not paying attention at the time. I would say I started becoming conscious of the outbreak some time in February. I started becoming concerned in late February and early March. And it overwhelmed everything else in mid-March.
Looking at my blog posts, none up till now so much as mention COVID-19. For February I have one post on the popularity of beards in male leaders, and one mocking quiz on real American-ness. My sole post for March is about the primary (remember that?).
I have heard the recommendation that you keep a Corona Virus journal, but that is too late for me. Nonetheless, looking through work logs, I can piece together something like a chronology of growing awareness that this was a problem.
During February, China was in lockdown, and Donald Trump was saying this was the latest hoax to make him look bad, that the virus would disappear in April, that we had 15 cases and would soon be down to zero, and that we had it contained. It seemed obvious to me that China was not going to shut down large portions of its economy just to make Trump look bad, but at the same time, I was thinking of the disease as an economic, rather than a public health, issue. Clearly there was going to be economic disruption as a result of disrupted supply chains, but I still thought of the disease itself as something that was happening to China. But the US economy continued to boom and the stock market seemed unconcerned.
On the weekend of February 15-16 (based on looking back through accounts), Japan recorded a 6% year-over-year decline in its economy -- comparable to the worst quarter in 2009. I read that in the news and thought that the stock market would drop the following week (February 17-21). It did, but not as much, I thought, as the situation warranted. The following week (February 24-28), the stock market did start taking the situation seriously, and did seriously drop.
Some time around then, probably February 23, I had dinner with my aunt and welcomed the respite from the general grimness. On February 27, I met with a new client. We shook hands at the end of the meeting and he commented that shaking hands might not be safe much longer.
On either February 23 or March 1, an epidemiologist in my Shakespeare reading group (it meets on Sundays) warned us to wash our hands thoroughly, and to keep them away from our faces. She recommended hand sanitizer, but other members said that it was nowhere to be found. She said soap was good enough.
On one of those days, I went to a laundromat because my apartment laundry room was not working. I passed the time waiting for my laundry by reading the newspaper and saw the shocking news that the South Korean city of Daegu was locked down, just like China. That was when the news hit home for me that this outbreak was not confined to China; it was spreading. Other people at the laundromat also started discussing the outbreak, and they were all alarmed. One proposed that we drop nuclear weapons on the affected areas! Another suggested that this was a bioweapon that the Chinese had released to get rid of their old people. And the attendant said that if the outbreak hit here, she was quitting her job and staying home. She also said that an epidemiologist had been by and warned that we had no idea how bad it would be.
It seemed unduly alarmist to me, but that was when I started taking a lockdown seriously. As in "I know it won't happen here, but -- ." I feared a Wuhan style shutdown, with everyone completely confined to their homes, not even being allowed to go walking or to the laundry room. Would I be locked inside, washing my clothes in the sink? South Koreans were told not to venture out without a mask. Would I not even be allowed to open the window to let my cats out? That could be painful. Would people with dogs not even be allowed to walk them? What would happen to the homeless?
Nonetheless, I marked February 29-March 1 with a Facebook post wishing everyone a happy leapday and showing one baby goat jumping over another.
On March 1, I bought a pair of sports sandals. On March 2, I went on my first fear-based buying binge. I bought cat food, kitty litter, toilet paper, Kleenex, soap, shampoo, house cleaners, latex gloves, and lots of rubbing alcohol. Hand sanitizer, and Clorox and Lysol cleaners had vanished from the shelves. About the same time, I ask the bank that has my business account about getting online banking.
March 6, my first Covid related post on Facebook. I repeat an account giving New Mexico advice on hand washing. Wash your hand like you just peeled a sack of green chiles and have to take out your contact lenses. (As anyone who has touched their eyes after peeling chiles knows, it hurts.
On March 8, I publish the cartoon above. I also show it to the epidemiologist at our Shakespeare group, but she doesn't get it.
March 10, I am at work planning a Sunday Scottish dance in Santa Fe.
March 11, FOLKMADS (my square and contra dancing group) announces that it is cancelling it scheduled April 4 ball at St. John's College because the college is shut down. Other events are still on. A client comes in and shakes hands at the end of the meeting. I am conscious that we should not be doing that.
March 12, FOLKMADS cancels all events up through the end of April. International dancing also cancels until further notice. A member of our Scottish dance group suggests that we cancel. Another dismissed the idea as "hysteria." I propose a middle ground. We are a small group, so let's meet this week, reconsider each week. Weight Watchers sends out a notice assuring everyone that meetings are safe.
March 12, I have an eviction hearing in the town of Bernalillo. Between an upset stomach, heavy traffic slowed by road construction, and just plain procrastination, I arrive late. The courtroom is crowded, as it usually is on eviction days. The judge has dismissed the case because of my late arrival, but allows me to move the court to reopen. I move the court to reopen.
March 13, New Mexico public schools shut down. A client comes in and exchanges an elbow bump instead of a handshake. Sunday Scottish dance in Santa Fe cancelled. Scottish dancing for that night is on. I go to a restaurant near work, conscious that doing so is a reckless indulgence. Everyone in the restaurant is talking about the virus. As I walk through the neighborhood, everyone out of their houses shows a sort of grim sense of uncertainty. Even a homeless man tells me to stay safe. When I arrive, it turns out the meeting hall has cancelled dance. We all sit around for a while, say our farewells, and go home. The member who dismissed the whole matter as hysteria says that she is going to a restaurant.
March 14 (Saturday), I attend a Weight Watchers meeting, and then go out on another buying binge. I buy a vinyl sheet to cover our conference room table and make it easier to clean. (I also buy a new rolling mat and new earbuds, not because of Covid, but just because the old ones are wearing out). By the end of the day, Weight Watchers sends out an announcement that all workshops will be online from now on. Just a few weeks earlier we were joking about what we would do if the meeting was not available. Indivisibles (a political, anti-Trump meeting) announces that future meetings will by by Zoom.
March 16 (Monday) we celebrate my 70 year-old assistant's birthday with pizza and ice cream. One client cancels a will signing, concerned about contagion. Another client, a doctor, has a surgery cancel, and holds a will signing on the same day. I go to Metropolitan (small claims) court and find that filings are now being taken outdoors and guards are restricting who may come in.
March 18, restaurant dining rooms, health clubs, movie theaters, malls, and flea markets are closed.
March 19, mediator who is scheduled for mediation on April 9 offers teleconference as an alternative. My boss makes clear that he intends to appear in person.
March 23, I attend an eviction hearing in Albuquerque. Guards outside are asking about symptoms before letting anyone in. Very few people are allowed in the courtroom at a time. The tenant does not show up. The judge grants an eviction, postpones it till March 10 because of the emergency. Shelter-in-place order issued. All non-essential businesses are to close. My boss makes clear that he is not closing. Our firm is too small to matter.
March 24, New Mexico Supreme Court announce that enforcement of eviction will be stayed if the tenant can prove inability to pay. About this time my assistant starts working from home.
March 26, rehearing of the eviction in Bernalillo. Traffic is much lighter. Only five people are allowed into the courtroom at once. Judge enters order of eviction but stays. She makes clear that she is automatically staying all evictions for non-payment. Do I feel bad for letting my client down or good for not throwing a vulnerable person out on the street?
March 27, a client comes in to sign a will. We hold the signing in the lobby as roomier and better ventillated than the conference room.
March 30, rehearing on the Albuquerque eviction. This time it is held by telephone. Again the tenant does not show up. The judge denies, makes clear he requires actual proof of inability to pay before he will stay eviction. A scheduled mediation is moved from the mediator's office to a teleconference.
April 3, I start working from home.
April 9, I come to the office for the scheduled mediation. Otherwise I am not much use, since I am working from home.
April 13, a second rehearing of the eviction. Judge says the tenant clearly does not have the ability to pay and orders the eviction. I have misgivings about that. I go to the sheriff's office and find them closed.
April 14, I go to sheriff's office, call, and am admitted. Employees are wearing masks.
This is a personal chronology of everything going from normal to very, very strange.
