Just when we were getting over the COVID-19 crisis it returns. we began to think the virus was leaving the scene. The government took steps to return to normal. Businesses were allowed to open. The kids went back to school. After all, we’d had no new diagnosed cases for 4 straight days. Then it started. First there were only 2 new cases. The next day came word that 4 children and a teacher were infected. The day after that the new cases jumped to 30. A high school teacher was ill and had exposed her classes. The exposure quickly grew to actual infection. The high school was shut down and all the “healthy” students put in voluntary quarantine. But it didn’t end there. The infected students had younger siblings. Now there are two elementary schools in the same neighborhood that have also been closed. And, of course, the number of diagnosed cases keeps rising.
Our older son and his family came to our village for the weekend. They stayed with his wife’s family. They live on the other side of our little town. We are all good friends. Our son and one grandson dropped in to see us. Our two dogs went totally crazy over the arrival of visitors. We talked outside and maintained separation. Our in-laws also arrived, but they stayed on the sidewalk next to the street. Our yard is well below street level. The in-laws were not wearing their masks.
“There is no more Corona.”, they said. “It’s over.”
That evening the news reports said we had 52 new confirmed cases in the country.
This morning we heard that one of our village residents is down with the virus. Fourteen others who were in contact with her recently are now in quarantine. We decided to extend our own voluntary isolation by at least another two weeks. If the new wave of infections subsides by then we may try to make an excursion to do some local shopping. Our list isn’t only groceries. We need a couple of light bulbs, and spare ink cartridges for our computer lined printers. The weather is pleasant. My allergy season is drawing to a close. The street is lined with flowering plants, as is our yard. When one flower wilts, another, often in a different color, blooms to take it’s place. The main thing we lack is more close human contact, especially with our grandchildren. God willing, this, too, will return in time.
Wetherhorn 