Tag: coronavirus

Why is the rum always gone?

We’re two months into prohibition over here, so the rum’s all gone. I’m surrounded by sugar cane farms, so could theoretically try making my own, except we’re still not allowed to leave the house except to buy food. I don’t think illegally harvesting sugar cane outside of town qualifies as buying food.

We have a booming underground pineapple beer industry, though…

And I could swear I saw a guy at the supermarket the other day planning to make his own vodka – had a trolley full of potatoes, sugar and yeast.

The government is going to announce yeast is also not allowed to be sold any day now…

and everyone had to stay home

Since my last post, only a week and a half ago, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa has increased more than ten-fold (currently 709 according to the official government website). So on Monday evening our president once again addressed the nation to announce the next step: lockdown. As of midnight tonight, for the next three weeks, all South Africans except those providing essential services will be confined to their homes. We can leave to go to the doctor or to buy essential foodstuffs and medicine only.

It’s scary. Neither the missus nor I have been sleeping well, and since yesterday I’ve been walking around with a spasm in my neck muscles so severe that I can’t turn my head or raise my right hand above shoulder height. (And I thought my stress levels hit the ceiling when I found out on Saturday that the beach had been closed…).

But I also know it’s the right thing to do, and I’m glad the powers that be are doing this sooner rather than later.

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Once upon a time, there was a virus

I think if one looks back through history, every generation likely encounters an event that changes the way the world works for them, that makes them re-think their assumptions and ways of doing things. For my grandparents’ generation it was World War II and the Great Depression. For my parents’ it was probably 9/11. And for mine it will likely be COVID-19.

Last night our president addressed the nation and declared a national disaster.

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