Thoughts in the times of Corona — II
This morning the train was barely filled. It appears that larger numbers of people are forced to stay home. I feel for the daily wagers whose livelihoods depend on the day’s work. Will many people die due to hunger, or lack of access to vital medication? I hope not.
Usually the trains are filled to the brim, with barely any space left for sitting or standing. It is always annoying, but this morning I kind of missed the noise and din of life that defines the mornings of New York City.
I was able to easily find a seat, and yet saw many people sanding, despite of their being many empty chairs. Masks appeared today in even larger numbers.
At work, a meeting was almost dedicated to discussions about Coronavirus; safety, precautions, preparedness, as well as a few jokes about what to do if someone coughs near you! Uneasy laughter by some couldn’t hide the masks-and-gloves-colored fear that is fast engulfing the city of lights.
My son, in Kindergarten, told us last night that he had ‘a weird day’ at his school. On inquiry he explained that only 7 children had shown up. “I didn’t have to do any mathematics”, he added. His school has also sent homework for four-weeks, to keep the child engaged, in case the schools are closed.
The school has also sent an online form to see if the families of the children have access to internet, laptop, smartphone, tablets and desktops! It appears that some of the school activities may go online too.
The city has asked people to stay calm, alert and prepared. But it has also warned that the number of cases can skyrocket in the days and weeks ahead.
