At the beginning of the week I planned to write about the oncoming presidential election, still due in May. As I am writing this post the state of emergency has not been declared, yet I believe we might be hours from it being declared, as the situation profoundly justifies it. Nevertheless, the incumbent president kept campaigning in Garwolin yesterday. His term needs to be extended in current circumstances – we will endure a few months more with him as a head of state.
With an
invisible enemy which has brought nations to its knees and disorganises our
lives, all current affairs and plans recede into the background. We might yearn
for just a week ago was a normalcy.
On Friday,
6 March, I spent the evening in a restaurant with friends.
On
Saturday, 7 March, I last went to a local swimming pool.
On Tuesday,
10 March I last travelled to work by underground (without much fear).
On Wednesday,
11 March, I drove to the office by (private) car and took all IT equipment home
to ensure my workplace for a few weeks (my living room) is ergonomic and comfortable.
On Friday,
13 March, after the conference held by the prime minister, I rushed to
Decathlon to pick up by bike from completed pre-season maintenance (yesterday the
shop was closed and thanks to this my bike is not arrested for a few weeks).
In terms of
preventive measures, Poland is ahead of other countries at the same stage of
the epidemy. All inconveniences are pursued wisely, yet one has to bear in mind
the Polish health service suffers after years of being neglected and
underfunded. I am of the opinion further restrictions ought to be placed, with
limiting trade to groceries, pharmacies, petrol stations and other services
essential to keep life going. Rationing out food and other stuff people stockpiled
on in recent days (including lavatory paper) would in my opinion make sense, to
prevent people from making gatherings in shops.
Recovery
after the epidemy is under control is one thing, the other task will be
resuscitation of the economy. Several small businesses had to be closed down
and consequently deprived of revenue, which most expenses due to be paid, including
salaries payable to employees. Bigger enterprises usually have resources to
carry on for a few months, smaller ones might not survive a month. Here also
prevention is better than cure.
The banking
system is indeed (at least in this respect officials do not lie) well-prepared
for serious tribulations, as long as people do not start withdrawing deposits. My
insight observation is that my employer and probably no other bank has not
envisaged in its business continuity plans such widespread disruptions. We are
working to improve business continuity procedures and bracing ourselves for
helping distressed customers especially in situations when signing documentation
is impossible.
This
situation tests us for:
- idiocy – those who shrug off the peril, compare it to regular flu and rush to shops to stock up excessively fail it,
- manhood – we should be ready to help and care for the most vulnerable fellows,
- discipline – this is the time to give up on what considered to be a normal life over our entire lifetime.
- idiocy – those who shrug off the peril, compare it to regular flu and rush to shops to stock up excessively fail it,
- manhood – we should be ready to help and care for the most vulnerable fellows,
- discipline – this is the time to give up on what considered to be a normal life over our entire lifetime.
Apart from the
economy, human psyches will need to recover. Some, like me, spend this time in
isolation. Phone calls, Messenger or WhatsApp will not replace face-to-face
contact. Others are stuck with their partners or families in one dwelling,
possibly for several weeks without major breaks, which will also put their
relationships to the test. Maybe the epidemy will reshape model of fostering
relationships and appreciate being with another person, rather than with a
smartphone.
I read a
human brain needs two weeks to adjust to such unprecedented situation. 14 days
seem little, yet the progress of epidemy is faster than capacity of the human
brain – what I wrote on 1 March about the coronavirus seems outdated today. The
word which best describes where we are know is uncertainty. We do not know how
our life will look like in a week. Easter, due in 4 weeks seems a distant
future. But quite possibly, in a year life will be going on pretty normally,
hopefully.
Down-to-earth
stuff: today is the fifth anniversary of my paternal grandmother’s death.
Weather-wise,
last night was the coldest this… cold season in Warsaw, with temperature down
to –8C.
1 comment:
"I am of the opinion further restrictions ought to be placed, with limiting trade to groceries, pharmacies, petrol stations and other services essential to keep life going. Rationing out food and other stuff people stockpiled on in recent days (including lavatory paper) would in my opinion make sense, to prevent people from making gatherings in shops."
Ah - very sensible!
In Australia just now more than a hundred people are now barred from gathering together non-essentially.
"The banking system is indeed (at least in this respect officials do not lie) well-prepared for serious tribulations, as long as people do not start withdrawing deposits. My insight observation is that my employer and probably no other bank has not envisaged in its business continuity plans such widespread disruptions. We are working to improve business continuity procedures and bracing ourselves for helping distressed customers especially in situations when signing documentation is impossible."
Yes - they are honest!
And thank you for putting the three tests - manhood; discipline; idiocy - so succinctly.
In the pharmacies people are no longer using communal pens or signing their scripts.
Post a Comment