LIFE ON LOCK DOWN: DAY ONE

On March 16, 2020, at 8:00, all of Spain went on lock down to try to stop the spread of the Coronovirus. We are told to stay at home and only go out for work, food and essentials, medicine, medical care at hospitals and to walk animals. Tobacco shops are allowed to remain open to sell cigarettes, as they are considered “essentials”. I think if people had to stay at home and quit smoking cold turkey, there would probably be a civil rebellion. Companies have been urged to do everything possible to allow employees to work from home. For those employers that must have staff on site, they are told to only bring in the minimum number of staff necessary. Restaurants and bars were ordered to close this past Saturday, but the government amended that order to allow restaurant kitchens to open only for take away orders. A few have opened, but most have stayed closed.  Last night, I sat in the open window of my apartment and was amazed to find the city absolutely silent. Madrid is the third largest city in Europe, with 3.3 million residents, and yet I heard nothing.

So, what does daily life look like so far?

I had surgery on my foot about a week ago and I have to continue to use crutches to walk for another 2 weeks, so I haven’t been getting out much anyway. Until today, my biggest problem has been finding a pharmacy that can refill my medications, as many are running out of popular medicines.  I teach business and legal English here in Madrid and all of my classes have been canceled indefinitely except for 3 of my students who have chosen to do telephone classes. At the bakery down the street from my apartment, people stood in line quietly outside waiting as one customer at a time entered to buy bread.  I went to the grocery store later this morning and there was a line of people to get inside, as the store is limiting the number of people shopping. The line moved fast and people stood one meter apart. At least it had been restocked with fresh meat, milk and yogurts, but again there was no toilet paper. Really people? What is this obsession with hording toilet paper? The cash registers had tape on the floor one meter apart so that customers standing in line could maintain distance between them. Everyone is respectful of these measures and no one is complaining…yet. We have 15 days of this lock down, with the possibility of it being extended, so we’ll see if the general attitude changes.

I think the most difficult issue for most Spaniards, other than having children locked inside all day, is the inability to have any social life. The Spanish are very social creatures. They like getting out of the house to meet friends, walk in the parks, attend the theater or sports matches, sit on a terrace on a Saturday afternoon having drinks with friends, etc. Sunday lunch with the family is an institution here.  Making them stay inside at home is probably going to cause the divorce rate to increase. Already from the open windows I hear parents yelling at children out of frustration, but I also hear music and singing.

Police cars patrol the neighborhoods to make sure that people are staying out of the parks and children’s playgrounds. As I sat in the window again tonight, I strained to hear the familiar sounds of the city, but instead heard nothing but silence.