Die Redaktion hat Genoss*innen und Freunde* aus aller Welt nach ihren Eindrücken zu Corona gefragt. Hier eine Auswahl:

Barbados

The clear blue water of Carlisle Bay in Bridgetown, Barbados is usually dotted with small boats and catamarans full of locals and tourists alike. These days, huge cruise ships that call Barbados their home port are moored mere meters off the beach due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Government offices are closed due to public safety directives, social distancing is being observed and everyday business has largely ground to a halt including my job as a civil litigation attorney. Masks, soap and sanitizer have become overnight hot commodities and are held at the ready. With an island-wide curfew in effect until May 3^rd, 2020, things have definitely changed in the typical day-to-day Barbadian lifestyle.

Barbadian essential personnel including medical professionals, farmers, supermarket workers and others have gone above and beyond the call of the duty and I am confident in the resilience of my island home Barbados.

A contribution by Nicholas Jackman

Italien

Il virus COVID19 ha colpito duramente le regioni del Nord Italia: Lombardia, Piemonte, Veneto, le regioni più densamente abitate, quelle più ricche di rapporti internazionali, il motore dell’economia italiana. Si calcolano oltre 24.000 vittime in Italia (dato del 21 aprile) di cui la metà circa solo in Lombardia. Gli ospedali hanno retto all’ondata di malati COVID, ma durante il mese di marzo la situazione era disperatamente tragica. Continui ricoveri in terapia intensiva, mancanza di dispositivi di sicurezza per i medici, mancanza di respiratori per i malati… Non dimenticherò mai la triste immagine della fila di camion militari che porta via dalla città di Bergamo le bare perché al cimitero non c’è più posto. Chi ha perduto una persona cara, non ha nemmeno potuto accompagnarla per l’ultimo viaggio, perché i funerali sono vietati (per evitare contagi). Sono morti tanti anziani, le persone più fragili. Il Coronavirus si è portato via i nostri nonni. I bambini non vanno a scuola dal 17 febbraio. Seguono solo lezioni online. Hanno perso molto, sia in termini di preparazione scolastica sia in termini di socialità. I più fortunati tra gli adulti hanno potuto lavorare da casa, con lo smart-working. Ma c’è chi ha dovuto sempre sottoporsi allo stress del contatto con gli altri, oltre a medici ed infermieri, penso agli addetti dei supermercati, agli addetti alle pulizie. C’è anche chi non ha potuto più lavorare, come baristi, parrucchieri, camerieri che non sanno se, quando tutto sarà finito, ritroveranno il loro lavoro.

 Nella mia città, Verona, fino al primo weekend di marzo la gente non aveva ancora la percezione del pericolo e della gravità della situazione. Il tempo era bello, tutti hanno approfittato per passeggiare, per andare al lago, per sedersi ancora una volta all’aperto ai tavolini del bar. È difficile per un italiano rinunciare al rito della tazzina di caffè, a salutare senza abbracciare … Tanta gente si è infettata proprio durante il fine settimana del 7-8 marzo. Il governo ha dunque deciso il lockdown per tutto il paese. Improvvisamente ognuno di noi aveva almeno un amico, un parente, un collega con sospetta infezione da Coronavirus. Ed è cominciata la paura vera. Vietato uscire, se non per la spesa o la farmacia. Strade e piazze deserte. Silenzio irreale. Ogni sera alle 18.00 davanti alla TV in attesa della conferenza stampa delle autorità con la conta dei morti e degli infettati, sempre più alta…

Adesso il picco dei contagi sembra raggiunto, il numero dei malati comincia a scendere, tutti aspettiamo il 4 maggio quando potremo, si spera, uscire liberamente. Ma niente sarà più come prima. Questo virus ci ha colpiti nel profondo della nostra prerogativa di esseri sociali. Dovremo portare mascherine e guanti, stare a distanza… una situazione disumana … chissà quando potremo tornare ad abbracciare gli amici cari, festeggiare i compleanni, ad andare al mare …

Anbei auch eine Übersetzung ;)

Das COVID19-Virus hat Norditalien besonders schwer getroffen: die Lombardei, das Piemont, Venetien sind die am dichtesten besiedelten Regionen, mit den intensivsten internationalen Beziehungen und dem Motor der italienischen Wirtschaft. In Italien werden über 24.000 Opfer gezählt (21. April), die Hälfte davon nur in der Lombardei. Die Krankenhäuser erlebten die ersten Wellen der COVID-Patienten, aber im März wurde die Situation äußerst ernst und tragisch. Kontinuierlich steigende Zahl der Krankenhausaufenthalte auf der Intensivstation, Mangel an Sicherheitsvorrichtungen für Ärzte, Mangel an Atemschutzmasken für Kranke … Ich werde nie das traurige Bild der aneinander gereihten Militärlastwägen vergessen, die die Särge aus der Stadt Bergamo wegbrachten, weil es auf den Friedhöfen in der Stadt keinen Platz mehr gab. Diejenigen, die einen geliebten Menschen verlieren, können diesen noch nicht einmal auf ihre letzte Reise begleiten, da Beerdigungen verboten sind (um Ansteckungen zu vermeiden). Viele ältere Menschen sind gestorben, das sind die zerbrechlichsten Menschen. Das Coronavirus hat sehr schlechte Auswirkungen auf unsere Großeltern. Die Kinder sind seit dem 17. Februar nicht mehr zur Schule gegangen. Es folgen nur Online-Lektionen. Sie haben viel verloren, sowohl in Bezug auf die Schulvorbereitung als auch in Bezug auf die Geselligkeit. Manche Erwachsene haben Glück und können von zu Hause aus mit Home Office arbeiten. Aber es gibt Menschen in Berufen, die stets intensiv inmitten von Menschen waren, neben Ärzten und Krankenschwestern denke ich auch an Supermarktarbeiter und Reinigungskräfte. Es gibt aber auch diejenigen, die nicht mehr arbeiten können, wie Barkeeper, Friseure, Kellner, die nicht wissen, ob sie ihren Job weiterhin ausüben können, wenn alles mal vorbei ist.
 In meiner Stadt Verona hatten die Menschen bis zum ersten Märzwochenende noch keine Vorahnung von der Gefahr und dem Ernst der Lage. Das Wetter war schön, alle nutzten die Gelegenheit, um spazieren oder zum See zu gehen und sich draußen an den Tischen zusammenzusetzen. Für einen Italiener ist es schwierig, das Ritual des Kaffee Trinkens aufzugeben, sich zu verabschieden, ohne sich zu umarmen … Viele Menschen haben sich am Wochenende vom 7. bis 8. März angesteckt. Die Regierung hat daher beschlossen, das ganze Land zu sperren. Plötzlich hatte jeder von uns mindestens einen Freund, Verwandten oder Kollegen mit Verdacht auf eine Coronavirus-Infektion. Und die wahre Angst begann erst jetzt. Es wurde verboten rauszugehen, außer man wollte zum Einkaufen oder in die Apotheke. Überall waren die Straßen und Plätze wie verlassen. Eine unwirkliche Stille. Jeden Abend um 18.00 Uhr warteten alle vor dem Fernseher auf die Pressekonferenz der Behörden mit der Zählung der Toten und Infizierten, die immer weiter stieg …
Jetzt scheint der Höhepunkt der Infektionen erreicht zu sein, die Zahl der Patienten beginnt zu sinken und wir warten alle auf den 4. Mai, wenn wir hoffentlich frei ausgehen können. Aber nichts wird mehr so ​​sein wie vorher. Das Virus hat uns als soziale Wesen tief getroffen. Wir müssen Masken und Handschuhe tragen, auf Distanz bleiben … eine unmenschliche Situation … wer weiß, wann wir wieder unsere liebsten umarmen, Geburtstage feiern oder an den Strand gehen können …

Südkorea

Since 20th January, when it had its first case of infection with COVID-19, South Korea has been through one of its hardest times to struggle with the virus, and fortunately, the situation seems to be under control now: the daily cases of a new infection is around ten for recent weeks. Such success at dealing with the virus could be noteworthy, in a sense that South Korea did not close its border against China — despite several demonstrations full of hatred and racism against China urged that – and it never locked down any cities. While China and Japan were hiding the facts and toying with the number of the cases, South Korean government was not reluctant at increasing the test cases and keeping people informed about the situation; its transparency was contrasting to what was done by the former government, which tried to hide the outbreak of the MERS(Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) cases in one of the Samsung-led hospital to secure their reputation and profit and ended up scoring the second-highest number of MERS infection and death in the world. The government’s successful management with the virus resulted in a landslide victory of the liberals against the conservatives on the latest parliamentary election on 15th April. Despite the seeming success in controlling the virus, however, it is deeply questionable whether South Korea could secure people’s jobs and lives. The debate on emergency basic income is going on these days.

A contribution by Jaehoon Seo

Sri Lanka

Bereits im Januar war ich auf einer Art Selbstfindung auf Sri lanka unterwegs und war sofort fasziniert von Land und Leuten. Verliebte mich Hals über Kopf, gab mein Leben in München für die Liebe auf.Noch bevor die Pandemie solche globalen Ausmaße annahm, flog ich Anfang März zu meinem Partner. Er arbeitet in einer kleinen Bungalow Anlage im Nordosten des Landes. Das Resort liegt zwischen Gemüsefelder und Meer, weit abgelegen vom nächsten Dorf. Etwa 4 Wochen konnte ich in paradiesischer Abgelegenheit hautnah mitbekommen wie sich Covid19 auf die Menschen und die Region auswirkte.Begonnen hat es für mich, als mir einige Touristen berichteten, das sie den Eindruck hatten, das viele Einheimische im Umgang mit ihnen verunsichert waren. Z.b. das Touristen mit den landesüblichen Tuk Tuk nicht mehr mitgenommen wurden.Schritt für Schritt wurde das wirtschaftliche und gesellschaftliche Leben stillgelegt. Zumindest offiziell wurden mit einer Ausgangsperre Zeichen gesetzt, tatsächlich hielten sich aber weder Polizisten noch die höheren Staatsbediensteten an die Vorschriften.Die Polizei Offiziere, feierten ausgelassen in unserer Hotelbar. Sie sprachen oft davon das sie ganz andere Dinge erlebt haben und das Covid 19 sie nicht beunruhige, da es offiziell sehr wenig Fälle gäbe.Auch meine 10 köpfige Hotelcrew, die schnell wie eine Art Ersatzfamilie für mich wurde, blieb trotz allem ruhig. Für mich sind diese Menschen vor Ort wahre Überlebenskünstler. Helden mit dem Motto sharing is caring. Ich hatte den Eindruck das besonders ihr Glaube, ihnen hilft, die schwierige Situation zu meistern.Ich haderte lange mit mir und musste das Land und meine Liebe wegen der unübersichtlichen Lage und der zunehmenden psychischen Belastung verlassen. Ich hatte Glück und konnte mit einer der letzten vom Staat organisierten Rückflugaktionen Deutschland erreichen. Meine Gedanken sind bei all meinen Schwestern und Brüdern auf Sri Lanka, die diese Krise hoffentlich schnell und unversehrt bewältigen. Shanti, Shanti

Mumbai

From an Anonymous woman living and working in Mumbai

Since the work-from-home because of the pandemic I have been mostly writing as a part of my job or editing what my team writes. To be able to do this, I read – or try to read the relevant material – about sufferings of the marginalised, increased violence against the marginalised including the women and children, the limitations of health system and other health care providing agencies including the NGOs, the heroic efforts of front line workers, including the doctors, nurses, sanitary workers, hospital staff, outreach health workers who conduct door to door survey to find out possibility of infection to ensure early treatment, the police – their brutal and humanitarian faces, the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai – it’s officers and workers (not only the health care workers but those who provide other essential services as well) , the BEST (public buses of Mumbai) workers who have continued services for the ensuring transport to the essential care providers reaching their work places, the good Samaritans doing their own share and some anti-social elements doing their things, the impact on the larger economy, the political situations, international relations, etc.. I also read guidelines issues by several national and international bodies about what to do / good practices, for dealing with varied social issues that have come to forefront because of the pandemic.

My reading tells me about the upheaval in social lives caused by the pandemic. The newspapers are full of articles highlighting issues faced by various marginalised communities – the migrant workers – mostly unskilled or semi-skilled and surviving on daily wages- that are “trapped” in Mumbai without work, without wages often without a place to stay, some of these chose to walk hundreds of kilometres back to their villages – some succeeded, some lost life due to health conditions aggravated because of this marathon walking that were unrelated to COVID 19, some even succeeded reaching their destinations – only to be shunned by people they considered their own. The situations resolved only after the interventions by local government agencies. There are articles of sufferings of others like the commercial sex workers / those who engage in transactional sex, the trans-gender persons, the persons living with disabilities especially those who live alone with support from hired help (hired help was forced to discontinue because of social distancing and lockdown in the initial period and then allowed once the consequences were noted). There are photographs and accounts of hardships faced those living in the slums of Mumbai where single room dwellings of 10 feet by 10 feet dimensions shelter up to 10 members of a family. They survive by taking turns staying home (different people do different shift duties so the space at home is adequate) or by occupying public spaces like the footpaths to sit and sleep to claim fresh air. With these denied to them, they are suffering. Some areas of Mumbai faced acute shortages of essential food items for varied reasons. In some parts of the city, those suspected of COVID 19 infection or those who suffered from the disease were discriminated against, in some areas even those working to keep others alive and infection-free were discriminated against (newspapers carried articles of housing societies harassing nurses and doctors to vacate flats, not allowing those who returned from western countries to enter the buildings etc.). There are articles about people – pregnant women, elderly, and even others being denied health care they needed because of segregation of hospitals into COVID and non-COVID facilities or having to travel long distances to seek care. There were deaths reported because of this delay. Those who rely on otherwise excellent public transport system of Mumbai suffered the most as these have been on hold at present. Most rickshaw and taxi drivers who are migrants have chosen to leave or stay at home. Some have responded to the appeal to provide services, but people still suffer because of regulations like one person per rickshaw and two per taxi. There is news of others saying / spreading rumours, unscientific information about the pandemic and more writeups / articles for creating awareness about these. I feel the regional daily’s are doing a better job at this compared to the English national ones – or it is my biased view perhaps.

People I know have been talking about being bored to tears, of feeling depressed , feeling trapped at homes, burdened with chores that usually are carried out by house help, being at a loss of ideas for spending time, of losing hope. Strangely, I do not share their dejection. I have been lucky so far. I too have been under lockdown for as long as the others, but I have no other first-hand experience of the pandemic. I am at home with people I care for. Availability of essential items did not change much for me. It is true that the costs have gone up a lot, but groceries vegetables and fruits are available in the market. For a city that provides everything and anything, local or global to its residents all the year round – limited items on sale appear a bit strange but I was not forced to live on food inadequate in terms of quality or quantity – I am thinking here about the accounts of the great famine from the pre-independence era or the rationing my parents’ generation talked about from the time before India attained the green revolution. I was lucky enough to not have required health intervention during this period. I was not trapped away from home, did not have to experience isolation for suspicion of harbouring the infection. I have not even lost my job – there may be a pay-cut, but I would still have a job to return to should I want that. So, did the pandemic affect me at all?

Yes, it has. I have found myself feeling guilty for not having suffered more – the survivor’s guilt. I am worried of being labelled for having been lucky when lacs and lacs of fellow countrymen and women have suffered. I am worried about being looked down upon for the luxury of work from home. And for many more reasons. To me one thing this pandemic and resultant lockdown highlighted was the readiness of our society to discriminate – the division of us and them comes very easily to us. And while sometimes it fuels the good deeds (for example, the realisation among people that ‘we’ have access to food and kitchen to cook it in so let’s feed ‘them’ who have none – and this resulted in many families cooking one person’s meal in addition to their family members and contributed to initiatives providing food packets to the stranded persons) but more often this results in creating a negativity at several levels. and for a long time.  This has again brought forth the social divide there is a class that is so well insulated against all the ill-effects of the lockdown and yet this is the class whose members were among the first Indians to have brought the infection from other countries on their business trips, pursuits of higher education, vacations abroad. And then there is the masses the migrants, daily wage labourers, the millions staying in slums who now are paying the price by being confined into tiny homes, having lost sources of income, worrying about the next meal and future after the lockdown lifts. The need for preventing mass migrations from villages in northern states to cities across India too is highlighted. The pandemic has forced us to focus sharply on the social inequities again.

And yet, being at home has had its benefits for me. I could do so without feeling guilty. Before this I have worked from home but always as a favour from the employers to be able to discharge my responsibilities towards my family. Now that is not the case. I have realised how much the din the noise of every day crowds bothers me, and I am enjoying the peaceful environment. I have also realised that I need to be around the tiny slice of nature that is accessible for those in Mumbai – the plants, tress, birds and butterflies add to the peace of mind. For the first time in my life I think I have been able to sleep for 8 hours at night – I think it must be true for most of the residents of Mumbai. So, it is okay. I have a big list of things I want to do for which I have not found time yet because work from home is limitless – goes on beyond the necessary 8 hours and spills over on Sat and Sun as well. This one is supposed to do because of the liberties of working from home. I do not like it, but it has been always like this doing it for several years now. So, this is how it is for me.