Real stories: how is quarantine in other countries

Sitting at home the world do not look, and it is so interesting what happens abroad! We collected several stories from residents of other countries about quarantine. In general, conditions are similar everywhere, but people consider this in different ways.

Torrevieja, Spain (Andrey, Photographer)

I live in Torreviej – this is one of the most popular resort towns among the Russian-speaking population. Respectively and compatriots live here and works well, a lot. There are Russian shops, cafes, bars, restaurants, beauty salons, real estate agencies and so on.

Quarantine was introduced from March 14 (pre-15 days). Closed beaches, restaurants and almost all public leisure activities. The exit to the city is allowed only by one and only to the store, pharmacy, to work and walks dogs. Fineds were introduced (from 100 to 30,000 euros) for non-execution, and the streets are patrolled by the police. But at the same time, panic in the city is not observed. Individuals come across among local bloggers who are trying to dig something like that, but they themselves are minimized from their words.

People respond to the situation in different ways. Basically, of course, the people are upset at least the fact that they are forced to sit without work (who can not work remotely). But the mood is positive.

Every evening at 20:00 we go to the balconies and applaud all the city to doctors and police officers who do everything possible to combat the virus.

By the way, in stores full order, all products in place! Is that the passage to the store is once permitted in a certain number. The rest stand on the street in line at a distance of one and a half or two meters from each other (special markings are made right on the road). At the entrance to the store, we mandatory handle the hands with an antiseptic and wear gloves (and an antiseptic, and gloves are issued at the entrance to the store). Toilet paper is also on the spot – take not want!

As far as I know, there are restrictions on the country and cities. In the car, no one, except the driver, with the exception of public transport, which for the word runs in the usual mode. In general, we sit at home and hope for the best!

More pictures See in Instagram Andrei.

Milton Keynes, England (Natalie Trukhel)

I live in the city of Milton-Keynes (Milton Kins) in England 70 km from London. The city is not a resort, there are almost no Russians here, but there are Russian-speaking, mainly from Latvia and Lithuania. The city is considered absolutely not typical for England, the development of the American sample. All the latest technologies are introducing and testing with us. For example, the delivery is carried out by robots, the operations at the local hospital also make robots. There are smart traffic lights.

As for quarantine: Now it was officially introduced in England. We can leave the home for urgent matters and once a day for a walk. Closed schools, parks, canceled large events, closes restaurants, entertainment centers and shops. Pensioners are not recommended not to see the younger family members. Many companies transferred employees to the remote. If I had not seen empty shelves in supermarkets, I would say that there are no panic.

But what is happening in supermarkets, scares very. Empty shelves. We can’t buy eggs for several days. Toilet paper have not seen 2 weeks 2 in general. People come an hour before the opening of the store to take a queue and snatch their meals. For 10 am products almost no. Supermarkets abandoned the 24-hour operation mode, so that at night you want to set the goods. You can buy no more than 2-4 products of one type in hand.

My husband is working on the delivery of goods from a warehouse in a supermarket. Every day he and his colleagues bring many products and even toilet paper. But people bind all at the moment. That is food in the country enough, just the staff do not have time to bring and lay out the goods on the shelves.

Prime Minister of Britain still not closed the borders of the country. He believes that 80% of the population is sooner or later COVID-19. He wants to develop immunity from the population, as it assumes that the virus will become seasonal.

In this post I explained the position of Britain on quarantine. Not all the information is still relevant there (schools have already been closed), but the general meaning is clear.

In recent days, the British government tightens measures. Perhaps this is due to discontent of the population, which are asked to close the country for quarantine and with discontent of other countries regarding the British strategy.

All this, of course heavily. It’s hard to sit locked up, lose work, forced to change the way of life. But I want to believe in good.

More relevant news are looking for Natalie in Instagram.

Limassol, Cyprus (Victoria, Marketer)

Since the city and island are small, as soon as information about infected, the authorities immediately took action. Who can be promptly transferred to the remote, they said to sit at home and announced quarantine until April 30. The banks are allowed in turn and measure the temperature at the entrance, in small stores it is necessary to stay apart from each other at a distance of five meters! Inside there are gloves and antiseptics so that we can touch without fear.

There is no deficit in products, people actively bought reserves only during the first cases of infection, then calmed down. And electricity at the time of quarantine will be cheaper by 10%.

With transport, things are more interesting. The Ministry of Transport issued a disposal of carriers to not fill its vehicle more than half. This measure concerns all carriers: airport transfers, tourist trips, any urban, rustic and long-distance transportation.

In addition, in each bus and taxis in a prominent place should be a certificate about the passage of disinfection, indicating the date of the last sanitary procedure and its term. Vehicle without such a certificate from March 18 cannot carry passengers.

And we hold and wait!

Baku, Azerbaijan (Tatiana)

In the city of Panic has already slept, because Quarantine has begun enough. For about three weeks, educational institutions, bars, cinemas, theaters are accurately closed; Cafes and restaurants work up to 9 pm.

Most Most Local Holiday ; Novruz Bayram ; and all related mass events (bonfires, dances and so.) Canceled. Entrance to the city is closed for those who have no Baku registration. This is done so that people do not come to Baku from other regions of the country.

The first thing was closed the border with Iran (where the first contaminated came from), then closed the border with Georgia, and from the 18th and with Russia. At the same time, for the return of Russian citizens of the border open. Transportation through the border are also open, but the police are convil.

Azerbaijan accepted the assistance of WHO, so doctors went throughout the country and instructed, it came to the fact that at the entrance to the cafe they offer sprinkle an antiseptic to hands. In stores calm enough, because people here always have stocks on their big family, and meat with vegetables are enough for everyone.

The people in the city became less, cars too. All in gloves, few missions, all rubbing hands, many stopped kissing when meeting, and they are hard. All service companies operate, gas services and doctors are also all at work (they promised to raise the salary during the epidemic).

In general, I am pleasantly surprised by the fact that here it was quite responsible for quarantine, because medicine is not in the best condition, and it could be all very bad.

Tel Aviv, Israel (Veronica, Marketer)

We have no panic in the city, people understand that all the measures taken is constrained by the spread of the virus. We leave the house to the store, pharmacy or walk the dog, the job was transferred to the remote. Shelves in stores are not empty, everything you need. At the entrance to the supermarket, you measure the temperature and follow the number of people at the same time, the rest are waiting in the queue outside.

Quarantine introduced in the country, and quarantine measures are constantly tougher, the recommendations of the Ministry of Health are now obligatory, for whom the violation of which are fined.

5,000 shekels for disturbing quarantine, 3,000 shekels for a meeting more than 10 people, 5,000 shekels for open without business permission.

Shopping centers, cinemas, bars, restaurants, fitness centers. All leisure activities are canceled, except for religious ceremonies, such as weddings, funerals and prayers, but not more than 10 people and at a decent distance from each other. Imagine such a wedding?

Moving around the country is also problematic. Limited bus movement time and the number of people in them so that there is no crowd. Well, all who enter the country from abroad, must be on quarantine for 2 weeks, for this strictly followed.

Government is also actively involved. Ministry of Health presented the application for smartphones ; shield ;, which reports to its users, they were not located near the person, with a confirmed coronavirus. The Ministry of Health loads data on new patients, the application notifies anyone who was in close proximity to the patient’s movement route (14 days) using active geolocation. It is very convenient and removes light parano.

Magnchal, Italy (Oksana)

I live in the Tuscany region in the small town of Marclars (about 500 inhabitants), it is located between Florence and Siena. Zone Chianti, Hills, Vineyards, Olive Grips, Beauty around – Region Active Tourist. Russians come rarely, they are more aimed at Florence. In season, many tourists from Germany, Poland, France, America. From Russian residents only I have noticed, steel nest closer to the district center.

Panic in the city is not observed. People comply with the rules of home self-isolation: come out of the house only to work (who else works), in the store-pharmacy, walking the dog or for other reasonable needs. Everyone complies with a valid distance, greelly greets and communicate through fences. There are, of course, rebellious comrades, but little.

But this is not a quarantine, strictly speaking. On quarantine there are people with the symptoms of ORVI or with the diagnosis of coronavirus. All these people do not have the right to leave the house without a valid reason and move by groups from two people – only one by one. Police controls people on the streets and fines those who came out without good reason.

People in general are calm, in moderation concerned with terrible news. Restrictions include mainly understanding and respect. Everyone understands that this is for our security.

In the shops allow a limited number of people at the same time, like everywhere, probably now. Therefore, queues are built to the stores. People standing at a distance of a pair of meters from each other and communicates waiting. Empty shelves are very quickly filled. A couple of days ago, shelves were empty with domestic food, and today they are already filled. There are no problems with toilet paper, but the Italians in this sense are atypical – every home has a bidet. Hard to buy disinfection and masks. But probably.

Turn to the store. Florence

Until April 3 in Italy, decree acts, prescribing to everyone at home. From this it is logical that all events are canceled. All educational institutions are closed – all moved to online training. What will happen next – see.

The main goal of self-isolation is to reduce the load on the hospital, since their resource is very limited: few beds, personnel and equipment IVL. Doctors now answer calls from 9 to 21. Hospitals take volunteers, doctors in pensions or other specialization. The whole police are thrown to the patrols of the streets.

I think that restrictive measures will last and after April 3. Obviously, Italy will fly into a powerful crisis, as the production is partially suspended, and the tourists this summer is hardly coming.