Corona Virus - Sayulita March 17, 2020

We have spent the last few weeks watching the headlines online as the Corona virus progressed.  Not much had changed here.  The tourist numbers have been down all season but there are other reasons for that.  Our rental reservations had dried up for any dates after the Mexican two week Spring Break was set to begin.  Understandable considering where our reservations have come from this year and restrictions for travel up north. That was ok with us since we had planned to be away at that time anyway.  No big deal.  Our hope was that things would not get too influenced by the containment efforts until school was out, Ashley was back home and we could spend the two week Spring Break up in Baja surfing and camping being away from it all.

The first real change we experienced was when Trace and I went to the local Mexican Immigration department last Friday, only 5 days ago.  We went to do some finger printing to renew his VISA and before we could sign in to take a number and wait our turn for assistance we had to use hand sanitizer.  It was the first noticeable change that we saw. All else was normal and had been normal.  Eating street tacos, going out for dinner like always with the family and friends.  We even went grocery shopping and there was no sign that there had been a run on supplies or there was a toilet paper shortage like we had heard about up north.

Ashley had been home at the time and we were keeping tabs on things up north.  Dismissive attitudes by those in the US Federal Government, inconsistent information, errors and clarifications in communications made it hard for us to decide if Ashley was going to go back to Atlanta when she needed to.  International flights had been effected but not so much domestic flights and passenger loads on airplanes were dropping.  Fewer people were flying understandably.  So, we decided that Ashley would go back and report to work.  If the flights had fewer people on them they would be easier trips, if flights were cancelled then she would get paid anyway for sitting.  If she refused to show up we were not really sure how that would shake out with her job and any kind of compensation if this went on for the long term.  Ashley decided she would go back to Atlanta and hope to return before the spring break holiday as we planned.

About that time the first real significant move from Mexico happened.  All schools in Mexico would be closed for two weeks preceding the two week Semana Santa Spring break.  This meant that the kids would be out of school for at least one full month and the highly anticipated yearly Celebrate the Beat dance performance would be at the very least postponed.  We thought we had some time before bold moves like this would happen.  We had renters from Canada and they also began to wonder just what kind of conditions and required quarantine they would find when they flew back later in the week.

The 4 day weekend looked to be pretty busy in town by all accounts and the kids were looking ahead at their short, four day school week and their unexpected extended spring break.  Ashley flew her first trip back in the States and had some disturbing information to share.  Delta was not even providing any real advanced protection to their flight crews.  The same old crappy disposable gloves, no masks etc.  Airline crews are on the front lines in this situation and Delta cannot even provide them with appropriate protection?  Really?  WTF?  So, I get a message from Ashley basically resigned to the inevitability that at some point the virus will find her.  She will be alone in Atlanta and cannot retreat to any of the in-laws houses if something happens.  On the plus side she has a crazy immune system after 23+ years of flying with nasty humans and will kick this if she does in fact get sick.  We are not even sure she will be allowed to come home in two weeks and if she does she may need to be quarantined as well.  So many unknowns at this point.  We are here.  She is there.

Some things like Alex' horse program and the kid's SUP practice have continued.  SUP fills the requirements for "social distancing" and it is good for the kids to see friends and be in the water for some exercise.  While at SUP practice yesterday we got the news that even the short 4 day school week leading up to the extra two weeks off would be cancelled.  So, at this point, there will be a total of 3 weeks of school off PLUS the two week Semana Santa spring break totaling 5 weeks off from school.  The teachers are trying to put together some sort of online curriculum so we will see what happens.  Fortunately the upper grades have few books and operate mostly via computer already so I am sure they will come up with something.  Looks like we have caught up to the rest of the world as far as keeping the family at home and away from mingling with others.

As of yet there are very very few cases of the virus here in Mexico but that does not mean it isn't lurking and waiting to show itself.  Fortunately they are making quick and decisive moves in hours/days vs weeks and taking the matter seriously.  The problem ahead of us is getting Ashley home at some point and making sure all the grandparents continue to be in good shape.  The next concerning is Semana Santa.  The tradition is that the interior of the country empties out to the coastal beach towns for the two week holiday.  They will come and come by the bus load and car load.  We have yet to see what the Mexican gov't will do or whether they will try to prevent such large numbers of people traveling inside the country.  That includes us since we are scheduled to be on a ferry in April traveling to the beach as well up in the Baja.  Not sure how that is going to shake out.  For now we just hunker down like everyone else and wait it out.

That's it for now.  I will venture out to hit the big grocery store tomorrow to do my weekly shopping plus get a few extra things.  Today, the bank.