We were chatting yesterday about the abrupt shift to lockdown in Perth, and how we have had to adapt to a new situation. Again. The new, new, normal? Or just something different for a short while? Time will tell, but these bloody masks are uncomfortable. The current Perth lockdown runs through to Friday at 6pm, COVID situation permitting, and this is the story of days 1 and 2.
Monday, 1st February, 2021
Pinch, punch, first of the month. February already. Wasn’t it just Xmas? The start of the week is always a work from home day for me. For months we have both been working a mix of the office and at home, and Monday always finds me easing into the working week from the comfort of home. So in many respects the day started normal. Hybrid normal.
The first signs of anything being different, as well as us having to put our masks on to leave the house, was when the local coffee shop refused to take my reusable coffee cup. Back to paper cups from the cafe for the next week. Small sacrifices and I am grateful that the cafes are remaining open for takeaway so I am able to pick up a coffee as I get my daily exercise.
Exercising in lockdown
In keeping with lockdowns that have happened across the world, we are able to leave home for only four specific reasons. Exercise is one of those reasons and we are doing our best to make sure we take advantage of the allotted 1 hour by taking extended walks through the neighbourhood.
As the gym is closed for the week we are also adding some mat work at home. A short burst of core work for the abdominals, and a yoga class to keep our bodies moving. We are currently using the “Glo” app which is proving to be excellent. Thousands of classes spanning yoga, pilates, and meditation. I would highly recommend it if you are looking to add to your self care routine at home.
Laid on my yoga mat, staring at the large collection of wine in the kitchen is sending subliminal messages to my brain. But, Monday is an alcohol free day, so I must resist. I must.
Tuesday, 2nd February, 2021
Day 2 of lockdown and I am pleased to report that we did resist the wine. A small win for us.
Bush Fires
The day started with the unmistakable smell of smoke. The bush fires north of Perth have doubled overnight with the changing weather conditions. The update from the Premier tells us that 56 houses have so far been destroyed by the raging fires. Our thoughts are with everyone affected.
This means the government is currently fighting two emergencies side by side. Following the bush fire update at Mark McGowan’s morning press conference, he then went on to give a COVID19 update that provided a first glimmer of hope.
Testing Times
There were over 16,000 COVID19 tests done across Perth yesterday and for the second consecutive day we have zero new cases of local transmission of the virus. We saw first hand just how long people are waiting for the tests to be done as the cars were queuing around the block from the nearby testing centre. Queues of up to 6 hours had been reported at some testing centres.
Contact tracing continues for the hotel security guard that has triggered this 5 day lockdown. There is an ongoing investigation into how the virus managed to leave the hotel and early findings suggest that the security guard had delivered medicine to the room of a person who was quarantining in the hotel, and who had tested positive for COVID19.
Mental Fatigue
For the last few months I have been in the office on Tuesdays, as had the majority of my colleagues. It was a little strange once again transitioning from a large, in person meeting, to all being remote and on a video call. You will have no doubt read of the impact of mental fatigue from the various video technologies, and how the brain reacts in a specific way to seeing yourself and your colleagues on a little screen all day. This is how I am starting to feel again after only two days of being back to full remote. I know many of you still haven’t returned to the office from the initial outbreak of COVID and I can only imagine how you must be feeling.
I am taking a slightly early mark today, switching the video off, and reverting to analogue for a while. I need to recharge my brain.
The second full day of lockdown ended and the wine is still trying to tempt me to the dark side. In the remaining days of lockdown, what will go first, my willpower or the wine?
[…] again my friends, and welcome to the Perth lockdown diaries for Wednesday. You can catch up on days 1 and 2 here. Read along as we navigate the snap lockdown in […]