Lock-down Day 37

I had a good night, woke at five, Mini dropped something off the bed to wake me. I turned over, though, as it's still dark. I let them out around seven, again. By eight, Mewthos was mewling up a storm - as usual! By the way, his German name is Miauthos!

Internet is still very slow, but I managed to get the game done, collect, re-set, just the basics.

Political rant alert.

When this virus first made the news, I didn't see why there's such a fuss over a type of flu, which has such a high survival rate - especially as some people are completely asymptomatic. Then I understood that it's not the deadliness of the virus, but that it spreads so fast that it would completely overwhelm all medical facilities - there aren't enough hospital, and especially ICU beds for all who would need that, if the virus could spread unchecked.

Okay, so it made sense to lock down. The virus has a maximum 2 week incubation period. So it makes sense to lock down for 2, at most 3 weeks - by that time, everybody who was infected, either has symptoms or has got over the disease.

That is also in line with what Dr Karim said. By the 18th April, they would know whether the data on community transmission is accurate, on which the plan to ease lock-down will be based.

Lock-down was extended by 2 weeks.

And that's where information stopped. No statement whether the data proved to be accurate or not. Nothing. The entire country was simply left in the dark ... waiting, hoping. Not one day, not two days, nor 3, 4, 5 days ... we were left in the dark for 6 whole days! On day 6, we were told there would be an announcement ... just not WHAT TIME!

Then it was announced that nothing would change for another 6 days. No explanation. No information. No reason. No more dates, either - nobody knows how long we'll be in Level 4, or on what data the decision will be based. It did sound like definite easing, a lot more freedom.

And then, a day before Level 4, the truth was announced: The changes are minimal. Essentially, it's an extension of Level 5. The government and the president have no authority at all, only one person has full control - and THAT is intolerable.

Right now, in my personal opinion, what is happening - at least in this country - is no longer constitutional. It has nothing to do with the coronavirus, COVID-19 or health. An actual easing of the lock down, moving slowly from full lock down back to something akin to what we think of as normal - THAT would make sense. Allowing employers to re-open business based on their ability to meet Health & Safety requirements, THAT would make sense! But this selective opening of exclusive business' - lacks rationale!

Starting a fund, naming it 'Solidarity Fund' and then excluding people and business based on their skin colour - not acceptable!

Allowing the sale of 'winter clothes', but not underwear; allowing the sale of hardware - ONLY to repair business'; allowing exercise along the beach - but not in the water (groups of walkers & cyclists were left alone, surfers were arrested); allowing the distribution of food parcels - but not cooked food; seven people may crowd into a minibus - but only if that minibus is 'public transport', restaurants may open for delivery - but eCommerce stays closed ... the list of contradictions goes on and on.

Petrol prices have dropped, yet, instead of the normal extension of that drop to basic food & other prices ... basic food prices have gone up! Food parcels issued by government are stolen by the government officials who were meant to distribute them! Food parcels claimed to be 'valued R1200' show items worth less than R200! 

The scary part is that ONE PERSON rules. Worse than any dictator - and flaunts her authority. Just like our last president, her ex-husband. And HE got away with everything! Rape, corruption, theft - everything. I don't see that about to change ... South Africa is no longer a democracy, but a totalitarian dictatorship. Heil Zuma! Whether Jacob or NDZ - same shit.

Seeing how many people are suffering, and starving ... with no rational explanation ... effectively watching genocide in progress ... it's frightening! Plus, of course, it affects me personally ... I don't know whether the company I work for will survive, whether there will be a job for me to go back to ... how far must I stretch my current resources?

This is unconstitutional. It is illegal. Law suits are being filed, yet I am very much afraid they will have no effect ...

But I, for one, have had enough!

Rant over.

Thank you for your patience :)

I've now taken out my vaper. I meant to start adding filters to my cigarettes today, but I'm feeling rebellious! Which will bite me in the rear soon enough, I know ... it's my rear, though! Go ahead, bite me!

I've enjoyed a nice nap, even though mippies walked away from me, ha ha! I'm not in the mood to do anything today - again. I'm just tired ... tired of all this ... whatever you want to call it.

Mippies came in with no trouble - well, we had to wait quite some time for Ziva, again, but not as long as last night!

Ha Ha, Janey just jumped into the shelf above Ziva's! Now they are shelved, one cat per shelf! Mewthos is curled up on the bath mat, mini on the bed. I'm not hungry, nor in any mood for a bath ... It's been a bad-mood, unproductive, iffy kind of day. Maybe I shouldn't post my rant ... but I will. I just opened my last carton of cigarettes ... which must last me until it's legal to buy cigarettes again. Some twat started a petition to permanently ban tobacco in SA.

Let me quit now, before I sink any deeper ... hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.

Today's numbers: 217522 tested, 5951 positive, 2382 recovered, 116 deaths.

DA just posted: 230686 tested, 6336 positive, 2549 recovered, 123 deaths. Data not yet on sacoronavirus.co.za ...