Week 3 - Coronavirus

Link to Week 2

Week 3 - March 23rd

Chaos begins.

Karnataka Govt by mistake or by plan - leaks the list of 15,000 passengers who had travelled via International Airport. Immediately everyone starts searching for their Apartment name in the list.

2 from our Apartment Complex are found. And fun starts.

A stinker message is posted in the forum - there are 2 people and they did not disclose. This is not right. One of them is coming to the terrace to do yoga in the mornings. That apartment’s other members are seen going out. Their maid and cook have gone and worked. Their garbage is being put out.This is wrong. Take it seriously. This is big. Blah blah blah. 

The association washes its hands off - they did not disclose to us.

I had to step in to put the records straight. Because one of the 2 apartments in the list - one of us was ours. San had returned from Dubai on March 13th. That time they did not tell anything about quarantine. But she thankfully decided to do a self quarantine. Our apartment is on the top floor and terrace is right above us. She climbed the stairs to the terrace and did the yoga there - around 5:00 to 5:30 am. She did not take lift ( obviously - lift service does not run to terrace ), and she did not touch any railings. But perception was set as if she was roaming around - these forum posts are dangerous I tell you! Not posting the not-too-kind messages that started going around. But here was my response. 

Morning when San woke up I told her that what was happening in ADDA forum. Read it out to her. She then corrected me on one thing - the Covid task force - she had created it. And the Association members were part of it and they knew very well! Anyway - I didn’t bother to add these 2 facts. [ Here is the account from San's perspective - from her blog ]

People are being treated like his for a healthy quarantine. What happens when someone in our apartment gets contracted with the virus? 

And our Apartment complex is one of the most gentler and peaceful places. Can’t imagine what is happening in other places. Scary indeed.

My mother who is locked in is getting angry. San - some of her daughter in law genes still work - sensed her uneasiness and said she has to go out. She loves getting groceries and veggies - we have stopped her for almost 2 weeks now and you have to take her.

Around 3PM I take her out. Make her wear a mask and give strict instruction not to touch anything. The entire layout is deserted. Only the grocery shop was open. And there were lot of people inside. Anyway we go in and most of the stuff is gone.

We wanted idly rice and it had a hole and it was leaking. Did not pick it - don’t know if the hole was created by a rat or something. There was no more idly rice. Picked couple of Maggi packets. And soup packets. We have 3 kids at home and 3 adults. Got some snacks. Kids had asked for Bounce chocolate - but only 5 star and Kitkat was there. San wanted to eat cake - only the cupcakes were there. I pay with Google pay. The shopkeeper says - I wont give discount. If I pay with card he gives apparently. I wanted to be touchless. Others were still using cards or even cash. Only few were using Google pay or BHIM.

We then went to the Veggie shop outside the grocery shop. Some 20 people were there inside. I asked my mother to stay outside and picked up stuff and billed it. 

Dropped the stuff in the car. I keep an alcohol based sanitizer in it and we both rubbed it clean. But that teeny weeny virus could still be sticking in any of the packets - or could have been in the shopping cart where the bags were kept. If it has to come it will come and hit us - there is no escaping. 

Sufi loves the lockdown the most. She goes around getting cuddles.

She watches if I am working or reading coronovirus news.

She has taken liking to this bean bag.

Amar Chitra Katha has made all their magazines free for one month. Prithvi is having the time of his life.

The new iPad Pro got released - and on the apple website there was an AR feature - we can see how the iPAD Pro looks on your table or home. We were playing with it.

Prithvi did a skull, and then made a mess off it. Here is the after picture 

Night 8 PM - Modi again addresses the nation.

Everyone is predicting lockdown. And so it is - he announces 21 day lockdown. 

This time we watch it from YouTube PM’s channel. Did not want to see Aaj Tak’s underwear Ad.

Friday,Saturday

We have a busy day. All hands for our company is planned - some 94 employees we have. All of the company is going for a pay cut - the leadership takes 30%. Desperate times, desperate measures. We have decided not to lay off anybody - but we will move people around to other teams.

Evening the call goes. Its all a bit gloomy.

Then Achu picks up high fever. Around 103. It had started after lunch time. He was complaining of headache from thursday.

First thought that came to all our minds is - is he struck by covid? We isolate him in a room, and dig out some paracetemol tablet. He complains of headache, but thankfully no cough or sore throat.

Saturday morning San installs Apollo app and they have a Q&A in it. We feed in the symptoms - it says this is not Covid but consult a doctor.

We are worried. While stepping out the security guard asks where you are going? What if we tell Doctor and they all get spooked. Already our flat has become famous ( because of San's quarantine and the police visit to stamp her ).

We use Apollo app to get an appointment - but none are available - not even online. We call a family doctor friend and she prescribes Calpol 650 MG and asks to take lot of fluids.

We wait for 2 doses, and by late afternoon - neither the temperature or the headache is reducing for Achu.

We decide to go to Apollo at Kundalahalli. At the gate, security guard asks - I just tell flat no. and move on before he asks for what?

Apollo Kundalahalli is deserted. No doctors. We then go to Aayugs in AECS layout. Its deserted, but thankfully there is a doctor. She is in full armour. She is wearing a white glove, and a surgery glove. She is wearing a blue apron. She is fully masked and is wearing a head cap as well. It is as if she is out of a Heart Transplant surgery. Kudos to her. I should not be joking. She is at the highest risk right now of catching covid.

She advises an injection and a blood test. We get home, and the injection reduces the headache.

Around 8PM I call and they send me the report. Its Dengue Positive.

We are relieved and worried at the same time. Its not covid, but dengue.

The blood platelet count is slightly above 1.5Lakhs. We need to keep it up now. Dengue we can fight.

I have a vague fear - is this the beginning? I dont know.

Link to Week 4