We have a cluster

of Covid19 cases. As of last night there were seventeen new cases - all but two of them related to the same family.

Now this might not seem many cases over when compared with the thousands of cases elsewhere. This state has yet to hit a thousand cases but it well might if we don't get on top of this thing promptly.

The fact that they are all within the same extended family should show people how easily this thing can spread. It's a close knit family. They apparently get together at regular intervals. One of them works as a cleaner and she was cleaning at one of the hotels used for isolation purposes. It is said she did not come into contact with any of those isolating but that she "probably" caught it from some object. 

That should scare the rest of us. We need to be even more vigilant about things like washing hands, sanitising surfaces and much more. Recently I have been aware of people not sanitising supermarket trolleys despite wipes being provided. I still carry alcohol wipes with me. They irritate my hands but I use them. Everyone should use them. 

And, despite the fact that the outbreak is on the other side of the city and still confined, it has again affected our lives. Visiting the Senior Cat has suddenly become much more difficult. They may go into lock down and we would not be able to visit at all. There are no individual phones for the residents so we would not even be able to speak to him that way. 

A friend was coming for lunch on Wednesday. It is a monthly event for her. She comes after a  meeting - but not this time. The outbreak is on her side of the city.  Although she could still legally come she has sensibly decided that she won't. The meeting has been cancelled. A class she teaches has been cancelled. 

I should be going to a meeting on Saturday. That meeting should be cancelled - although I have not yet heard it has been. They need to abide by the reimposed restriction of one person per four square metres.  

The following Saturday we have our last meeting for another group. We were planning to meet outside in the park for lunch first. We might meet if next week shows that the cases on the other side of the city are under control. I think we might stay outside in order to maintain that "social distance"- if we meet at all.

And will Christmas be cancelled? Big family gatherings are on hold. I don't know whether the cleaner who has spread the virus to her family was careless or unfortunate or both. She must be very worried right now. Her elderly parents are both in hospital. If it was me I know I would be distraught.