The oldest daughter is currently out of work over in Canada, as her Kosher delicatessen and bagel shop has had to close for (at least) a fortnight. She’s in Ottawa and Ontario has declared a state of emergency. Because she’s a foreign national and has been there less than a year, she has a stand down period before she can get a benefit – a week. What a fabulous country. Justin Trudeau – not just a pretty face. In addition Canada has a fantastic health care system, so I’m not feeling too concerned for her.
In contrast, we have some young friends who have just been evacuated back to NZ out of the Western deserts of the USA (is that code for Vegas I wonder?), where they’ve been holidaying with a champagne lifestyle on a tap water budget – their words, not mine. All well and good at any other time, but a disastrous situation to be in right now. A country where people are panic buying guns is not a place to be. I’m sure they and their families are glad that they’re back.
Meanwhile, the twins party on oblivious in Dunedin, if the news reports are anything to go by. I’m not too surprised or worried. Young people are traditionally awful at judging risk, but I’m sure they’d much rather be where they are rather than at home in lockdown, waiting for their middle aged doctor parents to bring the virus home to share.