Coronavirus: What to do so you don’t feel the urge to panic!

It’s confirmed.

Germany is under quarantine.

What this means is that we don’t yet have a total lockdown but social restrictions have been imposed.

Strict instructions now stipulate that people are banned of gatherings with more than two people at a time outside of workplaces, families, and people living in the same household, and that we MUST stay at home and can only venture out if absolutely necessary such as for work, health-related reasons or to go to the supermarket.

At a time like this, I am glad that we have a leader such as Angela Merkel.

A leader who is strong, efficient, straight to the point and tells it like it is.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Get the latest information from the World Health Organization about coronavirus. WHO

Because we ARE officially in the midst of a global pandemic that the World Health Organization (WHO) has labelled as a “public health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC).

Everyone is most worried.

And we should be.

Movement of people across the planet has been grossly reduced or outright restricted.

And people are dying.

As a result, panic has struck in with people stockpiling food, looking for who is to blame by finger-pointing, reducing non-essential movement, locking down communities and closing borders.

But in some places, people have become so overwhelmed that they’ve decided to ignore all the warning signs, have Corona Parties, (auf Deutsch) – weil Sie feiern trotzdem draußen mit Partystimmung im Park und Verstöße in Kneipen – make merry, and carry on as if it’s Christmas!

I love you, but I’m looking at you Berlin!

Mit Abstand halten das #Coronavirus eindämmen? So richtig mag das (noch) nicht klappen https://t.co/ScRpY6C0YG #SocialDistancing #wirbleibenzuhause #COVID2019de #Berlin #Brandenburg pic.twitter.com/kFyYMkLbMa

— rbb|24 (@rbb24) March 19, 2020

And don’t think you can get away with it London, because you’re just as bad.

In fact, you’re worse!

Drinkers ignore pleas to avoid pubs on final night before UK-wide lockdown #Coronavirus #Lockdown #LockdownUK
CoronavirusLockdown #UKLockdown #ClosureofPubs #LastHurrah #barsandpubs #bars #pubs #SocialDistancing #parties #beer #drinking https://t.co/7BERosEFYE

— Thebritishberliner (@britishberliner) March 21, 2020

Boris Johnson announced that cafes, bars, restaurants, gyms and leisure centres were to close and what did Londoners do?

Rush to the pub for a last hurrah!

I’m not here to tell you what rumour is right or wrong ‘cos I’m not the government and neither am I a doctor!

All I can advice you to do is NOT to go to your local doctor if you’re feeling ill, but to call or Email instead, listen to the instructions of your government as per where you should or shouldn’t go, take extra precautions with cleanliness and health, and use a bit of common sense!

If you live in America, please follow this link:

If you live in the UK, please follow this link:

If you live in Germany, please follow this link:

If you want to know what the World Health Organisation (WHO) is saying, please follow this link:

Like yourself, I’ve read so many articles about what to do and it can be scary with fake news, false rumours and even our own individual governments either wringing their hands in despair or giving out the wrong information all together!

And that’s saying something!

SO SHOULD YOU PANIC?

No.

But my advice two weeks ago is still valid.

Contrary to what other travel bloggers are saying, my advice is not to travel.

Anywhere!

Because as you might have already seen, there’s a legitimate and very huge risk that if you DO travel abroad or indeed anywhere at all at the moment, you might get stuck there, your destination might have a sudden increase in outbreak, you won’t be able to get home because flights or trains have cancelled, your friends or family might get infected, you are forced into quarantine for a certain unforeseeable amount of time, and the borders have closed!

In fact, even in your own country, cities and federal states, are closing their doors to anyone going in or out!

The simple fact is, whether you like it or not, individual nations are deciding on how best to limit the spread of the Coronavirus infection.

The COVID-19 isn’t a conspiracy theory, it isn’t the end of time, but given the closeness, speed, reliance and ease in which we connect via global trade or travel, is a real legitimate worry.

In fact, forget about a staycation as most regions around the world, are under some sort of lockdown and this isn’t the time to jump in your car / on your bike, and explore where you live.

Nope!

It’s a time to go home and stay there.

It hurts me to say this but you must:

Stay.

At.

Home.

BUT WHAT CAN I DO?

You can do plenty.

See the list below:

• Wash your hands
• If you’re not feeling well, stay at home
• Sneeze into your elbow
• If you sneeze or cough into tissue, dispose of it into a sealed container immediately
• Wash your hands
• Try not to touch things outside your home
• Use disposable gloves
• Use your elbows or foot to open doors
• Wash your hands
• Don’t shake hands
• Don’t hug your friends
• Don’t kiss European style
• Wash your hands
• Keep your parents or grandparents safe, by not exposing them to the virus
• Keep at least 1.5 / 2 meters between you and another person
• Don’t go to the pub
• Wash your hands
• Don’t go to the restaurant
• Don’t go to the gym
• Don’t go to museums and galleries
• Wash your hands
• Don’t go to the mall
• Don’t go to the cinema
• Don’t go to the brothel!
• Wash your hands
• Don’t go to parks and playgrounds
• If you can work from home, do so
• If your kids can be schooled virtually, make it happen
• Wash your hands
• Store at least 2 weeks of basic food stuff, but don’t panic buy or hoard
• Be aware of social distancing and stop gathering with your friends and family
• Don’t go to Corona Parties
• Wash your hands
• Don’t think that because you’re young, you’re invincible, you’re not. And certainly, it’s possible that the people you love, aren’t as healthy as you are, so don’t spread the virus
• Try not to panic
• But keep washing your hands

I CAN’T BREATHE, I FEEL A SENSE OF PANIC!

I get it.

I totally understand.

You went to the supermarket the other day, and the shelves were empty.

There wasn’t any food.

Or toilet roll!

Of course, it’s dreadful to go to the mall to be confronted with signs of “we’re closed” or rows and rows of empty shelves.

It makes you fearful.

It makes you scared.

You look at yourself and begin to wonder if you did or didn’t do, something that contributed to the nightmare that we’re all in.

It makes you look at people and wonder if they, caused this pandemic.

Don’t!

You didn’t.

And neither did they.

Don’t go there.

It’s only going to make you sick and even more fearful.

Think of happy things and breathe.

BREATHE!

Supermarkets are aware of the issue and doing everything they can, to get on top of things.

And they will.

You might have to forgo your favourite brand of sushi, gourmet tomatoes or home-made bread.

But it’s alright.

You won’t die if you don’t have Marmite or Dijon mustard.

You’ll be alright to do without.

If you’re an expat, a traveller, a tourist stuck in a country not your own, or simply wish to talk to someone and you feel overwhelmed, panicky or frightened, write to me.

THINGS TO DO TO KEEP YOU CALM!

• Stay on top of things by listening / reading the news, but don’t go mad. Watch or read once, then switch it off!
• Use a reliable source. Not Facebook!
• Don’t fly!
• Re-discover all the books that you wanted to read, and didn’t have the time to
• If you’re not into reading, not a problem, listen to the books instead!
• Binge-watch all the films & TV programmes that you wanted to see, and didn’t have the time to
• Re-discover all the games that you wanted to play, and didn’t have the time to
• Experience new things online!
• Learn something new
• Most tourist attraction / famous landmark, or UNESCO site nearby, have now made it possible to see them virtually rather than actually going there !
• Swim in your own private pool if you have one.
• If you don’t have a backyard pool, take a long soak in the bath and use soap scrubs and scented candles to calm you down
• Do Yoga or Pilates!
• Listen to music
• Watch YouTube
• You don’t have to leave the safety and comfort of your home, order Amazon Prime – free for 30 days!
• Are you stuck at home with nothing to do? Learn a new language or skill!
• You don’t have to go to the supermarket, use local farmers nearby
• You don’t have to use Amazon at all but can help your local restaurants and order take away food via such companies as Lieferando, Too Good To Go and other online food suppliers
• Settle in and binge watch on Netflix
• Settle in and binge watch on Sky TV
• Have a picnic in the living room while drinking chilled beer or wine
• Do the garden!
• Plant some fruit and veg!
• Do the house!
• Paint the house!
• Learn how to paint!
• Read the book that’s been languishing on your bedside table for months!
• How about breakfast in bed? Why not?
• Do something with your kids!
• Keep your children at home!
• Don’t pack the kids and leave them at the grandparents
• Take advantage of the internet
• Use FaceTime or Skype
• Don’t panic-buy or hoard
• Feel good about the fact that you’re saving money for when a cure is found or the pandemic dies down, so that you can travel to where you originally wanted to!
• Flatten the Curve

If you’re trying to get home, if you haven’t done so already, get travel insurance!

IS VICTORIA AT HOME?

Yes.

I’ve cancelled or postponed my international travel for 2020!

And even though I like the sea.

These beautiful regions have been closed down, and tourists (local or international) are no longer allowed to visit.

Luckily, I work for an IT/Engineering company ‘cos the writing has been on the wall for a few weeks as my colleagues noticed my new rota of frenzied manic cleaning!

And even though I live in Berlin.

My company – H&D – An HCL Technologies Company – is actually in Lower Saxony, otherwise known as Niedersachsen!

My office was like a ghost town, but after having a meeting and a vote – it’s Germany after all – I collected my laptop, training material & most of the books & audio material I might need, and left!

Then I attempted to book a last minute train back to Berlin! Ha! That wasn’t easy as either there were no seats available or the prices suddenly shot through the roof!

In short, as of March 17th, I’m back in Berlin.

I’m a little anxious of course and our son understands but is disappointed, because not only was his school trip to Dublin (Ireland) cancelled but he’s going to be 18 this year (gulp), and there isn’t going to be merriment and a huge party!

Having said that my husband – The Music Producer is working online at home, my son – The Tall Young Gentleman is home-schooling, and I feel utterly safe.

And thankfully, I’m able to work remotely from home.

Once again if you can, please do stay at home, keep your distance from others, and flatten the curve!

Better to be safe than sorry.

If you want to keep up with reliable news as per what’s going on around the world, you can follow me here.

Don’t forget.

Click here!

And book your luxury hotel for 2021 right here!

Don’t judge me!

CORONAVIRUS: WHAT TO DO SO YOU DON’T FEEL THE URGE TO PANIC!

This article is not sponsored, and all thoughts and opinions, are my very own!

A huge thanks goes to all the many doctors, nurses, volunteers and healthcare staff world-wide, who have and are still, putting their lives on the line in order to help others.

Thank you.

March is going to be something most of us have never ever seen in our lifetime before.

See you soon!

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Get the latest information from the World Health Organization about coronavirus. WHO

Watch this space!

Note! I never travel without insurance as you never know what might happen.

I learnt my lesson in Spain. And obviously, in countries like Qatar, where technically the risk is higher, I can’t imagine going that far beyond WITHOUT INSURANCE. No siree! You can get yours here, at World Nomads!

So what are you waiting for?

Thanks a million!

Do you feel safe? Have you seen people panic-buying? How do you feel? Let me know in the comments below!

See you in Berlin.

If you have any questions, send me a Tweet, talk to me on Facebook, find me on LinkedIn, make a comment below or send me an Email: victoria@thebritishberliner.com

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