Living in the Land of the Virus

Friendly co-workers offer help :)

Australia is finally starting to feel the effects of the COVID-19 virus that the rest of the world has been going on about since late January.

As of today, Australia has 870 cases (184 in Queensland). Townsville has about 6 at this point, but numbers are very vague because doctors aren't testing people unless they fall very ill and have to go to the hospital. So, it's possible the numbers are higher.

JCU has cancelled all face-to-face teaching and sent us lecturers home to explore the brave new world of online teaching. I've been making my teaching materials available online for some time, so it's not that new to me. However, due to the students not having strong internet connections (an issue in Australia generally), we are recording our classes and having the students turn in their assignments via an online system rather than teaching live and having the classes over the internet.

The biggest issue I've run into so far is people hoarding toilet paper of all things. For the last two weeks I've tried various shops and they are comletely out. After speaking to shopkeepers, they get the supplies on the shelf and within an hour they are sold out.

Other items have started to disappear as well like rice, dried pasta, hand sanitiser, paper towels, long-life milk, sugar, flour, yeast  just to name a few. Shops have placed a limit on how many of an item one person can buy.

The PM has cancelled all indoor meetings of over 100, and we are supposed to do "social distancing" meaning if we are around someone, we should stand two meters away from them (approximately 6 feet).

The toilet paper shortage has already caused issues with the plumbing as people are putting wet wipes, tissues and paper towels down the toilet and they are clogging up the sewers and septic tanks.

The PM has also closed the borders to entry by any non-Australian (not holding permanent residency or citizenship). So, we're here for the duration. Qantas has grounded 2/3 of their fleet, and is trying to get jobs for their mostly casual staff (not long-term employment) in Woolies and Coles as shelf stackers.

Interesting times!