Category Archives: coronavirus

covid passports

20 Monday Dec 2021

Posted by in andalucia, coronavirus, covid, sevilla

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covid passport

AT LAST! As of today people have to show proof of vaccination to enter any tapas bars or restaurants in Andalucía. This includes whether they are sitting inside or on outdoor terraces. And I am very happy about this. I know that being vaccinated doesn’t mean you can’t be carrying the virus, it’s not foolproof, but it does narrow the field and anything that helps… well, it helps.

I have my updated vaccine passport on my phone, showing the latest booster. So I am good to go. But to be honest, I think I will mostly be laying low over the next couple of weeks.

omicron

29 Monday Nov 2021

Posted by in coronavirus, covid, sevilla, travel

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omicron

Well fuck. Though I guess nobody should really be surprised by this latest even more contagious Covid variant since we keep on not sending vaccines to less developed nations, preferring to make anti-vaxxing a political football at home. I mean seriously, just send the damn vaccines to the people who really want them. And so the latest variant omicron has left its “birthplace” of South Africa and is now rapidly travelling around the world, just as Delta (India) and Alpha (UK) did before it. Of course by the time we are notified of it even existing, by the time we are told it is a “variant of concern”, it is already spreading everywhere. And so now what?

For the most part this wouldn’t affect me in the sense that my life wouldn’t change that much. EXCEPT that this week I had made plans to take a couple of research trips (for another Decanter article) to Cádiz province, first to Arcos de la Frontera and then to Cádiz city and El Puerto de Santa María. Now I just want to stay at home. I mean, if these trips had been last week I wouldn’t have been as worried as I am now, even though the reality of the situation probably wasn’t much different last week, we just didn’t know about it yet.

And so… fuck it, I am going. Today to Arcos on a day trip with my friend Tania in her car. We’ll be visiting two bodegas and then coming home in the afternoon. And tomorrow I’ll be going to Cádiz by train with Peter, stopping off first in El Puerto to visit another bodega, then overnighting in Cádiz city, and coming back on Wednesday. I had originally planned on staying two nights in Cádiz but have decided to just stay for one and cut back on exposure risks.

Last Friday my health centre told me I could have my booster shot today (!!!) but as I won’t be here I have to go back and rebook it after I return. In any case, the booster wouldn’t have “taken effect” in time to make any difference for this trip. But guys… THIS IS MY FIRST TIME OUT OF SEVILLA SINCE MARCH 2020. I’m a bit terrified.

local hero

23 Tuesday Nov 2021

Posted by in coronavirus, covid, health & happiness

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local hero

Walking past my neighbourhood churros place, the legendary Calentería San Pablo, I saw these signs (the Spanish one says “we won’t serve anyone without a mask”) and asked if I could take a photo. Because… YES. The churros counter is open to the street but of course people coming up to place orders are less than a metre away from the staff. I was told they have been threatened by customers who yell at them and say all kinds of nasty crap. But you know what? Their business, THEIR RULES. So suck it up, assholes.

I am so grateful for the continued mask mandate in Spain, which we’ve been told will be in place at least until spring. Even though more and more people (mostly tourists) are not wearing masks outdoors even when not maintaining the 1.5 metre social distance requirement, at least there is an element of safety when going anywhere indoors or public transport, etc.

Covid infection numbers have been steadily rising the past few weeks and there is already talk of the sixth wave. Happily they have reduced the time between second jabs and the booster, from six months to three, so I should be getting mine very soon.

double jabbed – again!

28 Thursday Oct 2021

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jabbed

Today I went to get my flu jab and the nurse said I was also eligible for a bonus pneumonia jab (cos I’m OLD), so I said, hell yes, give me all the jabs. One in each arm. Still waiting for word on the Covid booster shot. At the moment in Andalucía they are only doing over 70s and front line workers, and beginning to give kids their first jabs. Anyhow. This is good. Because I really feel this winter is going to be the real test re: Covid and all the variants, and how (if?) we end up working together to eradicate it. And every day I give thanks that we will have a mask mandate in place until (at least) next spring.