Experiencing COVID-13 lockdown
In a foreign country

Comparing Dr. Bonnie Henry’s new restrictions to those in a collectivist culture

CJ Sommerfeld
Staff Writer

 

was living in Spain when COVID-19 first hit. | watched it travel

across the globe, linger in Italy, then take over the country | was
residing in. In mere days, many of our liberties were taken; the
strange key to holding onto one of our freedoms, however, was
owning a dog.

In November, British Columbia’s health officer Dr. Bonnie
Henry unveiled new COVID orders for the province. She asked
that we do not welcome anyone inside our homes other than
those who lived there. Henry did note that people living alone
are allowed to have one or two people within their “bubble” in
their homes. (And some instances like allowing your child home
from university are not considered “social gatherings” so those
are OK too.) And, while she noted that British Columbians were
still allowed to go for a walk or bike ride outdoors, Dr. Bonnie
suspended all events that did not relate to baptisms, funerals, and
weddings—including those which had previously been okayed,
such as the VanDusen Festival of Lights.

Some found these new mandates confusing and
contradictory. Henry had noted how moving into winter, the virus
spreads easier since many activities have moved indoors. Yet,
while yoga studios, spin classes, and other group activities are
suspended, indoor dance classes and gyms remain open. How
is it that these places remain open, while all in-person religious
gatherings have been suspended? Not to mention that breweries,
bars, and restaurants—places where one’s mask is off for nearly
the entirety of their visit—have remained open, while arts venues
have been ordered to close. Dr. Bonnie Henry has noted that
she wants British Columbians to remain mentally and physically
healthy during these times, but do these new orders abide by her
words? Have other countries experienced such contradictions?

Earlier this year, | had an apartment in Vic, Spain—a politically
righteous city, located in the same region as Barcelona: Catalonia.
Mandates for this area of Spain were different than other parts
as this region has been fighting for independence from the rest of
the country. On March 12, four municipalities in the region were
ordered to confine themselves to their cities for 15 days. This
decree was absolute: no one was to enter nor exit these areas for
two weeks. Both the Spanish army and police blocked all roads
leading into and out of these towns; going against this new order
was impossible.

The next day, university students in Vic still attended classes.
However, we were told—mid-day—that we too were to be
locked down for two weeks as per Spanish Prime Minister Pedro
Sanchez’s orders. Despite Spain then being the second-highest
infected country in Europe, many students—myself included—
thought that this two-week break was simply that: two weeks off
of school. The following day, bars and restaurants began hosting
at a third of their capacity, and beyond this | did not expect much
to change. That day | was playing ping-pong at an outdoor court
when a Spanish parks and recreation worker drove up with a
roll of caution tape. He told me and my friends that he was told
to quarantine all parks, and that we must promptly leave. We
complied as he wrapped the green space in caution tape. He did

CC

the same to each of the benches. | was unaware
that this event was just the beginning of the
extremist restrictions that were to come;
in that moment | found it comical, and «
over-exaggerated—film worthy if you
will. | later learnt that all parks and
gardens would be closed to the
public for months to come.
As the weekend ended,
nearly all happenings and
services in Vic had shut
down, with the exception
of grocery shops,
hospitals, and some
pharmacies. As the new
week began, | also
learnt that only one
person per household
was allowed to leave
home at a time.
My partner and |
were walking to the
supermarket when
the police stopped
us. They asked
us why we were
out of the home
together, asked us
where we lived, and
reminded us that
leisure walks and
outdoor exercise were
not allowed. The police
also informed us that
no more than a single
person was allowed to
leave home at a time, as
well the regulation that the
essential service which we
were traversing to must be the
closest one to our home.
Succeeding grocery trips
consisted of us walking on either
side of the street, acting like strangers
to one another until we reached the
supermarket. These new restrictions were
enforced by the new bombardment of police
and military who patrolled the town. In time, these
authority figures got to know which part of town each
of the residents lived in. During one of our grocery runs, |
watched a policeman stop a man to ask him why he was so far
from his house. The policeman told him that he should instead be
buying groceries at the shop closest to where he lives.

 

 

 

Face masks are mandatory everywhere 24/7. Spain is the only country
in Europe which has mandatory facemask for everything, everywhere.
Every time you leave your house, facemask on—no exceptions.