COVID – 19 Lands in Ecuador: Part 1
January found me observing on the internet the unfolding events in China regarding the Coronavirus just as the entire world was watching.
February Bill & I were both sick with a terrible cold and sore throat. One of the customs in Ecuador is to greet everyone with a hug and kiss which is a favorite of Bill’s but not so much for me. We had an Ecuadorian friend that had just returned from NYC with a cold and of course the hug and kiss routine occurred with her and Bill. Then naturally Bill caught a cold and shared it with me. After a week I finally went to see the German doctor in Otavalo. The waiting room was filled with sick folks of all ages. I finally started to get better and then Bill caught it again. I was basically sick for 3 weeks with a sore throat that progressed to runny nose and cough but never ran a fever. I still have the occasional cough. So during those 3 weeks, we stayed at home missing a wonderful breakfast party at La Mirage and then a Mardi Graw friends party. I just wanted to use this as an example of how easy it is to transfer a virus to someone.
The first two weeks of March were normal for us but then around the middle of March Ecuador announced an enhanced screening of people arriving from the United States from Massachusetts, California, New York, and Washington. The first case of COVID-19 was diagnosed with an Ecuadorian woman that now lived in Spain. She traveled back to Ecuador to visit family in Guayaquil. So as the story goes the 71-year old Ecuadorian woman from Spain landed at the Guayaquil Airport. A party with 30 guests celebrated the arrival of the aunt returning to Ecuador for a family vacation. The family said the aunt never traveled anywhere since she did not have the time so this was a special event. Since the aunt arrived she was in poor health and during the trip, she thought she had a slight fever and said there were many people on the flight coughing. On February 22, she was hospitalized in the nearby city of Guayaquil, the current epicenter of the pandemic in Ecuador. On the 29th it was officially confirmed that she had COVID-19. The relatives were quarantined and subjected to tests. It was a difficult and scary time for her family to be put in isolation.
The Ecuadorian woman traveling from Spain died on March 13. But now there were a dozen of the family nucleus now infected. What a sad tragic event when a woman traveling back to her home country to be with family and ends up inoculating her family and country with COVID -19. So now the world events were getting more of my attention and we now had more cases in the port city of Guayaquil. This was only the beginning.
I knew with the Ecuadorian custom of kissing, hugging and handshaking the virus would move quickly throughout the county. I had learned valuable lessons after the national strike last fall. I had emergency supplies of food, medicine, and insulin for Winky Dog. Our local stores did not have a shortage of supplies and I did not hoard but bought wisely for later use. No problem finding hand sanitizer and Lysol products. My goal is for us to be able to stay confined to our home for 2-3 months if needed. I sent a list to my family and friends back in the US but at this point, I do not think anyone took it seriously. But I tried to warn them. In Ecuador, things can change in the blink of an eye.
March 17th the President set a curfew from 9:00 pm to 5:00 am. So think of something similar to a limited type of Marshal Law. All the stores were mandated to be closed except the grocery stores, pharmacy, and banks. Only 1 family member could be in the store with no more than 30 people in a store at one time. All the restaurants were closed but some were offering take out. I am very leery to taking out food service since I do not know how effectively the cookware is cleaned and sometimes hot water is not used. You are restricted to driving during curfew hours based on certain days by the last digit of your car license plate number. The police will stop and question why you are out and you are at risk of being arrested. You must have a mask on when outside.
Not long after that the airports did not physically close but would not allow international travelers from countries that were considered a risk and the list kept growing. International travelers had to be quarantined for 14 days in the city where they landed. The airlines started canceling flights. There were folks that wanted to leave and go back to their home country including the United States but the airline would not send empty planes. The whole country was currently locked down. During this time no one in or out. All the borders were closed. I think the Ecuadorian President learned and benefited what had happened in other countries and hoped to be ahead of the virus that was going to sweep across South America like a bomb getting ready to explode.
What really upsets me is there are some people that must be in denial since our enemy is invisible. Parties going on on the port city Guayaquil and on the beaches. Ecuador is doing its best to protect everyone and honestly, the approach is superior to what is occurring currently in the United States.
Hang on folks this is going to be a bumpy ride. Watch for more information in Part 2
