(no subject)

[simgaroop]

MEXICO CITY – Mexico took even more drastic action to squelch a swine flu epidemic, ordering a suspension of private business activity and nonessential federal government activities, as the World Health Organization ratcheted up an alert, warning that "all of humanity" is threatened.

In a televised address, Mexican President Felipe Calderon praised "the heroic work" of doctors and nurses and asked his countrymen to literally stay in their homes between May 1 and May 5, saying "there is no safer place to protect yourself against catching swine flu, than in your house."

"In recent days, Mexico has faced one of the most serious problems in recent years," Calderon said Wednesday night. He brushed aside criticisms that his government's response was slow, stressing several times that authorities had reacted "immediately."

School in Mexico has already been canceled until May 6. During the shutdown, essential services like transport, supermarkets, trash collection and hospitals will remain open.

Calderon said authorities would use the partial shutdown to weigh whether to extend the emergency measures, or "if it is possible to phase out some" restrictions.

Considering what's been going on in the city during this week, this didn't surprise me. Most of us were actually expecting this shutdown. Now the question is whether it'll last until May 5th, or if it'll be prolonged for more days. Will schools be reopened on May 6th? I really don't know, because the Secretary of Education said they can't go back to work until every school in the city (at least) has enough resources to clean the students hands every hour.

Even if I go back to work next Wednesday, I suspect activities will be restricted to just the mere academic ones inside the classroom. We'll probably have to wear the masks at all times (how am I going to convince my kid to keep his on?) and we'll barely do anything because cleaning the hands of 25 five-year-olds every hour will take forever.

*Sighs* April 30th is our National "Children's Day", where we celebrate both the current kids and the ones that still reside within ourselves :D. Sadly, this year the celebrations will take place inside our homes. We were originally going to have a picnic and a "water party" at school, but that's a plan long gone.

Although I was feeling restless inside my house the past couple of days, I'm now feeling better. Perhaps I'm getting used to this situation. You'd laugh at the amount of cleaning supplies we have at our entry: clorox wipes, alcohol in gel, lysol and, of course, the face mask for the few times we've left home to go to the supermarket. Everytime we come back home, we wash our hands, rub them with the alcohol and clean the door with a wipe (we also take them with us to clean the shopping cart too). I feel like Howard Hughes :S.

And I hate wearing the stupid mask. I feel silly (even if everyone else is wearing one too) and paranoid, and it's so hot right now that it makes it harder to breathe. I've seen around communities like ONDT that some people are now photoshopping masks to their LJ icons (sort of like they did with the grey hat when Obama became president).

I'm sorry, it's probably because I'm in a bad mood right now, but that kind of mocking pisses me off so much that I refuse to look at those communities anymore :/.

And that's my current life, in a nutshell. Gotta work on my story update right now.

Take care.

Comments

[juri-anne.livejournal.com]

I know this must be stressful for you, but I have to say that I like getting updates from you about the situation. It makes me happy knowing that you're safe and healthy.

Just know that you guys are in my thoughts! :)

[simgaroop.livejournal.com]

Thank you :)

I usually don't post personal stuff, but whining in my journal is helping me release a bit of the frustration we're collectively feeling around here. I'm relieved you don't feel that I'm spamming too much.

[juri-anne.livejournal.com]

Its quite the opposite. I usually refresh my flist to see if you've got an update. So, no. You're not spamming me at all.

And I'll be sitting here impatiently for a story update. ;)

[simgaroop.livejournal.com]

Hopefully, there's one coming up tonight ;D

[wolfsilveroak.livejournal.com]

I for one am glad you're keeping us updated on what's going on in your area. It's more of a personal and indepth view than what we'd get from the media.

[drx4000.livejournal.com]

A story update? Where?

[simgaroop.livejournal.com]

Here, of course :)

I'm aiming to have it up tonight, if my brain works as expected and I'm able to write coherently :D.

[mizzytizzy.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty annoyed by all the swine flu jokes going around myself. It's just not a funny subject.

I'm glad you're okay and I hope things are safe again soon!

[simgaroop.livejournal.com]

Besides the icons, I haven't read any jokes. I guess that's a good thing, right? :P

Thank you :). I hope things go back to normal soon.

[mizzytizzy.livejournal.com]

I think it could be that people are being flippant about it because it's something that scares them. Some people make fun of what they fear. You're lucky that you're not being bombarded with the LOLswineflu pictures and jokes. I'm on a site called tumblr and they're all over that, but I haven't seen much of it on livejournal.

Take care! :)

[ownsimscorner.livejournal.com]

Humor is some people`s ways to cope with stressful and scary situations. Then again, the stupid icons annoy me too and I can only imagine how they would look to me if I was in your situation right now.

Anyway, so glad that you`re feeling better! I`m constantly wishing you and yours the very best.

[simgaroop.livejournal.com]

I agree that some people use humor to cope with these situation. When I'm out there wearing the masks, I keep joking that I feel like Darth Vader (complete with heavy breathing) and begin to quote him all the way to the store.

I think the icons annoy me because I suspect those are mostly a "fashion trend" like that gray hat, and they don't get that's a completely different situation.

Or maybe I just hate the masks and the last place I want to see them is on LJ! (With the way the media keeps drilling this topic on us, I need an escape now and then).

Thank you :)

[unholypassion.livejournal.com]

The jokes are really pissing me off, as well as the skeptics. Especially after hearing first hand from you about everything going on (often before the media), and all the crap you've been having to deal with. Thank you so much for keeping us posted, not only for the news, but to let us know tha you're safe.

[simgaroop.livejournal.com]

Oh, the skeptics. We have those around here too. My sister told there's an email floating around that claims that this situation is a clever plot from the Government to distract us while the congress legalizes pot consumption. That's just plain stupid, considering that even the WHO is involved!

This huge world-wide conspiration, just to legalize pot?! Give me a break! :D

Thank you :). I like talking about this over here.

[unholypassion.livejournal.com]

Oh, fer cryin' out loud... lol! *facepalm*

[nerdcaekz.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry about everything you're all going through. I hope things can get back to normal soon, and my heart goes out to all of you in Mexico.

I can't believe people are mocking the situation! I don't blame you for not wanting to be around all that.

Good luck to you and your family.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

Looking forward to that update. (Sure we can't convince you to add one more generation?)

[profbutters.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you keep updating us. I was actually driving home from the grocery store and thinking you didn't update yesterday and hoping you were ok.

I know it sounds dumb, but people you don't even know are thinking about you and hoping you and your family will get through this ok.

Washing 25 5-year olds hands every hour? Wouldn't you have to start all over again once you were done?

[barbsbookfreak.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you're ok. I started to worry when you didn't update yesterday.

Sth. to your story: even you end the brokes with gen. 6 Could you maybe give us (or me) some informations what you had planned for the last generations (well if you had a plan)
I'm just so curious^^

[wolfsilveroak.livejournal.com]

we'll barely do anything because cleaning the hands of 25 five-year-olds every hour will take forever.


About the time you finish up with the last one, it'll be time to start over again!

And yeah, I'd have to agree a bit about the mocking. But then, many people on the Net, have never experienced a pandemic, or know what it would entail, unless, like me, they did the research on past pandemics.}:/

For some, the mocking may even be a way to cope with the stress of it all too.

Whatever it is, don't take it to heart. In one ear, out the other, type of thing.

[snootcb.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry that you're stuck in this situation. I know it sucks to have to wear masks and constantly use sanitizers and stay away from lots of other people, but the most important thing is that you're healthy. Hopefully, since the health agencies realized what was going on relatively quickly, they'll be able to drastically reduce cases of the disease and things can get back to normal soonish.

[petalbrook.livejournal.com]

I am also happy that you're keeping us updated. I do think about you every day & continue to be happy that you're doing ok. I don't watch much TV & only listen to commercial radio when I'm driving somewhere. You help keep me informed about some of what's going on in the world. (Pathetic loner girl is pathetic.)

[orikes13.livejournal.com]

I don't think anyone means to be offensive with putting masks on their icons. I think if you step back, you'll see that they're not trying to mock what's going on in Mexico right now. It's probably meant to bring a little levity to a pretty scary situation.

[wynnyx.livejournal.com]

Its a sad and scary situation.

My son currently has a cold and of course I am concerned. I know he doesn't have 'the' flu, but I still have it on the back of my mind every time I hear him cough. I can't imagine the flu hitting closer to home.

[martyr669.livejournal.com]

The whole situation is pretty scary. Right now we have 1 verified case here in Indiana. My children's school sent home a letter a couple of days ago letting parents know that they're supplying hand sanitizer and are making sure kids wash their hands. They're requesting we keep sick kids home and teach them how to cover their coughs and sneezes. I can imagine if I were in your shoes, the icons would irritate me to no end. I hope it's just a case of people trying to ease their own fears rather than just being cold and thoughtless. :/

[angy182.livejournal.com]

no, YOU take care! anyway, this situation is really horrible. and I don't think schools will open soon. the mask thing makes me -> O_O!! oh really?!, people photoshop them on their icons? it's not funny :|

[blackrosesredxo.livejournal.com]

It's scary thing going on, but I do like reading your personal opinions on what it is like, I feel as though I'm learning more from you about the situation than from the media. So I'm glad you are safe and so is your family.