Our little coronacrisis

17 April, Friday

   Mobile testing due to arrive tomorrow. It understood that both girls will be tested, but that is a little unclear.

   As of April 12, Germany and Italy lead the world in number of tests per capita. Germany has tested 2.1 and Italy 2.0 percent of the population. By contrast US has tested .98 and UK .49 percent.

14 April, Tuesday

Thomasina still coughing, no fever. We report her symptoms to Umbria health officials. 

12 April, Easter Sunday

Happy Easter. 

     Yesterday, Thomasina complained that she couldn't sleep because her cough was keeping her awake. A week after arriving here and setting up in the empty house of Amie and Marc, she complained of cold symptoms. I drove over with a thermometer while Alex called the doctor. As of last night, she has no fever.

     Thomasina believes she has a cold. She also states bravely that she would not dread getting the coronavirus. She believes that she would overcome it quickly and that it would make her immune. I agree but, then, I still worry. A constant anxiety accompanies every contact we make, even with our own children. Everyday for two months we are faced with alarming news. We have been getting screening calls from the Umbrian coronavirus tracking office in Perugia and up until now have reported no symptoms from either girl. 

Picnic suppers at Santa Maria

10 Aug, Good Friday

Thomasina reports cough, no fever.

8 Aug, Wednesday

We have a summer picnic with the girls. Thomasina reports cold symptoms.

1 Aug, Wednesday

girls fly from Heathrow to Rome. Alex picks them up from the Rome airport

23 Mar, Monday

May IB exams have been cancelled.

21 Mar, Saturday

 For information on quarantine and passenger screening:   
Alitalia: From Italy 892010 (Paid number)
From abroad +39 06 65649 (Variable cost based on your tariff plan to the fixed network)

International Baccalaureate info update page  for you Isolde

La Squadra Cadell social distancing at Little Ships, Ramsgate, UK

     We enjoyed an unusual Skype dinner party last night. Alex and I set the table with our laptop and, at the prescribed time, we joined another couple for supper. A great evening!

20 Mar,  Friday

   We purchased air tickets for the girls to return to Italy, 1 April. No foolin'.
Alitalia, 1 apr 2020, LHR -> FCO, 19:50 - 23:20,  book code JUVOMP 

  Just in time to get the victory garden in shape.

19 Mar,  Thursday

    Confusion still reigns. Isolde is in the International Baccalaureate program, a global standard of instruction. She takes classes in a UK school that offers both the state diplomas and the IB program. The Prime Minister announced cancellation of all schools and exam programs but the International Baccalaureate organization is not prepared to cancel exams worldwide. No solution as of this afternoon.

    Europe is closing borders, airlines are parking their fleets. Getting the girls back to Italy may only be possible by using the Alitalia repatriation flights in April. 

18 Mar, Wednesday 2020  evening

   Isolde and Maeve are waiting for an announcement from their school and the International Baccalaureate program on what will happen to the exam schedule. This is crucial to Isolde's admission to Oxford. 

17 Mar, Tuesday

  Tonight, we learn that the son of the landlord of the guest house where Isolde is staying is likely to have the disease. He has returned home and Isolde and her roommate have fled. We are housing them in the Royal Harbour Hotel and hoping they are not now vectors of the disease. School is still open but fewer and fewer teachers and students are showing up.

the situation

  1- The prime minister has just announced the closure of all UK schools.

  2- We have Thomasina up in Durham and Isolde in Ramsgate. Thomasina is in a university affiliated "dorm" room which she must move out of. Isolde, with her friend Maeve, has just moved from Victoria's house to the Royal Harbour Hotel at the generous offer of Jamie and Caroline. 

  3- The virus crisis has precipitated all these moves. The whole world is closing down fast. Stocks plunging day after day. All "gains" made during the past three years of Trump erased. Travel restrictions clamp down harder and harder each day. Whole airlines stopping service, borders closing, prices rising, and the guarantee of returning to UK shrinking fast. We would love to have the girls return to Italy for the rest of the year. 

   4- Both girls are reporting possible exposure to the virus through various contacts.

   5- Scarlett, Dominic, Isabella, Barnaby, Isolde, Maeve and Thomasina are due to arrive at Royal Harbour Hotel. Scarlett is coming from London where she has been exposed to her roommate, a health care worker, who has been exposed to the virus. Scarlett has symptoms.

   6- Two Italian roommates at victoria's house have reserved a house (?) for next year. Isolde and Maeve have been invited by the mother, Sabina, to occupy the house through the summer.