SPRING is in the air, but the birdsong is drowned out by the noise from loudspeakers on the cars circling the streets. Megaphones and alarm sirens remind us to stay at home. Like during wartime, or in an Orwell novel.
Poland shut its borders exactly three weeks ago. A few days later I crossed the Polish border aware that I would have to spend 14 days in quarantine, but not aware that even that wouldn’t be long enough.
Nobody has explained why my quarantine has been extended to the weekend despite the fact that I feel perfectly well and I do not have any signs of infection.
So I sit at home trying to organise my temporary perfect life. The most important thing is to have some routine: yoga in the morning, a few hours of work, watch an interesting lecture in the afternoon and catching up on house cleaning after my period of absence.
I spend quite a lot of time in front of the camera on my phone, connecting with my family or friends while cooking, eating or even watching films. I am lucky because as a business coach our community offers a support group with a coaching session once a week to deal with our isolation. I coach one person and another coaches me. It’s important just now with the internet and Netflix running slower.
READ MORE: Coronavirus: What it's like to live in lockdown in New York City
During my quarantine I am not allowed to leave the house. The police check me every day, arriving without notice at different times of the day. The system is quite easy. Either we have a short chat from a minimum distance of two meters or I waved through the window.
I am also obliged to measure my temperature twice a day and inform them how I am. Unfortunately there is no privacy and all my neighbours hear about my temperature as well. From this week a special government-mandated process for quarantined persons is in place. You get text messages several times a day requiring you to take a selfie in your house and send it back.
At the start of my quarantine the biggest problem I had was with provisions. The logistics of big names such as Tesco and Auchan have failed. The next available delivery date was April 16, which threatened me with starvation. Fortunately, local suppliers quickly switched to direct home delivery. I send a shopping list by SMS and the owner of a local store leaves a box of shopping in front of my gate.
READ MORE: David Pratt: What's at stake for poorer countries in the pandemic
After my quarantine finishes this week I can leave the house only for three reasons: commuting to work, volunteering to fight COVID-19 or dealing with matters necessary for everyday life – including, for example, essential shopping, buying medicines, visiting the doctor, caring for people close to me or to go for a walk with the dog.
The police are authorised to check where I am going and what I have in my bag. But most important is I can now do gardening. Last week I had a problem with a guy who sent a nasty email to all my neighbours saying that I was an epidemiological threat and shouldn’t even be allowed alone in my own garden.
All parks, beaches and playgrounds are closed in Poland. Children under 18 years old are not allowed alone on the street. All schools, kindergartens and cultural institutions are closed. Although they can be annoying in normal times, I now miss the sound of kids playing on the street. It is frighteningly empty and quiet.
I call my friends every day. Those with full-time jobs are getting paid. Unfortunately, those in self-employment are in a desperate situation. One friend lost her tourist office within two weeks, another declared herself bankrupt and closed her club and restaurant.
READ MORE: Coronavirus: We must emerge from this cocoon to a better world
There are more and more such cases. There is no data on how many people have collapsed because of the very difficult economic situation. Unfortunately, I expect a growing number of cases of depression, heart attacks, strokes and suicides.
ON Monday my friend’s mother died. She was 80 years old. I will not go to her funeral because according to law only five people can attend. I feel sad but all I can do is send flowers. Florists are stuck with millions of tulips and try to sell them at half price.
The restrictions introduced in Poland are very restrictive, but more than half of Poles support them. People are very critical of the UK’s less stringent approach and consider it thoughtless. However despite such restrictions, the disease growth curve is the same as in other European countries.
READ MORE: Lives in Lockdown: Coronavirus stories from across Europe
I am waiting for two things. First is my driving license which is on its way by courier from Glasgow and is currently stuck en route in Leipzig. When it arrives, I will be able to help not only my parents, which is why I came back to Poland, but also help others with delivery of meals or other necessary tasks.
My second wish is for the Polish government to cancel the presidential election which is planned for early May. Now is not the time for campaigning.
And maybe one more thing: the restoration of flights to Glasgow.
Scotland is in lockdown. Shops are closing and newspaper sales are falling fast. It’s no exaggeration to say that the future of The National is at stake. Please consider supporting us through this with a digital subscription from just £2 for 2 months by following this link: http://www.thenational.scot/subscribe. Thanks – and stay safe.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here