Tango in times of pandemic

[Brummbaer]

I had an online private, via Zoom, on Sunday. They demonstrated some small variations on things I've done before, and then gave me some solo technique exercises, watched me do them to make sure I was doing them correctly and then set those as homework before the next lesson.

It's obviously not as good as a normal lesson, but was still worthwhile.

Interesting. I can cope with online lessons, but I'm used to dancing as a couple (with my wife). I have occasionally used a broom handle, or mop, for horizontal or vertical alignment in AT and other dsnce, but I think I'd struggle solo in AT. A rag doll? A large bucket with styrofoam cylinder for a partner? Or your inflatable friend?

My wife had her violin lesson via WhatsApp, but I think I'd need a bigger dance studio and video to justify a private.

I suspect a 3-week lockdown is overly optimistic unless testing becomes readily available and long-term immunity ensues. We shall see. Keeping watch on Italy & Spain to forecast, and the US to see if it spreads.


As one of the UK's politicians famously said in unfortunate circumstances: Use your common sense. Governments don't seem to use much.

 

[TTanguero]

Yeah, three weeks will just be the start.

I use a mop, which seems to work ok.

 

[Numawan]

At least 8 weeks expected here in Belgium.

 

[rafaelomondini]

A lot more cooking and cocktail-making here. Even "Eh, I'll just make some quick pasta" has turned into cooking a sauce from scratch, seasoning and cooking chicken to add to the pasta, etc.

I've been cooking and playing my musical instruments like I'd never done before. I've actually been enjoying my isolation quite a lot, to be fair.

 

[TTanguero]

In the UK, the NHS is seeking volunteers to help take medication, food parcels, etc, to vulnerable people who need to stay home for the next 12 weeks, and to act as a telephone friend for people who live on their own. Signed up for that. Other UK folk can do the same here: https://www.goodsamapp.org

 

[opendoor]

In the UK, the NHS is seeking volunteers to help..

It all reminds me of a book I read: "The Plague" by Camus. Perhaps its time to re-read.

Black Death - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[TTanguero]

A doctor friend was in the middle of editing his first novel, about a global pandemic, when this struck. He's an anaesthetist, who among other things manage patients on ventilators, so he's going to be too busy to work on it for a while yet ...

 

[omgirl]

..time to re-read love in the time of cholera
sequel is love in the time of corona

 

[Brummbaer]

love in the time of cholera

Useless info, but interesting: in the Wallis (Valais) region of Switzerland 'cholera' is a food. A tart or pie with potatoes and other veg. It's not well known, but the bakery in Leuk (where I first came across social AT) used to have it.

Also interesting to look at the discovery of the cause of cholera - a certain Dr Pettenkofer (there's a street named after him between the Wiesn and Munich University), who got it wrong and Robert Koch in Hamburg (the German equivalent of CDC is the Robert Koch Institute), who was correct, but disbelieved. Perhaps relevant to certain countries approach to Covid-19 today.

See also Thomas Mann's Death in Venice (not directly relevant, but set in a time of cholera).

 

[TTanguero]

Great news!

UK coronavirus home testing to be made available to millions

Test to be validated this week, then made available to healthcare workers and general public

www.theguardian.com

Once you've tested positive for the antibodies, and have been isolated long enough to know you are no longer infectious, you'll be able to resume normal life. Including dancing. :-D

 

[Brummbaer]

Great news!

UK coronavirus home testing to be made available to millions

Test to be validated this week, then made available to healthcare workers and general public

www.theguardian.com

Once you've tested positive for the antibodies, and have been isolated long enough to know you are no longer infectious, you'll be able to resume normal life. Including dancing. :-D

But the caveat 'to be validated' - and let's hope not from some dodgy snake oil salesman. Amazon will be busy - not forgetting the fakes on eBay.

It gives an interesting view on who's let out and who isn't, or who says they're ok for work, but then goes out and spreads it.

 

[TTanguero]

Oxford University is doing the validation.

We'd ideally want some kind of certification, like pharmacists administering the tests and certifying people as immune.

 

[Brummbaer]

We'd ideally want some kind of certificatio

Ideal - it's imperative - and, if validated, to know that there's consistency.

The antibody test doesn't exist in any useful form until validated.

 

[TTanguero]

No, I mean for people, to prove they tested positive.

 

[Numawan]

My brother and his girlfriend have been infected since about a week. They both have had relatively mild symptoms: loss of smell initially, then coughing and some fever, with a feel of pressure on the chest and a strong feeling of tiredness. They followed government guidelines and didn’t consult a doctor. Neither were they tested. By now, it seems almost over. They have a 4-year old son. At first, he didn’t seem to have any symptoms while both parents were clearly sick. However, two days ago, he started to have a strong fever (40°C), together with strong shivers and cold hands and feet. The next morning, they consulted with his pediatric doctor, who advised them to go to the emergency services. There, they diagnosed the start of a pneumonia. After 1.5 days in hospital, he seems to be recovering already. Still, I was seriously worried yesterday.