Another visit to Germany

In October I took another short trip to see the family in Germany. After I left in August they started school (Hannah) and kindergarten (Leah). The kindergarten didn't have any specific COVID-19 differences, since the kids are so young, I suppose they can't really wear masks and they need to play a lot together in class and outside and in the classroom. At the school, they had to wear masks when in common areas, like hallways, but not when in their own classroom. The school had extra catch-up classes for students who needed it, since the schools has been closed for a few months after Easter. Hannah was able to benefit from some of these, which was great, as of course she'd only had online learning since Easter, and had covered slightly different things to the local school.

Outside of school they were very busy with extra-curricular activities including swimming, dancing, horse riding and probably more. They were cycling to/from school, playing in the afternoons or weekends with their grandparents and seeing friends (if they had finished their homework). Everything was going very well, and everyone was happy - even the dog who was swiftly neutered (since Andrea's parents have a male dog, Alex) and was able to spend the day outdoors and playing with Alex. Indoors at public places, such as shops and on public transport, people were supposed to wear masks, and generally they were.

I arrived when the situation was starting to pick-up a little and was their half-term holiday. But during the 10 days we went to a fantastic indoor children's playground (kinder paradises Grimma) as well as day trips to Dresden and Leipzig. In Dresden we had wanted to go to the car factory again, but it was closed that day. We went to the Hygiene Museum, a museum about the body. Though the main museum was partly closed and the parts that were open were not that relevant for small kids, there was a good children's area that was quite interactive. There were tickets required for each, to limit the numbers. We took the little train that goes around the park, which the kids still love, and we also went to a Technology Museum that was very interactive. Even though some of it was a little advanced for the kids, they still enjoyed many of the activities. We found some good food and took trams frequently (which the Kids quite liked).

In Leipzig, we went to the Egyptian Museum, part of a University there, which the kids really enjoyed. They had been very interested in seeing pyramids (there was a model in the museum), mummies (there were a few in the museum), and hyroglyphics and the like (also plenty in the museum) since I had shown them photos and videos from my trip to Egypt a year ago. We also went to a Puppet Theatre, which I believe the kids enjoyed (it was all in German), and a children's museum (UNIKATUM) which is attached to a cafe. It had a lot of interactive displays, especially on the environment, a play area for kids with dressing up and the like, and as well as a coffee for the adults, the kids could make their own pancakes. Finally we also went shopping, and it was very busy.

Aside from those day trips, the weather was mixed, and the rest of the time we took the kids on their new scooters, went swimming (there is a very nice swimming complex with slides and a wave machine etc) a lot, and played with their 35 horses and unicorns, barbie dolls, and paw patrol toys, or played shopkeeper. It was wonderful to see them.

It has now been a few weeks since I left and new restrictions have been brought in, so extracurricular and sporting activities are all cancelled now, and travel is discouraged, particularly to different cities within Germany. However they are still going to school, and seeing friends; hopefully the situation will have improved by Christmas, but let's see.

Coronavirus Update #5

Back in August I noted that the positivity rate had begun to decline and in September the government decide to extend the curfew to 11pm, allow bars and clubs to reopen (whilst following protocols), and then in October allow those children who would be taking exams next year to go back to school (the remaining children were potentially to return later that month).

With that cue, bars filled up, parties began to be held and political rallies took place. But also, larger events took place in person again. The government began holding various conferences and planning meetings in Naivasha or at the Coast; and everyone began to think the virus had been conquered. This was plainly not true. Although mask wearing had not been high for a while it started to really fall off, especially in the rural areas.

So in October, a few weeks after these announcements were made the positivity rate began increasing again from 5% up towards 15%, though the testing numbers still remain around 5,000 a day give or take. The so-called second-wave was upon us. Though I don't think that is really the correct term. In countries where there was a first wave, a strict lock down that came close to eradicating the virus, and then the virus returns, that would seem to be a second wave. In Kenya though it is hard to really know from such little testing, it seemed the virus just spread (slower than it could have done, thankfully, thanks to various measures) throughout the population in the big cities. It never really disappeared. It just moved towards the rural areas (or at least the testing has begun to pick up cases in rural areas).

Positivity rates may have increased because of more people being in more close contact in bars and schools, but I am not sure it was such a big difference. People were already in close contact a lot with churches often still having hundreds of people (they were restricted to 1/3rd their usual capacity), and many people mingling as always around town.

Anyway, the curfew has recently been moved forward an hour to 10pm, non-exam children's potential return to school has not happened, and will likely happen in January, political rallies have been banned, government meetings scaled back and moved back online, and the government has decided to enforce some of the regulations for bars and restaurants.

The numbers dying each day has increased somewhat to around 10-15 most days, and many of the hospitals are now filling up with patients (though there is not a lot of capacity in hospitals anyway, particularly ICU and HDU). Numbers of deaths are not very reliable generally, but at least the numbers have not been increasing too much.

The government has probably taken a sensible approach of trying to be a bit stricter on bigger gatherings and those in close quarters, which it probably could not have opened up before (there was pressure on reopening the evening economy which pays taxes and employees people). It has to balance the economic impacts, and so the new measures are fairly light. No noticeable difference to life which still continues as usual for most people (at least if their employment has been affected), though we still work from home. 

So the next month or two may, hopefully, remain the same. We'll see if the numbers from the rural areas pick up a lot or not. They have fewer healthcare facilities and equipment, but presumably the virus has already been circulating there for a while and this is just a peak, before it also (as in the cities) circulates through having affected most people, and (at least compared to Latin America and Europe) has relatively minimal health impacts.