A specter is haunting Eastern Europe (and the rest of the globe): the specter of the “Covid-19 pandemic”. How did it hit us in Prague and what can we do about it? A few thoughts by Dr. Tomáš Bouška calling for moving forward and remaining calm, positive and strong.
Prague and my whole country decided to follow its semi-populistic leaders: shut down borders, empty the hotels, pubs and offices, and follow the strictest quarantine since the end of WWII. We have been under a state of emergency for 8 weeks. Despite the beautiful spring weather, beer culture and desire to socialize, people are encouraged to stay home until May 17 unless there is a pressing need.
The Czech Republic agreed to comply and was very soon followed by its V4 neighbors and Austria with similarly strict orders, thus trying to avoid the Chinese, Italian, Spanish, British, US or Russian scenarios. Only time will tell if this was the right thing to do. In terms of our local healthcare system, I remain carefully optimistic. At least the current data shows we will deal with a slower attack of the pandemic (at this moment we have around 7500 positively tested and fewer than 250 people have died as a result of the virus). In terms of the economic impact, I am afraid we are (and most importantly) will be, doing much worse. Our government was irresponsibly spending money during the times of growth and did not save or decrease much of our national debt (although thankfully, it is lower than that of many of our counterparts in the west). Now our prime minister is promising support to failing industries but not helping where it’s really necessary. Populism seems to deepen with each passing day. Our dependent, pro-export economy is sinking like an old boat. We see the threat of unemployment (which was only 3% in February); zero investment and trade; all signaling bad times to come.
My oldest two kids, Julia and Martin, are out of the regular education system. Julia (in her third year of elementary school) is really sad and keeps sending her teacher warm letters saying how she misses her; at least she can watch an excellent TV educational program developed by public TV in response to the quarantine . Martin (in his second year of kindergarten) does not miss structured classes at all; on the contrary, he enjoys the punk style of his new rhythm under corona…I have worked from home most of the last week and when I’ve needed a bit more calm time to concentrate or to teach remotely via video conference with my students, I’ve enjoyed the luxury of a totally empty Prague in my office on Old Town Square in Prague. I spend much more time with David (turning 2 years in May) and Matyas (3 months now). If nothing else, I value this precious time with them.
I am truly lucky with my garden ] located 15 min away from the door of our flat. I escape there with Julia and Martin often, and we prepare the garden so we can plant all kinds of vegetables. But it is also a safe, natural place where we can be alone together, watching the forest turn from winter to spring and summer without the risk of the spreading disease. I finished the floor in my handmade sauna; we cook on the fire or smoke fish, and once again I feel I am lucky because both of the kids seem to like these activities and enjoy the time with me. How I hope our relationship and abundance of quality time will never change.
The most important message I wish to send out is … hope. There has been so much solidarity among the Czech people recently. The country ran out of protective face masks, and thousands of people started spontaneously sharing ideas about how to produce them at home. Tons and tons of masks are being sewn and sent out to everyone who needs them – the police, firefighters, soldiers, journalists….so that respirators and PPE can be reserved for doctors and nurses. Hundreds of new websites and social network activities were born in order to supply older people with food and medical supplies. Volunteering of a different sort, rather smartly offered and shared…it seems that the Covid-19 crisis has united people more than all the political, cultural and moral authorities since the old good Havel times in early 1990…
I hope for similar amounts of good will for you, no matter where around the globe you currently are. We need to prove that our societies know how to defend their core values and way of life. I see it as nothing less than a test of our maturity and willingness to abandon consumerism and instead, find our better qualities. We must be willing to improvise and be innovative and creative – like after every shock, crisis or war – to fight for a better future. We have not any other choice if we want to earn our precious comfort back. I have my doubts if all the countries and all the people can do it, but after the first months of the pandemic in CZ, I have hope that we as human beings on the edge…can manage…we just need to care enough to make it happen.