Just thought for the sake of my future reference, I wanted to log a few changes I’ve seen on how Phuket has adjusted to the Covid-19 virus. It makes me wonder if some of these changes will forever be implemented, similar to how the packaging changed after the Tylenol cyanide deaths in 1982. I remember my mom being so pissed about all the safety caps and seals on all containers. I think that is when she decided to keep scissors in the kitchen 🙂
–One little change I notice is how individuals press elevator buttons now with their knuckles instead of the tips of their fingers.
–At the entrance of every store, restaurant, office etc there is a stand with hand sanitizer, a QRcode that you must scan to check in, and a person taking your temperature.
–Social distancing at banks and ATMS is marked so even idiots know where to stand.
–For the first time in a year, I saw the kids plastic playground being thoroughly scrubbed down. Mind you there are currently zero cases in the past 20 days in Phuket. We are not in the same situation at all as the USA.
It’s interesting, I recall blogging back in March that I was feeling peer pressure to wear a mask being the only individual without one at the Chiang Mai airport. Now, just 3 months later, I feel naked if I leave the condo without one on. Almost like the same feeling as forgetting your phone when you are half way down the hall.
I have a handful of friends who are single and living alone like myself. It is hard to explain the effects of this isolation period on us. But we have a lot of things in common. Below is a quote from a NYTimes article published collecting stories of those single lives in lock down. I completely relate to it. (well except for the age :))
I realize, in case I was questioning it before, I never want to go to jail. I used to think I could easily survive. but now I question if I would literally go insane. Especially if I didn’t have access to a phone or computer. Guess I will have to remain a law abiding citizen. Damn.
Tonya Takes Thailand 