Chief Editor’s Note: It Was a Very Ill Time to be Sick in
I started coughing sometime in the evening on Friday the 13th, March 2020. Over the weekend, I also got a sore throat, but had no other symptoms. I wasn’t too worried, but kept myself away from other people just in case. Having a cold in March is surely nothing unusual, but this was no usual March. On Monday evening, I started having trouble breathing. During the following days, I also had a light fever while the breathing problem got gradually worse. Just standing up from the sofa made my pulse race and my chest ache. It was no usual March and that felt like no usual cold.
I know you’re all more than tired of hearing about the coronavirus pandemic by now, but it’s journalism’s job to report and document a situation such as this and so I write about it (but don’t worry, we also have coronavirus free articles in this issue!) It’s now mid-April so the initial shock and panic over the pandemic has passed. There is toilet paper in the stores again and instead of discussing whether the virus will spread here in Finland, we’re discussing whether cloth face masks will either slow it down or help spread it faster. We’re getting used to Zoom and Teams conferences and the growing case and death numbers. It’s a part of our everyday lives now.
When the virus started really spreading back in March, it felt like a cosmic sign. Of what, I’m not sure. Just a big HEY YOU GUYS SHOULD PROBABLY START THINKING ABOUT WHAT YOU’RE DOING. It felt Biblical. Now time has passed and I’ve done some more reading on historical pandemics. The title of this editorial is taken from Daniel Defoe’s A Journal of the Plague Year, for example, and I’ve read some really great articles on the Spanish flu. Realising that this is not the first time something like this happens was kind of helpful for me. The situation still sucks, but it doesn’t feel like someone woke up an ancient God who now takes their wrath on us.
On the other hand, looking at it with the wisdom we now have, the pandemic really is telling us to start thinking about what we are doing. It has shown weaknesses in health care systems and the politicians’ abilities to handle a global crisis. At first glance, the pandemic seemed almost poetically just, caring not about borders or people’s status, but we’ve found that this isn’t completely true. In the USA, for example, black people seem to be at a particular risk with the virus thanks to structural racism. This pandemic should be a big wake-up call for all of us on a number of things. After this is all over, there are things that need to change.
What about the current situation? I’ve spent five weeks social distancing myself and I’ll admit I’m going absolutely nuts in my apartment. Judged by the shouting I’ve heard from the apartments around me, I’m not the only one. Thankfully, the virus situation in Finland has been in under enough control to allow us to still go outside. I like to go for walks in fancier neighbourhoods and look at the big houses and the big yards that these people have the audacity to be able to afford. While their children are outside jumping on trampolines and playing ping-pong, the kids in my apartment building are going stir-crazy in these concrete boxes we live in. Social distancing is just as unfair as the virus itself is. The only winners here are my cats who are thrilled to have me home all day.
And yet, five weeks of this is starting to numb me to the situation. At least we’re not like those Londoners in Defoe’s book, shut in at their houses with the plague in the 17th century. We have Netflix. We have video games. We can call our loved ones and not only hear them, but see them too. My friends and I had a “Wine and Skype” where we talked and played board games online for hours. There are endless ways to spend the extra time that many of us now have and to stay in touch with our friends and family. We’ve done it for over a month now. Let’s all do our best to keep it up.
A question that remains open is whether I had COVID-19 when I was ill in March or not. I wasn’t tested so there is no way to know without an antibody test. I got better and stayed healthy for a couple of weeks, but now I’m ill again. I was tested this time, but haven’t gotten the results yet. So, all I can do is wait and keep my distance from people. And here I am. Home alone with my cats, reading the news and watching Netflix. Writing this editorial. Waiting for this to be all over. Like we all are.
While you wait, how about having a look at our new issue? If you’re looking for something to do while social distancing, Leo shares instructions on how to write found poetry using newspaper articles. We also compiled a list of TV shows that the BTSB editors have been binge watching – maybe you’ll find something new to watch from there, too! Or, you can check out Henna’s podcast recommendations if you’d rather listen to something. Henna also shares some of hers and others’ thoughts and experiences during the coronavirus pandemic. Danielle writes about the pandemic, as well, but from the point of view of people with a chronic illness.
If you’d rather think about something completely else, Annika shares some positive things that are happening right now in the world! Elina gives tips for workaholics on how to keep work-life balance in check while I write about a condition called misophonia and open up about my own experiences with it. If you’d prefer to go for creative writing instead, Anthony shares his latest poem. We have also another poem by a guest writer Satu who studied English at the University of Maine at Machias. There’s definitely something for everyone in this issue!
Stay safe, stay strong and stay home. We can get through this.
