“People need to continue wearing their masks…We would also like to express our heartfelt condolences because in the past few days, we have lost at least six of our own.”

Webpage created by the Harvard Museums of Science and Culture to educate and inform the public about vital environmental issues on Earth Day. This resource emphasizes the difference between 2020's socially distanced Earth Day, and how the holiday has normally been seen as a time for people to celebrate their natural environment and continue protecting it. The webpage includes resources for activities as well as lesson plans produced by the Harvard Museums, Harvard University, and other organizations in the Greater Boston area. Resources like this highlight how museums and other cultural institutions sought to continue using public holidays as opportunities to educate, even as they were no longer able to host physical events in their own spaces. https://hmsc.harvard.edu/earth-day

“Despite tremendous efforts and sacrifices made by many people in our community, there now is one confirmed coronavirus case involving a resident of Lac du Flambeau… We are in the process of testing people who came in close contact with the person who tested positive. So far, the rapid testing has been negative and they are asymptomatic or not showing symptoms of being sick. All close contacts will be in isolation for 14 days, following the protocols and monitoring for symptoms.”

December 25th 2019 was the first time when i heard about the Corona virus outbreak in China. Never have I ever expected that the virus will spread so quickly across the globe. I was in college when I heard that one of the American Tourists in Bhutan was infected with the virus. After that news Bhutan was into lock-down and we were kept in our college premises with no classes until further notice from the government. After 2 weeks the UN declared the virus as a global pandemic and all the students were sent to their homes. Days turned into weeks and weeks into months and the number just kept on increasing. Coming from a middle class family and with the blessing of our king and the government we were able to handle the pandemic well. Bhutanese did not had to hoard any necessities because the people were fully supported by the king and the government as well. Schools were closed, tourism put into halt and all shops had to be closed by 7 PM. Yet, it was just like a normal day for the people as well as for myself. Only difference was that we had to be more careful and be more responsible for our own health. Bhutan had 0 infected people excluding the American but there were Bhutanese studying and working outside the boarder who had to come back home. That's when the number really started to rise up in the country and so far we have 67 cases with 0 deaths which all came from outside. The king and the government are very generous and give full support both medically and financially for those who's jobs were affected by the pandemic. Bhutan is a developing economy that has adopted the constitutional democratic monarchy with a very kind king and a strong government that puts happiness in front of GDP. What i wanna tell to the people reading my story is that if your country has a strong less corrupted leader representing your country, any problem can be handled in a professional way. Lastly i wanna end my short story with the word of our king from his covid-19 speech and I quote "Let us all be strong and not loose our hopes and take care of our country".

Instagram page @lifeincolumbus shares photograph of masked coffee delivery from local shop Jennings Java Coffee Roasters

Pastor Gray from Zion Baptist Church in Chillicothe, Ohio shares photograph on Facebook of food ready to be donated to local people in need amid COVID19.

“The Ho-Chunk Nation anticipated reopening the facilities on or around April 4, 2020, but reevaluated and changed that timeline.”

In Bhutan the first positive cases tested was a foreigner or a tourist. When we heard that we have one virus affected person, the country was statue for once. His wife and the Bhutanese tourist guide were next suspected cases in Bhutan. Even the family of guide was suspected and all the restaurants he stayed was also suspected. Guide's family and workers were quarantined for the first time for two weeks. All the citizens were horrified, scared, worried, perhaps there was mixed feelings inside. After two weeks they were all tested negative which was relieve for a country. After the incident, the government of Bhutan started contacting Bhutanese citizens outside Bhutan, the students, workers and officials. They were kept under correct guidance to save themselves from being affected. As day passes by, government started sending planes to get them. The government of Bhutan had already prepared the hospitals and segregated the places to people coming from outside. The highly equipped with facilities resorts were booked by government. The isolation places were also prepared beforehand. The King of Bhutan and government of Bhutan, in collaboration initiated to the citizens, also constructed houses, reduced taxes, prepared rations, introduced apps to scan, started training more Desung's for duty, Bhutan Broadcasting Service started new program called 'Chikthuen' to entertain people in quarantine. They invite health officials to update about the coronavirus in country, they also invite government officials to inform and share their plans about the improving things in country. One of quarantined student who returned from outside blogged in YouTube, she was happy to be quarantined in Bhutan, as they get all the facilities starting from toothpaste and brush. She says that it was very pleasure that they are equipped with all the needs and wants in Bhutan, but she also shares that it was mundane to be quarantined indoor for longer period as we have never been locked throughout the history. The government of Bhutan has taken good measures to improvise the system of education. Since Bhutan have never experienced the technological life, it is hard for students get used to it. Of course we used to get touch with desktop in schools and colleges, but we never studied and taught from online. The biggest issue of almost all the students is that they can’t study well and they can’t focus on what they are being taught. However, the government had order that school going students will be taught from BBS television, while college students are meant to cop up with online teaching and learning. As a student we are thankful to our government that they are protecting and concerning about us, however as a pandemic grows it will be even difficult to decide our future. There’s fear, anger, worrisome, uncomfortable and unbalanced feelings in the mind of all the people. The way of living was completely changed in country; in the markets, in hospitals, homes and towns. In the town and markets we walk with mask on mouth, with distance from friends and families that we had been together till now. In general every step was observed by duties, Desung’s and polices. It was very indifferent from all the history throughout the history. As positive cases goes up, the fear grows, develops sorrow, becomes unstable and feels dizzy that one day will my family or friend survive out of this pandemic? It was one morning that; I was checking instagram, suddenly at once there was 10 new positive cases at the pace of shock and fear, I wondered will there be death cases and will the positive cases grow even more tomorrow. Nevertheless, I was confirmed that due to existence of dual system of government in Bhutan; the political and religion. While political takes care of people with its developmental laws and on the other hand religious takes initiative to perform many types of ritual for the benefit of all the sentient beings. So, Bhutanese believes that, due to religious blessings we are safe and sound without any death cases till now. it doesn’t mean that we are back to normal, how much we are blessed or how much we get used to social medias; we still have unbalanced and mixed feelings inside that developed since pandemic. We are advised to stay indoor; the streets were found only with couple of people, schools and colleges were closed. It was uneasy to use social media every day; the life was mundane, sudden dynamic, the sudden indifferent lives thus introduced.

Amid COVID19 shelter in place orders, Governor Mike DeWine announces that the 200+ Ohioians that would "age out" of foster care (by turning 18) May-July 2020 would be able to stay in their foster homes. The state would cover the costs to keep these citizens in place.

Scioto Post article about a local campsite and popular nature retreat closes overnight and temporary campsites due to COVID19 permanently. Cabins and rental reservations were not canceled.

Outlines plans for event postponements and reopenings. He also addresses the violence across the country, encouraging people to speak up using their “heads” and not their “fists.”

assignment

This is story about Bhutan being impacted by Covid-19.

Coloring page for the exterior of the Harvard Museum of Natural History published on their Twitter page as part of the social media campaign #MuseumAtHome. This is also tied to their #ColorOurCollections social media campaign. Both campaigns are part of Boston museums' efforts to engage in socially distanced outreach as a result of the CoVid-19 pandemic.

Webinar hosted by the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate focused on the CoVid-19 pandemic and the continued struggle against HIV/AIDS. Program focuses on youth perspectives, highlighting voices of HIV-positive youth advocates in the United States and Uganda. Participants discuss how the current pandemic has affected them, and how they relate to it both as young people who are also living with HIV.

the positive impact of the pandemic

its about how our country managed to fight against Covid-19'

This article will share views of Bhutanese experiencing pandemic: "Bhutan is not celebrating the victory, rather Bhutan is balancing its normal life, Bhutan had foreseen the aftermath of pandemic and government were currently working to continue aftermath of pandemic. We see the world fighting against pandemic, but Bhutan have not stopped its regulation of happiness, when everyone is after materialistic well-being, we the Bhutanese prepared for pandemic and we act accordingly. The fact is Bhutan is poor country and constantly receiving world aids in its development programme, yet then it is myth that Bhutan don’t have large number of pandemic cases and myth of zero mortality when world grieved for high mortality. "

Dear the upcoming future, Ever since COVID 19 hit, the world changed. From banning gatherings to social distancing, extended holidays and many people losing their lives to it every day, the world has descended into chaos. This virus started in December the 31st 2019 in Wu Han, China. They identified that the people were being infected by a new virus and they had no way to treat them, suddenly in January 11th China reported its first death. From then on, more and more cases started popping up in various countries and soon spread to Australia, as a twelve-year-old, seeing a deadly pandemic appear in my time was frightening. Schools began closing and soon the government was in panic. Students in high schools started adapting to a new way of learning called Remote Learning. Since it was my first year in high school, I haven’t adapted quite well, so it was difficult to me as we had to do large amounts of homework at home. COVID 19 had not just affected children but adults as well. Many people couldn’t work as their job involved them being there physically, this affected the economy in many countries and caused debt in many families. Though this wasn’t the only problems that occurred, another problem was that during this time protests started, involving Black Lives Matter and Pride Month. As the Coronavirus is easily passed, protests were a problem, many new cases were started because of people arriving overseas. During this time, scientists from around the world have been creating vaccines, but in 2020 the possibility of a vaccine being created is unlikely. I hope that by the time you read this a vaccine would be created.

Despite New York's distinction as the nation's first major COVID-19 epicenter, and the US Military Academy's decision to depopulate their campus during the pandemic, the President of the United States insisted upon an in-person graduation ceremony, even though countless high schools and universities had shifted to virtual commencements to safeguard against a viral outbreak. Nevertheless, the soon-to-be-commissioned 2nd lieutenants maintained social distancing throughout the official ceremony, as is seen here during the president's commencement address. Throughout the pandemic, public health officials have warned against large gatherings due to their proclivity for easy and rapid coronavirus transmission, but that did not stop this president from ordering this commencement or planning mass political rallies.

US Army medics and healthcare personnel depart a New York hospital after having spent weeks assisting hospital staff in the relentless fight to halt and treat COVID-19 in virus-besieged New York City. Although the virus appeared to have subsided in the city at the time of this farewell ceremony, the omnipresent threat of infection still loomed large.

Strict social distancing being practiced at this BLC (Basic Leadership Course) at Camp Santiago, Puerto Rico on June 16, 2020.

This US Army explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technician keeps up with qualifications, while the supervising officer dons a regulation anti-virus mask to limit the spread of COVID-19 on base.

“The individual is reported as a non-native and resides in within Menominee County, which shares the same boundaries of Menominee Indian Reservation. The individual is a resident of Menominee County. Given this individual is a non-native, this case is reported by Shawano-Menominee County public health and to Wisconsin DHS. This person is not in the care of Menominee Tribal Clinic or Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin… The protection and security of our Menominee Tribal members and surrounding community member is important to our Tribe.”

This soldier in the Army's 1015th Engineer Detachment at Camp Santiago, Puerto Rico, operates what appears to be a M977 HEMTT (Heavily Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck) while sporting a camouflaged mask; a feature more and more common on US military bases as it seeks to balance operational readiness with COVID-19 safety precautions.

A virtual exhibition by the Evansville Museum of Art, History and Science

“March 12, 2020 the Chairman declared a Public Health State of Emergency, the Oneida Business Committee took actions to take steps to protect the health and welfare of the members, employees and the community, including instituting expenditure restrictions to preserve resources for the provision of governmental services to members most at risk, closure of the Nation’s gaming operations, and insuring that employees will continued to be paid during the Public Health State of Emergency as long as the Nation’s resources will allow.”

Given the enclosed nature of US military bases, the Department of Defense ordered the same COVID-19 mitigation measures taking root in the civilian world to be enacted on installations across the globe. These soldiers at the US Army's Joint Training Center maintain social distancing during an evaluation of some sort at Camp Santiago, Puerto Rico.

“The Bad River Tribe intends to apply for the HUD ICDBG-CARES Grant to further prepare, prevent for, and respond to COVID-19 in our community. The purpose of this notice is to seek and consider feedback/comments from the community prior to finalizing the project proposal which is due June 1, 2020. The proposed project will include purchasing tiny homes to serve as isolation locations since the Tribe has high rates of overcrowding in homes. By creating spaces for COVID-19 positive community members to stay, the risk of spreading to family members and the community will be lowered.” Geographic Location is Ashland, Wisconsin

“In the aftermath of George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police officers, Americans, young and old, in big cities and small towns, and of all colors have shown solidarity with the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. Joining in to show support and solidarity have been American Indians and Alaska Natives throughout Indian Country.”

“As the pandemic wreaks havoc on millions of lives, it has had a devastating impact on the livelihoods of Native American artists and artisans, who are collectively responding with a creative resolve born from centuries of adversity.”

“Since the coronavirus pandemic began, Passamaquoddy Tribe elder Sarah Stanley’s world has shrunk to her home and a house across the street where three of her grandchildren live on the Pleasant Point reservation. It’s about as far as she feels safe going. Stanley, 60, has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, putting her in the high-risk category for the virus. Despite family being close, Stanley said she feels isolated most of the time and does not feel safe going out even with a mask and gloves. If she needs something, Stanley posts a colored sheet of paper in her doorway: yellow for supplies, red for illness, or blue if she needs someone to talk with. At 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. every day, workers will drive by her home to check if a color is posted and they get what she needs.” Passamaquoddy Tribe

“Lubin Walter Hunter, the oldest living member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation and oldest living male veteran in the Town of Southampton, according to a Southampton Village proclamation, turned 103 last week. In fact, Hunter may just be the eldest Native American veteran in New York, his family said. In the midst of the novel coronavirus pandemic, his family did not want to pass up the opportunity to celebrate his accomplished life and longevity, organizing a drive-by parade with his friends and community members. Hunter sat regally in a chair, draped with a blanket, at the end of his driveway, surrounded by his children and grandchildren — who wore masks and gloves to protect him from COVID-19. He stoically took in the well wishes one by one as the procession passed by.”

This prison looks like a terrible place to serve a sentence, and even worse during a pandemic. The article discusses an Israeli inmate who died from Coronavirus while imprisoned in Lima, Peru. Sure, he was in jail for 20 years for trafficking cocaine, but it raises larger issues about the dire inequities and lack of funding present in Peruvian jails. Allegedly the woman, Hodaya Monsonego was mentally impaired, suggesting that perhaps she should have been repatriated to her family.

My husband, two daughters and I drove up to Flagstaff, Arizona for a few days of relaxation and fun. Less than 2 hours from our home, Flagstaff is a mountain town and about 30 degrees cooler. As Arizona is opening up the state after the quarantine, there is evidence of safety precautions and practices everywhere. At the hotel, the seating area in the lobby was blocked off, and the free breakfast was a sack breakfast that you requested from the front desk. Even the bar area where there is usually a free happy hour was closed. The front desk staff wore masks, and they even had a sign up suggesting handshake alternatives. Housekeeping staff did not do a daily cleaning as a way to limit contact with guests. While out and about, most stores and restaurants were open, but with new policies in place. Every store and restaurant required masks for customers and had signs stating such at entrances. Some restaurants still only offered takeout, but others had patio space and limited indoor seating available. The first night we had dinner at Beaver Street Brewery and sat outside. We ordered our food at the bar before we were seated, then it was delivered to our table. There was very little interaction between guests and employees. The second night we did takeout from another local place, The Lumberyard, and took it to a local park for a picnic. Stores were limiting customers, requiring masks and encouraging social distancing by having barriers by the cash registers requiring distance between the cashier and the customer. In the downtown area, all public parking meters were covered, so customers could park for free while venturing out to stores and restaurants. The most important recently opened area for our family was the Mt. Humphry trail in the Kachina Peaks Wilderness. My husband climbed the mountain while we enjoyed the beautiful weather and scenery. There were no special restrictions on the mountain, but all of the hikers maintained space and were considerate of others. After being at home for so long, getting away for a day or two was wonderful. It also allowed us to get a glimpse of what the next few months could look like, and how we will adjust to lives with masks and restrictions. I refuse to call it a new normal, but a temporary adjustment is just fine.

One year ago, I took part in this same mass at the same church to celebrate my graduation from high school. Now, it breaks my heart to see many friends of mine who were a grade below me to have this experience months late, and not being able to sit next to the brothers who have been through middle and high school with them due to the coronavirus.

On Friday, June 12th, the summer school team at my school met to discuss our plans for summer school in July. A few weeks ago, we received word from the district that summer school would be happening *in person* in July. As a team, we met via Microsoft Teams (to respect stage 3 of Idaho's reopening) and set up a curriculum for the summer. Our meeting was so focused on student numbers, curriculum, and overall joy that we get to see our students in person again. At the end of the meeting, one of the teachers asked, "do we have to take any extra precautions? Are we teaching with masks on?" There was a moment of silence as we all realized that he hadn't added Clorox wipes or hand sanitizer to our shopping lists, as many teachers donated our classroom supplies to our local homeless shelters when schools close.

“Tribal Elder, During this time, I find myself filled with emotion as I watch the COVID-19 coronavirus overtake thousands of people across the nation including Indian Country. Our ancestors endured challenges like this and still survived. We, the proud people of the Cheyenne and Arapaho, will face this challenge together if we take all precautions and stay safe. We have set forth a plan for this health crisis unlike anything most of us have seen in our lifetime. This administration stands by our principle since day one that ‘Tomorrow Starts Today.’”

“The Citizen Potawatomi Nation has been working tirelessly to develop a plan to re-open the FireLake Wellness Center and other tribal services. We are continuing to work on the safest and most productive ways to open our facility while maintaining the social distancing guidelines and COVID-19 safety precautions.” Phased re-openings advertised.

“The CARES Act funding may be utilized for documented needs that fall between the dates of March 1 - Dec. 31, 2020. The Caddo Nation Council has deemed a $1,000 cap per household, for each enrolled Caddo Nation head of household. The topic of allowing each individual tribal member to receive a "stimulus" or "per capita" payment had been mentioned but based on the CARES Act distribution guidelines, through the U.S. Treasury Department, the tribe would be liable to repayment of the funds to the U.S. Treasury Department based on negligent use should this method be considered.”

“Due to continued concerns around the Covid-19 pandemic, the Absentee Shawnee Tribe is taking necessary steps to limit exposure and risk to Tribal Members and Tribal Employees. During our phases of re-opening/recovering services for the tribe, departments will be working in several different capacities and on differing schedules.”

'Social Distancing in a Share House' is an article I wrote for The Foundation for Young Australians about how to minimise the risk of contagion while living in a shared house and be thoughtful about sharing space with others during these stressful times. The article followed discussions with my housemates where we were unclear on how to keep everyone safe while maintaining autonomy and/or continuing with essential work.

This adorable young couple lived across the street from each other. He saw her dancing on her rooftop and wanted to meet her, so he sent his phone number over on his drone. They had a quarantine date via FaceTime (a video iphone app) and then met up for their first date while maintaining social distancing. He arrived in a giant hamster bubble with flowers!

A virtual exhibition by the Evansville Museum of Art, History and Science

A virtual exhibition by the Evansville Museum of Art, History and Science

The intention of my short film “Sequestration” is to serve as an atmospheric piece that reflects the fears of our current reality. I aimed to achieve a sense of uneasiness in this film through the audio and visuals captured in my own neighborhood in South Florida. The unusual emptiness resulting from the circumstances of COVID-19 inspired me to play off of the themes of loneliness and isolation when capturing footage. Despite the dark nature of this film, I really enjoyed making it and it served as a great stress reliever amidst the coronavirus pandemic. I think it is important to take advantage of the therapeutic effects that creating art can offer us in these difficult times.

Corona journal dated May 2020. I created non-objective symbols from my subconscious during these times.

Many of Canada's largest cities have been experiencing what have been dubbed housing crises in the past few years; rental and purchasing prices have shot through the roof while availability shrinks, pushing out many poor or even middle class residents. This article explores how the drop in demand and government restrictions for AirBnBs (short term online rentals), as a result of the pandemic has impacted the market. To ensure they are still receiving income from their properties many who were renting their units for short term stays are instead turning to leasing them out traditionally, causing an influx in housing availability and driving the prices down with the increased supply. While this is not the best for those looking to turn a profit off their real estate it is an unexpected benefit of the pandemic for many average citizens.

This care facility choose to support its residents by organizing a march for them.

Mid-March. Thinking about all the things that have previously worried me this year that now seem mild and hilarious: moving alone to Tasmania; starting my PhD at a new university and finally meeting my supervisors; turning 28 (haha, actually). Now: Global pandemic; getting really sick; my loved ones getting really sick; state borders closing and being unable to return home even if I want to; my loved ones getting sick and not being able to travel to see them; the economy is destroyed, again. Late-March. It is what it is. What a rollercoaster this year has been, and we're not yet three months in. I've been staying home in self-quarantine for a few weeks now. The days are distinct for twenty-four hours; in the mornings I can recall the previous mornings; the afternoons, the afternoons. Every day I wake around 10am, at some point I paint, make food, drink coffee, stand on the balcony and gaze at the view. At the dining table J plays Catan ("it's your turn"; maniacal laughter; the sound of sawing) while I read. B set up the gym in the spare room and is continually showing me exercises effortlessly, while I struggle on a single push up. We stack wood in the woodshed, B and I come up with names for movies replacing words with toilet paper in one of a million Facebook challenges to bubble up during a time when all we have is time, and after weeks of watching the PM’s announcements as a house, we have all gradually stopped paying attention to the news. What is happening in Tasmania? That's all we care about anymore. I call home and [my parents] are cheery, full of house-plans and routine amidst the uncertainty. Recently J and I were discussing how we have different word associations - prior to all this I saw virus as being inherently technological, a computer term; he saw it as a verb, something penetrating and spreading. He said he felt concerned that we all use the same term but we might all be meaning different things, so how can anyone authentically communicate? I feel that inherently at the moment. I have a wonderful Zoom call with D and D and they are jovial, laughing, but also patient and understanding with my PhD fog. (Sometimes I have to remind myself that I am doing one at all, and it zips back into consciousness with surprise: wait, you're doing it? Now? All you do is sit in your house.) University is at least some kind of consistency. I write to M and A, I paint zealous red gouache flowers on the envelopes, I run to the post box and hold my hand out in the air after touching the handle as though drenched with invisible miasma. J and I collect pine cones at the Domain. When strangers approach from a distance every part of me screams stay away! They seem to walk directly towards us, magnetised, a collision course, and it is always our job to duck and weave to avoid crashing. Crashing means ‘breathing near’. Mid-April. I ask J how many weeks it has been not leaving the house. "I don't know", he says."Four? Five?" We count backwards. I was free on my birthday; the last time I went out for anything was a week after that, Me Wah. J remembers. "At least you got to sit in a restaurant", he says. He remembers mine and B's conversation to the word. I sense his mind is doing backflips in the emptiness, while mine is hazy and soft, a kaleidoscope of dreaming and staring into the flickering flames of our fire, looking at the soft Ghibli rain over the city, staring into never-ending mugs of steaming tea. There’s no need to ever be fully awake. We watch movies B picks out on Netflix (Psychokinesis; A Quiet Place), sip homemade cherry liqueur. We share treats. Occasionally we leave the house in an anxious flurry. People either look nervously as we pass them in the aisle, or not at all; oblivious, they bang into other people, walk aggressively, lean too close. J is frustrated and rattled. "I'm really grumpy", he says, roaring his car into the street. B and I silently look for teddy bears in the windows of people's houses. In our neighbour’s window is a brightly painted sign, ‘Thank you health care workers!’ One particularly cagey afternoon (of golden sun licking the garden in early April, flecked summer shadows, all a warm 20 degrees) I walk. I walk around the Domain and lip sync to repetitive pop songs and take photos of the trees and a fat rainbow parrot, and I move into the dirt to avoid people, always watching, mapping trajectories and walking speed in space. I get home sunburnt and make a fluffy coffee, drink it in the sun on the deck while J pulls up our kale and spinach and gives it to me to munch, pops the heads of tiny caterpillars with his thumbnail. He leaves one for me to do and when I squish it green blood splashes like a poorly made film crime scene pool, obnoxiously overflowing. There are many places I could be during all this that would be worse than here. Mid-May. This is new. The pressure has completely released. I don’t feel on-edge for a millisecond, instead deeply slow and content and watchful. Given-up and exhausted. When I was deeply drunk I looked around my room tearfully (a clear theme these days) and touched my hand to the wall and thanked the spirits of this old house, whether they were listening or not, the echoes and shadows and fingerprints and DNA of those who came before, for having me, and for their care during this time. After the months I have spent within this house I can’t not anthropomorphize the walls. It was a wider gratitude - for the dappled sunlight on the plants on the ledge in the kitchen, for the depths of the crackling fire, watching it lick and munch at the dry logs, for the deep sea breeze coming up our street, for the view of the houses and the stone church and the pines and the mountain drifting beyond the clouds, for the thick fat roses persevering deep into the late autumn, for the brass-golden sun burning my skin lightly in the late afternoon, for everything delicate and rare and wonderful I have been contained with on this property. While coronavirus is rapidly disappearing in Tasmania (knock on wood, we say, tapping our knuckles on the table, and then on our own heads) the rest of the world is gripped in it. Domestic travel is looking possible by July, at the earliest - international not until 2023, so likely after my PhD is concluded. For now, the directive is clear: stay put and stay healthy and don’t spread. Inspired by the frontliners M is considering doing a two-year intensive nursing degree, so by the time we’re both finished perhaps the world will be opened and we can move around and see it. Who knows what the future will bring - and this year, more than any other, the year the word ‘unprecedented’ was thrown around frantically, this holds true. Late-May. Today was nice. I walked aimlessly around the city, bought a coffee from Two Folks and waited eagerly in the alley for it to be ready since only one person could stand in front of the register on the X-marked tape at any given time (the childish thrill of in-person commerce); bought soap from Lush and laughed with the girl with sky-blue ombre hair behind the plexiglass - “Thank you for keeping me in a job!”, she said. People on the street seemed ready to smile at the slightest glance. There is a relieved, selfish joy in the air. At night I drank a bottle of wine and watched It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and as I always have laughed at every dark moment, and things felt preciously safe in this tiny pocket of the world.