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In a Pandemic, Everything is Canceled. But Not Our Anxiety. In a Pandemic, Everything is Canceled. But Not Our Anxiety.
(14 days later)
The Australia Letter is a weekly newsletter from our Australia bureau. Sign up to get it by email. This week’s issue is written by Isabella Kwai, a reporter with the Australia bureau.The Australia Letter is a weekly newsletter from our Australia bureau. Sign up to get it by email. This week’s issue is written by Isabella Kwai, a reporter with the Australia bureau.
Days after returning from a long trip in Asia this month, I started feeling feverish. It was probably nothing, a post-trip flu — but was it?Days after returning from a long trip in Asia this month, I started feeling feverish. It was probably nothing, a post-trip flu — but was it?
Was every cough now full of coronavirus-laden droplets? Had it been a mistake to see my parents for dinner? Should I not have taken that Uber?Was every cough now full of coronavirus-laden droplets? Had it been a mistake to see my parents for dinner? Should I not have taken that Uber?
I went to a pop-up coronavirus clinic to get tested. “Everything is fine,” someone had written on a whiteboard in the waiting room. Someone else had made an edit: “Everything is swine.”I went to a pop-up coronavirus clinic to get tested. “Everything is fine,” someone had written on a whiteboard in the waiting room. Someone else had made an edit: “Everything is swine.”
As I hung around my apartment for the two days it took to get the results, it wasn’t the monotony that struck me but the infectious nature of fear. Friends with pregnant, elderly or otherwise sick relatives texted me constantly asking how I was feeling.As I hung around my apartment for the two days it took to get the results, it wasn’t the monotony that struck me but the infectious nature of fear. Friends with pregnant, elderly or otherwise sick relatives texted me constantly asking how I was feeling.
We were waiting for the green light of a negative test result. But, given the nature of the epidemic, we were also waiting, it seemed, for a higher authority to comfort us and make us all believe that everything really will be fine, and soon.We were waiting for the green light of a negative test result. But, given the nature of the epidemic, we were also waiting, it seemed, for a higher authority to comfort us and make us all believe that everything really will be fine, and soon.
Those in Hong Kong, where I worked in The New York Times office for a few weeks, were no stranger to life under the coronavirus — face masks are everywhere and a run on toilet paper had already come to shops.Those in Hong Kong, where I worked in The New York Times office for a few weeks, were no stranger to life under the coronavirus — face masks are everywhere and a run on toilet paper had already come to shops.
But the panic is rising in Australia, the United States and in several other countries. With the World Health Organization officially declaring a pandemic this week, news updates felt more like the plot of a film than reality itself. “Contagion,” it seems, was well worth the rewatch: Travel between the United States and Europe has been suspended; the NBA canceled its season and Disneyland is closing its doors.But the panic is rising in Australia, the United States and in several other countries. With the World Health Organization officially declaring a pandemic this week, news updates felt more like the plot of a film than reality itself. “Contagion,” it seems, was well worth the rewatch: Travel between the United States and Europe has been suspended; the NBA canceled its season and Disneyland is closing its doors.
I feel grateful to live in a country with a public health system where testing is both free and relatively straightforward. Australia has not (yet) experienced the degree of challenge countries like China and Italy have faced, as Tom Hanks — who announced this week that he had tested positive while shooting a film in Queensland — now knows.I feel grateful to live in a country with a public health system where testing is both free and relatively straightforward. Australia has not (yet) experienced the degree of challenge countries like China and Italy have faced, as Tom Hanks — who announced this week that he had tested positive while shooting a film in Queensland — now knows.
But as public health systems around the world grapple with the pandemic, the rest of us are left waiting and wondering when the worst will come.But as public health systems around the world grapple with the pandemic, the rest of us are left waiting and wondering when the worst will come.
In my case, two days after the test, I called for my results. All clear, I was told. I did not have the coronavirus. I flung open the windows in relief and let everyone know we could go back to breathing the same air. It’s all fine, I’m fine, we’re fine!In my case, two days after the test, I called for my results. All clear, I was told. I did not have the coronavirus. I flung open the windows in relief and let everyone know we could go back to breathing the same air. It’s all fine, I’m fine, we’re fine!
But are we?But are we?
How nervous are you about the pandemic? And what if anything are you doing about it? Write to me at nytaustralia@nytimes.com and let me know how you are coping.How nervous are you about the pandemic? And what if anything are you doing about it? Write to me at nytaustralia@nytimes.com and let me know how you are coping.
The Times is also providing free access to the most important updates of the coronavirus. You can access it here.The Times is also providing free access to the most important updates of the coronavirus. You can access it here.
Updated July 16, 2020
Now onto stories of the week.Now onto stories of the week.
‘If You’re Not Sweating’ in This Town, ‘There’s Something Wrong’ In Marble Bar, which claims to be Australia’s hottest town, the temperature hit at least 113 degrees on 32 days this summer. Some residents worry that “there’s got to be a point where you actually start to cook.”‘If You’re Not Sweating’ in This Town, ‘There’s Something Wrong’ In Marble Bar, which claims to be Australia’s hottest town, the temperature hit at least 113 degrees on 32 days this summer. Some residents worry that “there’s got to be a point where you actually start to cook.”
The Sydney Opera House Goes Quiet. Finally: A renovation costing nearly $200 million has shut the famed theater for two years, the first closure in its history.The Sydney Opera House Goes Quiet. Finally: A renovation costing nearly $200 million has shut the famed theater for two years, the first closure in its history.
Tom Hanks Got Sick in Australia, Where Coronavirus Testing Isn’t Such a Hassle: In the United States, little if anything about the testing has been efficient or convenient. In Australia, it is free and widely available.Tom Hanks Got Sick in Australia, Where Coronavirus Testing Isn’t Such a Hassle: In the United States, little if anything about the testing has been efficient or convenient. In Australia, it is free and widely available.
Strikes and Attack Ads: The Hard Roads to Universal Health Care: Britain, Australia and Canada have universal health care, and its citizens are mostly happy with it. But getting there wasn’t easy.Strikes and Attack Ads: The Hard Roads to Universal Health Care: Britain, Australia and Canada have universal health care, and its citizens are mostly happy with it. But getting there wasn’t easy.
‘Like Licking an Ashtray’: Fires’ Invisible Threat to Australia’s Wines: The smoke produced by the blazes that ravaged the country may ruin entire vintages, but detecting contamination is a guessing game.‘Like Licking an Ashtray’: Fires’ Invisible Threat to Australia’s Wines: The smoke produced by the blazes that ravaged the country may ruin entire vintages, but detecting contamination is a guessing game.
Wish It Existed? Make It Yourself. She Did: Zoë Foster Blake, the founder of the Go-To skin care line and a prolific author, says there’s never been a better time to be an entrepreneur.Wish It Existed? Make It Yourself. She Did: Zoë Foster Blake, the founder of the Go-To skin care line and a prolific author, says there’s never been a better time to be an entrepreneur.
Trump’s Re-election Chances Suddenly Look Shakier: Weeks ago, his advisers were counting on a strong economy and a Democratic opponent easily portrayed as too far left. But the political landscape has sharply shifted.Trump’s Re-election Chances Suddenly Look Shakier: Weeks ago, his advisers were counting on a strong economy and a Democratic opponent easily portrayed as too far left. But the political landscape has sharply shifted.
The World Has a Plan to Fight Coronavirus. Most Countries Are Not Using it: The World Health Organization is supposed to coordinate the global response to epidemics. But the U.N. agency cannot force countries to play by international rules.The World Has a Plan to Fight Coronavirus. Most Countries Are Not Using it: The World Health Organization is supposed to coordinate the global response to epidemics. But the U.N. agency cannot force countries to play by international rules.
Merkel Gives Germans a Hard Truth About the Coronavirus: The famously no-nonsense chancellor, keeping to form, braced Germany for an epidemic that may reach extraordinary scale.Merkel Gives Germans a Hard Truth About the Coronavirus: The famously no-nonsense chancellor, keeping to form, braced Germany for an epidemic that may reach extraordinary scale.
Alcoholics Anonymous vs. Other Approaches: The Evidence Is Now In: An updated review shows it performs better than some other common treatments and is less expensive.Alcoholics Anonymous vs. Other Approaches: The Evidence Is Now In: An updated review shows it performs better than some other common treatments and is less expensive.
Last week we wrote about the impending closure of the Australian Associated Press and asked whether you were worried about the direction of the Australian media.Last week we wrote about the impending closure of the Australian Associated Press and asked whether you were worried about the direction of the Australian media.
I am horrified at the expected closure of this independent service, the A.A.P. We already have such a biased slew of newspaper ownership now, that this service being destroyed makes a mockery of freedom of the press and the arm’s length required between the news makers and the news reports. Added to the constant degradation of the ABC and its superior reporting, it hammers another nail in the coffin of impartial journalism in Australia.I am horrified at the expected closure of this independent service, the A.A.P. We already have such a biased slew of newspaper ownership now, that this service being destroyed makes a mockery of freedom of the press and the arm’s length required between the news makers and the news reports. Added to the constant degradation of the ABC and its superior reporting, it hammers another nail in the coffin of impartial journalism in Australia.
It will soon be at the stage that Australians will only be able to find impartial journalism about Australia by going to OVERSEAS sources! And how crass does that sound?It will soon be at the stage that Australians will only be able to find impartial journalism about Australia by going to OVERSEAS sources! And how crass does that sound?
I wonder if enough of us that care about the need for impartiality can buy the business and keep it intact and doing the great job it historically has done?I wonder if enough of us that care about the need for impartiality can buy the business and keep it intact and doing the great job it historically has done?
-Jennifer Edelman-Jennifer Edelman
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