Without structure, without routine, without but with. With TIME and free to create, inwards, in this pause that is not entirely a pause; this paradigm shift in process, this convoy of Universal chaos, this Nature being reborn, breathing, at last, a little deeper, and a human being without knowing fully where and how to continue. Many of us waiting for a more pleasant horizon and strongly wishing that this works for good.

On this side of the Ocean, for the first time I’m admiring a President of ours, for the first time I feel they are taking care of us, and so very grateful for it, and still changes and more changes, of plans, of forms, of coexistence, of ideas, of living…

For me being in ’stillness’ does not mean becoming ’not being’; we have to move ourselves in thought, in creation, whichever happens to be, keep searching, believing, being, with yourself, WITH OTHERS, connect with others from discomfort; connect from where you can until we can do it as we want to. Let desire be our guidance, let it put us into something bigger than us. Register, write down, record, archive, capture something of this present, of the present, which will always be the only thing that matters and exists while we make it.

My name is Maryam and I am 15 years old. I live in Denmark and I’m currently in 9^th grade. It’s spring already and the cherry trees are blossoming outside, but everything is different this year. My life has changed a lot because of the corona virus. The pandemic first had an effect on my life in March which was when all the schools and educational institutions were shut down. Now the lessons are taught through Skype.

On April 14 the exams were cancelled for all of last-year pupils like me and replaced with a grade based on my performance throughout the school year. I think that this is detrimental to my future as I am about to start in high school.

When I’m not in school, I work in a bakery. During these corona times, I don’t have much to do as people don’t come to visit and so work is not quite as busy.

My family is doing well and I’m happy that my family and I can help society by staying home even though we don’t really know yet how this pandemic is going to end.

It was nine years ago, when my family first arrived in Jordan after escaping the Syrian war, that the vision of starting a catering business were born. I faced a lot of push back from her community, but I had my husband’s unconditional encouragement. It became a success I had never anticipated.

My husband and I share all the work. We have a system. I start the oven while he chops the onion, I handle the dough while he tutors the kids.

However, as Covid-19 started creeping its way across borders, it caused a nationwide lockdown.

Now I live in days of dread, worrying how I’d keep my family healthy and whether without the catering we’ll have enough to get by. Quit has taken over since the curfews came into effect. Outside my window is only a handful of people occasionally walking by carrying their essentials. My children are next to me, absorbed in their online classes.

I’m very thankful that we’re healthy, warm and safe. And we are spending more time together as a family. It’s as though the lockdown has forced us to slow down and bond in a way we didn’t before. I’m hopeful that when life goes back to normal, I’ll be back to cooking and catering and making a decent income again.

Here, we are fine, thank God. I hope, things are better with you. In this country, we no longer have free expression, so of course it’s not evident for me to tell you officially about the corona situation here. I will give you a small resumé. As usual, we go to work each day. Schools have already been closed for a month now. All kids are at home. The market places close at 16, snack bars, bars and night clubs close at 18. Since monday, April 13, it’s mandatory to wearing masks, and if you don’t you will get a fine of 10 dollars. Actually, it’s all up to us citizens to make an effort. The state doesn’t provide any help.

At the time, there’s more than 800 infected with the virus, more than 200 cured, og 17 dead. That’s the official numbers. Unofficially, there are a lot more. We know that.

We are short of medical equipment at the hospitals. Medical staff are complaining abot the high risk of their job. We only have 14 life-support machines in the whole country. But companies have donated medical equipment. The state has allocated 2.000 dollars and encouraged people to donate. Basically, we just try to stay healthy and protect ourselves by drinking the traditional mixture made by our mothers and wearing masks.

And finally: Since the crisis started, we haven’t had any news from our president.

I like them, usually they leave home very early and used to clean their places and they were so tranquil. But the last few weeks something changed, suddenly they decided to stay in my house, I don’t have any problem, I mean French Fry (my sister) and I are almost always sleeping or eating, but now that the humans are here all the time, my house is different.

Paula and her brother Pablo are cool. They clean our bathroom and feed me all the time. Her mom a is little crazy, she is talking with me all the time, and she thinks that my computer or my bed, even my room is hers. I am such a generous cat, so I really don’t care.

Today French Fry went to visit some friends, when she come back she said it was so weird, because the streets were empty. All the humans are inside the houses, they are just kind of scared to go outside, seems something is happening, I don’t know if it is good or bad, I am just here, enjoying this blue sky and complaining because there are lots of birds bothering me in my nap. Anyway, its ok to help someone when they need it.

I am currently trapped on islet called Little Cayman in the Cayman Islands with a population of 150 people and no instances of corona. What is everyday life like now? Non-existent. It might be 30 degrees outside, and the sun might very well be high in the sky, but I’m not allowed to leave. The restrictions here are part of a ‘full lockdown’, meaning that I can only leave the property for 90 minutes Monday, Wednesday and Friday and only for essentials like food, exercise or medicine. The beach and the coastline are off limits. Even the local drug dealer has been hired by the police to report of any violations even though he is known by the police and previously convicted.

If I am caught standing within two meters of another person, I risk a fine of up to 2,000 Danish kroner. The fine for taking part in social gatherings is 6,200 Danish kroner or jailtime.

However, there have also been amazing deeds in the name of solidarity. My landlord has waived my rent payment and doesn’t expect to get it paid back. My place of work offers one free meal a day as well as health insurance even though my work permit expired April 13 since everything is closed. The local shop has a ten percent discount on all types of food. However, an avocado still costs 50 Danish kroner and the same price will get you two liters of milk.

Since first case of COVID 19 has been officially recorded, Mongolia as a country that boarders China has been announced to be a high-risk country. A nationwide quarantine system has been established, the government held regular briefings, provided advice, warnings and information on the latest developments. As Dornogobi aimag is a busy place, with the Trans-Siberian railway, vast mineral resources and numerous projects implemented at these sites, I prayed for the virus not to be brought in from the outside. Hence, we were shocked to learn that a French citizen arrived from France has been infected by this virus.

Due to release of this information and rumors about closing of service outlets, the number of cars running around has increased and people shopping for foodstuff caused formation of long queues. Criticisms of being too selfish and of emptying the store shelves were flooding the social network. However, when one sees people from developed countries such as the USA, France, UK and all around the world, grabbing food, essential needs to empty shelves, he/she comes to a conclusion that this is a behavior very common to all humans.

Luckily, this disease did not spread in our province. Due to requests not to leave homes both at cities and rural areas, unless absolutely necessary, majority of people worked from home, children attended the online lessons, which allowed the families to stay together for a longer time and devote more attention to their children. From one side, this situation may appear to be beneficial allowing more time spent with the family, and efforts to be taken to improve the environment and mutual understanding, and learn about children’ interests and aspirations, on the other side, it is clear that it causes damage to livelihoods, the businesses, the economy and the society as a whole. I truly hope that everyone and each household spends these viral days in the most beneficial to themselves and others ways.

Unfortunately, many companies are now downsizing and some are closing as they cannot afford to pay salaries to their workers. Despite quarantine measures which prevents further spread of the disease, no one can predict what may happen next. It is still unclear how the exemptions promised by the government will affect the people in practice.

I was proud to witness the generosity and perseverance of the Mongolian spirit and how a small nation came together in following the government guidelines in preventing further spread of the virus. I believe that the ability to receive and digest the information, be aware of the responsibilities to protect the family and take all necessary measures to withstand any risks are simple but important things that citizens can do for the country and the future.

After a very hyggeligt bit more than a year living in Denmark, I went back home at the end of 2019 to finish my studies. Even before the semester started and with only 128 confirmed infections with coronavirus, Argentina went into a full lockdown. Most citizens are now only allowed to shop for groceries and can’t even go out for a walk.

This has of course changed most of my plans. Fortunately, I can assist online classes and prepare some subjects for when university opens. I have also plenty of time to work out a little at home, watch some series, and play tons of videogames.

My boyfriend from Denmark who accompanied me home for Christmas holidays is supposed to come back and visit me in July. We still don’t know if this is going to happen or if we have to wait several more months to finally see each other again.

At the time of writing these words, 26 days of lockdown have passed, the number of infected has raised to 2443 and 111 lives were lost. Even though the numbers are optimistic and show the effectiveness of social distancing, this fight is far from being won.

Hardened Hands

Four weeks in, I watch the sun set into Denmark’s stretching sea. My sister’s beside me. We’ve been together since this all started. I flew back home to Denmark when the news broke out. I finally breathed easy, when my plane touched down, and now a month later it’s another beautiful night and the whole sky is crimson pink and orange too. It stretches on forever. Last week, my family sat quietly round the kitchen table as the prime-minister addressed the country. My father tuned the radio. I stared out our window at an empty Ebeltoft and thought of other people sitting in the other houses here, hearing the same news. I imagined a town completely quiet. At the grocery store, I give space where I can, make space between the aisles. Look to see, if I can see any of the same fears that I have, in someone else’s eyes. Rub sanitizer into my palms on my way in, again on my way out. Wash it off with soap when I come home. At nighttime, I ask my mother for hand lotion. I smooth it on, at the foot of her bed. Rub what’s left onto her tired feet.

Hello

My name is Alfonso Guerrero, I´m from Mexico, I´m 29 years old and I live at Mexico City, i work as regional sales manager in a company of professional kitchen equipment.

The coronavirus has changed a lot the things in my city, my job, family and friends.

At the beginning (March 13th) unfortunately our government didn’t take the situation for serious, so the people made his live normally, even a great concert (Vive Latino) was performed around 100,000 people went to that event.

The real and stressful situation started on March 25th, the Manging Director of the company where i work, told us that it was forbidden travel for work or for personal reasons, so we started to make home office for mandatory.

Meanwhile my grandmother is sick of the heart, she is 93 years old, so unfortunately her doctor told us that is better to stay at home than a hospital because the high probability of infection in elder.

Cuarrently we are living in a house my mother, my grandmother and me, we take many caution with her.

I haven´t seen my father for almost a month, we are making videochats only.

Many restaurants are closing, fitness center, hotels,etc the economic uncertainty is very high, and also many people are losing their jobs even If they work for big companies, the people in Mexico are very scared about the future, and also the mexican public health system is very bad.

So we need to be united as human being in order to keep calm and attend what the World Health Organization says to avoid a worse situation that we are living.

Greetings from Mexico and please take care of you and yours.

I returned from a semester abroad in Denmark ready to live my life, for the first time, not as a student. I was imagining the endless places I could take myself, what new jobs I could have, how my final university courses would be, exploring more of my country and of the world.

Now I am sitting in my bedroom, petting my roommates cat, watching the rain, scrolling through each streaming catalogue, and every few hours checking the latest numbers of infections and deaths.

My restaurant is closed, friends have lost their jobs, others are stressed about making rent. As sad and bored as I am, I keep reminding myself I am doing what is asked of me. Reminding myself how dire others situations are, and if I continue keeping my distance, hopefully, a sense of normalcy will return by summer.

We will emerge into a different society but all I can hope for is we become more politically engaged, ready to care for one another instead of picking fights, look for facts and disregard false narratives. When there is nowhere else to go, look out and up.

I have always loved sci-fi and post-apocalyptic movies about deadly viruses on planet Earth which leave the survivors trapped in their homes struggling to survive, but I repeat – I love the movies only. I have never imagined that these circumstances could become our reality.

Covid19 seems like some strange time lapse. Of course, it is taken seriously, most governments have closed the schools, stores, libraries, bookstores, cinemas, the streets are empty, cities are hibernating. However, the people who usually sit in pubs or visit shopping centres are now rediscovering parks, meadows and forests. Of course, in a safe distance and some with masks on their faces even deep in the woods. All heavy industries are shut down, so the nature has time to recover from the biggest virus – mankind.

But sometimes, when I trail run, I think about the time after corona. What will our reality look like? It seems that in crisis our love and hate is stronger, we feel stronger about everything and we are overprotective of our beloved ones. If this time lapse starts to repeat itself, will we still insist on protecting the vulnerable?

La Paz, mid of Abril 2020. In everyday conversation when we get angry here we say “Vete a la China”, expressing a wish for the other person to go away to the furthest place in world. So, when the coronavirus initiated in that country at the beginning of this year, we had a naïve belief that since we are a remote country, this disadvantage could turn into an advantage this time. We were wrong.

On March 10, two cases were reported positive, both of them brought by Bolivians who came back from Italy. One day later, I arrived from a short visit to Europe and - even if not formally imposed - I put myself into a two weeks quarantine. Being isolated allowed me to see the development of the sanitary crisis in my country: Gradual restrictions first, until a total quarantine was declared by March 23.

So far, the measures seem to have worked out (approx. 500 cases after a month), though there is an increasing pressure to soft them, as there are many families that live to the day. My family is ok, though we are anxious and stressed, but I guess fortunately these are our only worries.