"Teatro in times of plague"

A doctor died in San Pedro last night; she was the first of the medical teams to die. That brought the count to 11 deaths.

The case in Progreso has died. As far as I can find out, there are no new cases in Progreso.

I went downtown this morning. My resident’s id ends in 9; that puts me on Friday. But my passport ends in 5. That means I can circulate today. At least that was my reasoning. I didn’t get stopped.

I tried going my normal way to the office but it was blocked: the barrio where the Progreso case lived is that barrio (around the area of Blanca Valladares’ law office if you know Progreso). They’ve set up barricades all around the barrio. Don’t know if they let the residents go in and out. I had to detour all the way around to get to the office.

There’s a lot more activity than I expected downtown, but it is obvious all “essential” activity. Huge lines at the banks.

All is in order in the teatro. We have a full-time watchman. I meet Luis there: he left his keys inside yesterday when he came for a while (he lives fairly close and doesn’t have to cross downtown to get there). The teatro has the eerie feeling that dark theatres always have.

Luis is organizing a food collection thing for the actors. He has done interviews with TeleProgreso asking for donations of food. We’ve got 20 families we are trying to get fed. He gets working on setting up the donation channels. I go looking for bankbooks and checks and things.

Luis offers me a mask. It’s a real N95. He has to put it on me to get it right.

Our bank (all the Jesuit works use the same one) moved a couple of months ago; it was in the heart of downtown but is now on the fringe. I like the new place better. There is a fairly sizable line waiting outside. Most people are observing all the guidelines, but a couple of people go sticking themselves in the empty spaces.

The line on the street was in full sunlight; it took about 45 minutes to get to the door. They took your temperature and gave you hand sanitizer. I did my business and left. Everybody is wearing masks, but the WHO has said you should only wear mask if you are sick or attending someone who is sick. I have a mask.

Luis stayed in the teatro to receive donations. He said there was one of 40 pounds of rice. We have gotten started

New figures just out from a cadena nacional: 14 dead, 47 new cases for a total of 219. 37 of the new cases are from San Pedro and surroundings. There are 3 cases from Yoro, but it isn’t clear where: whether in Progreso or elsewhere in the department.

Keep safe and wash your hands.

Jack.

 

 


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