Kamchatka in the Time of Coronavirus 2

Please note that I am having trouble accessing my own blog, curse Google.
For earlier blogs, see Paleotsunami travels (the original)


I am in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, in the Russian Far East, far from documented infections, but taking care, as is the city.  Here is a blog from a few days ago, which I failed to upload at the old site:

Kamchatka in the Time of Coronavirus Part II – 21/22 March 2020

Again I want to say that I am in one of the most isolated (populated) places in the world; my heart goes out to those in the horrific thick of this pandemic.  So far here on Kamchatka, no cases.   I had always planned to stay in Russia through May (with a visa good into August). I think staying here is the safest, wisest plan. My mom, going on 95, is in an independent-living community in western Massachusetts; visitors are not permitted (at all!), she is fine, we chat often.

Sunday afternoon, 22 March 2020 (22 March here, 21 March in the U.S.) -- the internet has slowed down dramatically, I suppose everyone is online if they can be.  Since a cable was laid under the Sea of Okhotsk a few years ago, we have generally had good high-speed internet.  Today’s weather is relatively warm (0C, 32F), we just had another wet snowstorm.  We decided not to ski today, likely we will tomorrow after roads are cleared.

As of a few days ago, the U.S. State Department recommended that U.S. citizens return to the United States (or plan to stay abroad “indefinitely.” Today, I was just reading about American citizens "trapped" in Peru and other places in the Americas

Meanwhile (via online translation recommended by my colleague Vera):

“The Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation shall ensure the introduction from 00:00 a.m. on March 20, 2020, Moscow time, of temporary restrictions on passenger traffic from the territory of the Russian Federation to the territory of the United Kingdom, the United States of America, the United Arab Emirates and vice versa, except for the following: - regular flights Moscow - London (and back), Moscow - New York (and back), Moscow - Abu Dhabi (and back) operated via Sheremetyevo International Airport (Terminal F); - charter flights, provided that their citizens and citizens of other states and citizens of the Russian Federation are transported to the said states (until the full departure of the said citizens).”  Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

So--just out of curiosity, I checked via Expedia, if I were to leave Petropavlovsk (PKC) on 23 March, I could fly via Aeroflot to New York (JFK) for under $500.  BUT WHY WOULD I WANT TO FLY THROUGH MOSCOW TO NEW YORK CITY, two 10-hour flights and transit through two large airports.  If for no other reason than the transit itself, I am better off here.

News -- Also a few days ago, there was a rumor that a visiting professor (to the local university) from Switzerland was sick and had been in contact with many people.  His COVID19 test was sent to Novosibirsk and thankfully came back negative.

Shopping -- I have slowly built up a supply of basic food and other necessities. Tanya has told me she has a significant food-staple supply in her storage area – food used for field expeditions, usually, such as canned fish, meat and vegetables.  Thus far, there is NO evidence of shortage in the grocery stores.  The government has instructed vendors to wear masks; the last time I shopped a few days ago, the mask wearing was desultory (such as noses uncovered).  I wash my hands when I get home, I have some antiseptic wipes.

Skiing -- I have two usual modes of going (cross-country) skiing – riding in Tanya’s car and skiing together (or at least meeting at the end to ride back), or taking the public bus that goes to the ski center, about a 30-minute ride to just outside of town.  I haven’t taken the bus since last Sunday, not due to avoidance, but due to mutual plans and trips.  Should I worry about taking the bus now?  Moot question at the moment.

Dollar-ruble -- The other day, Tanya’s ski boot busted, so we went to buy her new ones. I decided to buy new poles, something I have thought about doing for quite awhile.  We went to a very good shop (Nordic skiing is serious here in Russia!).  Tanya found a pair of boots that were comfortable, well designed for skate skiing.  I found a pair of carbon, lightweight poles that fit my needs/wants.  Because I owed her some rubles, I suggested she buy the poles and I buy the boots, the latter more expensive, with our credit cards. Only later, I discovered that I had made the purchase at just about the peak of the dollar-ruble exchange, in my favor.  Despite the U.S. stock market plummet, global instability keeps the dollar relatively strong, and Russia’s economy is suffering from the major drop in oil prices (partly their own doing, vis a vis Saudi Arabia, another story).

Government policies -- It seems that policies here in Russia with regard to coronavirus are quite centralized (why are we not surprised), top-down.  Thus the policies that apply in western Russia are mostly in effect in the Far East, as far as I can tell.  The Institute has cancelled planned gatherings (more than 50 people), including the Day of Volcanology symposium.  Cleaning staff have been instructed to do more cleaning of oft-touched places such as doors and restrooms.