Yesterday I made a figure showing the regions of Russia where strict measures have been taken, including some parts of Siberia with very low population density (but of course with some population concentrations), as of 31 March 2020:
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| As of 31 March 2020, the spread of coronavirus in Russia, and the regions with strict orders to self-isolate. |
These are the basics of those orders, per the Moscow region [via the Moscow Times]:
According to the decree, Moscow residents will only be allowed to leave their homes for:
- Emergency medical care;
- Traveling to work if one is unable to work remotely;
- Going to the nearest grocery store or pharmacy;
- Walking pets within a 100-meter radius from their residence;
- Taking out the garbage.
And also from the Moscow Times, here are the basic stats as of 1 April, things changing fast:
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| From the Moscow Times. Light red - partial |
The primary change in the last couple days, other than the expected exponential increase in cases, for me, is that Sakhalin and Magadan now have documented cases (see map above for their locations). Of 85 regions (they have different classifications, from republics, to oblasts, to...) 75 now have documented coronavirus cases.
And the news as of 2 April here on Kamchatka (in the first time zone of Russia, and the world), is that these restrictions have been applied here. I don't know yet if we are "light red" [not as strict] or dark red, waiting for more information.
Now -- cross-country skiing, as we do it, is very self-isolating. More so than walking your dog or taking out the garbage. I do suppose that because Tanya and I are not in the same household, skiing means getting two households together to drive to the ski area. And/but we have been doing so daily for more than a month now. We were also working every day in the office, before they closed the institute with a work at home order.
I realize that my situation is still an incredibly easy/lucky one compared to many if not most people in the world. It's just that rules to prevent stupid behavior end up affecting people in ways that don't make sense. I might have to figure out how to ski out my door, rather than going to the more-distant forest. Or I might be stopped, unless I have garbage in hand. Or can rent a dog.
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| 1 April 2020, on the big marsh, volcanoes in distance. We visited a warm spring in the middle of the marsh. Tanya and colleague Andre have studied this spring. |
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| Self-isolating cross-country skiing on the big marsh, below Koryaksky volcano. 1 April 2020 with Tanya Pinegina. |
Hello Jody,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post and keeping us updated. Indeed, the restrictions imposed by the various governments as the disease spreads and spreads fast, don't always seem to make sense for the regions that are isolated and little populated. But the situation becomes dire so fast... that it has to be extremely difficult to implement adaptable restrictions to various region. It takes a while for folks to understand the seriousness of the situation as well as the role that we each of us plays in it. And it takes even longer for us to change our living habits...However, we've gone through a similar, complex process in France with complete lockdown of the country on March 17...Overall, the restrictions are similar as those that you have described above. They were very broad at the start... Even though, we have additional exceptions to go out on our official forms. For example, we can get out to help the elderly who need assistance and to care for very young people. But, the French government used the first week of confinement to educate people as they were starting to enforce the rules - Police stop people anywhere to check that they carry the appropriate form and do what they are supposed to do according to their signed declaration. But the government also learned from the confusion of the first week and has updated the restrictions and added some in view of the problems that arose that first week... The areas that are most targeted by the strict rules are the cities because of their high population and higher risk for the disease.
As you do in Kamchatka I feel very privileged despite these trying times and the "ubuesque" situation that Bruce and I find ourselves in since we are confined on different continents. I am confined in a rural region, and in a very small village and it is a lot easier to follow these strict rules. We already live in a setting where social distancing is part of winter life in these villages. It is rare to see anybody outside for weeks at the time... we have to go to the next small town to shop to see more people. And I am very lucky to have access to nature for my "authorized" exercice walks and never cross anyone. However, in normal times, that changes as the weather improves and people migrate from cities to the countryside for school vacations, and then summer vacations. This will be the next challenge for our government as Easter school vacations are coming up. The police has already been deployed on all the roads ahead of the coming weekend ... to make sure they control and stop a potential flow of folks trying to get out of the cities despite the rules.
Thinking of you so far away from your home, and continue to enjoy your time in Kamchatka as best as possible.
Amicalement, Véronique
Merci, Veronique, and my best wishes to you and your family. I think overall Russia and its various regions are making the right decisions to be strict, early. And Petropavlovsk, while on a very sparsely populated peninsula, insulated from most of the world, is still itself relatively densely populated with Soviet-style apartment buildings. Tanya and I are taking this very seriously, and already a couple weeks ago we were practicing stay-home measures and various prophylactic practices. I chatted with my mom on skype this AM, she will be 95 next week! She is doing ok. And then I hear from friends and family who have medical staff in their families, they are the real heroes now!
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