Last time I wrote (a few days ago), things were fairly normal here. Not any more. Most sports have been cancelled or played before no spectators. (And it is inevitable that the Rugby League and Aussie Rules seasons will be completely suspended soon.) Cruise ships are banned. All gathering of over 500 are prohibited. One result is that things like the season of the Sydney Dance Company will have to be suspended or cancelled, an incredible blow to a not-for-profit arts organization. Our friend, Pam Bartlett, is on the Board and is despairing.
There really aren’t that may positive tests here yet, although there have been a few high profile ones. (And, unlike the US, there is plenty of testing at no cost.) I suppose it is a good idea to try to get out in front of the eventually epidemic and that it what is happening here. They are setting up special testing and triage places at the hospitals. Restaurants are still open, which allows us to continue to eat out with friends. Don’t know how long that will last.
I’ve been joking that we are returning to Montclair on March 24th if we can get out of Australia and/or get into the US. That is suddenly seeming less like a joke, with borders being closed and flights being cancelled. We aren’t quite sure what to do. At this point, I guess we have to just keep our plans as is and hope for the best. Of course, there are worse things that being forced to stay in Sydney for a bit longer. I am thankful that we weren’t trying to return from Europe this weekend.
nickinshoreditch 
A scattered reply — We’re scheduled to move furniture from Hoboken to Vermont this week, and crossing our fingers that will be possible. Only a couple of days to sweat it. Hoboken has closed restaurants and bars except for takeout and has a 10:00 curfew at night. i’m on board with all of this, especially here, where the healthcare system is so poor. I love my doctors and had great experiences in some hospitals, but for a mass event like this, I think “poor” is a good word.
Meanwhile, we’re stocking up and distancing the heck out of ourselves. Keira is staying in her apartment in Buenos Aires, where everybody who arrives from Europe and, I suppose, Asia, is required to quarantine themself for two weeks, with a $2,000 fine for breaking the quarantine. and healthcare is essentially if not completely free so there are no barriers to care. In California, Laran is working from home and the kids are out of school until mid-April.
Meanwhile, I feel fine and hope the same for you. We stocked up on a lot of food we almost never eat, like baked beans. My brain is working slightly differently these days.
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