Corona and cactus

Damascus Gate

The latest count from yesterday's infection rate was 1300. It's now each man for himself ... the govt just twiddles its thumbs and looks the other way. The police are still not enforcing any law in East Jerusalem or the Old City. Word is going around that there are many infections in the Old City ... in the Muslim and Christian Quarters. That's the price to pay when people refuse to abide by social distancing and mask wearing rules. Universities have called off on-campus exams.

I'm going into voluntary isolation ... well partial anyway. The spread of the 2nd wave is rampant and I don't know who is an asymptomatic carrier and who's not. So no risk taking. I'll stay away from people as much as I can ... going to work only through open, wide roads. But that also means I'll have to start stocking up on food and medicines. I'll have to start making a list now and buy them tomorrow. The rations should last at least for 2 weeks.

For the 2nd time this week, explosions have occurred in Iran near its nuclear installations. Iran suspects Israel and the country is preparing for retaliation from Iran. It's terribly unsettling. It's being stuck between covid and war.   https://www.timesofisrael.com/explosion-reportedly-damages-power-plant-in-iran-the-latest-in-series-of-blasts/

Cactus flower

Last night was another torturous night when I got up at 12.30am choking from phlegm in my windpipe. I had to drink warm water and walk for an hour on the terrace till I coughed everything out. And it happened again at 6am. The frightful thing is not just the choking but the pain in the chest and the muscular spasms. Maybe I should buy an expectorant to help relieve the phlegm.

Thankfully the weather is hot so it does help in opening up the lungs. In fact it's so hot the cacti are opening flowers ... like those in our garage courtyard. The cactus there is old ... at least 30 years and very tall. It's blossoms are still large and profuse despite it's age. Perhaps that's what we should learn form the cactus ... the tougher the situation, the more flowers it blossoms.