Thursday, December 12th, 2020
Preparations for what is now a big adventure continue. I have researched entry and quarantine protocols. I find the information published by the German authorities rather contradictory. In the end I called the health authorities in the State we plan to quarantine in. The experience was so utterly different from trying to contact anyone in the US. Firstly, a HUMAN (!) answered my phone after the second ring. Secondly, this person was surprisingly helpful and extremely friendly (very un-Germanic). He walked me through the protocol, provided me with an email address and suggested I send an email with our information (route of travel, time of arrival, quarantine address, names and dates of birth of those quarantining, etc.) on the day of our departure. Registration of us would then happen within twenty-four hours. He also confirmed that we need to take a test upon arrival and another test five days after arrival. If both return negative results for COVID-19 we are “safe” and free to go.
The biggest issue now is to figure out where to get the tests done on day five. There is an official testing site, but he could not guarantee that we would be able to get tested on day 5 due to high demand. His suggestion was to find a general practitioner and do the test there. I went down the google rabbit hole of trying to find test sites, but to no avail. I have now email two GPs to see if they do COVID tests and can return results within 24 hours. If that fails, I shall make another appointment at Hamburg Airport. It would just mean a lot of driving as the airport is some 100km from our quarantine location.
Admittedly testing is far more accessible in the USA with county test sites published on their website. Similarly, finding private laboratories is far easier, but at least now I know what we need to do. In anticipation of our trip I have begun wrapping my Christmas gifts. I so hope we can fly! Though I have not begun any packing as really I do not want to jinx it. I will probably do that on Saturday once we have our results; last minute so to say.
I am still nervous about the trip. I am less worried about the flight itself and more about the airports. And as if it needs further evidence, more studies find that wearing a mask reduces the spread of the virus. We shall double up on masks with N95 masks and either cloth or surgical masks over those. The latter get changed every few hours.
Airplane bathrooms have never been my favorite, in the age of Corona though they are particularly scary so as not to say outright dangerous. As a result China has issued guidelines suggesting crew wear disposable diapers to avoid washroom use. I think our strategy will be to avoid the washroom altogether; if at all possible. Once in Hamburg I think we shall go into the basement and throw all clothing we wore plus the masks into the washer! I do feel a little paranoid, but rather be safe than sorry.
The FDA is almost certain to approve emergency use for the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine. Developed by Turkish immigrants in Germany and produced in Belgium with the backing of a US company it is a truly global effort and for the USA may be the only salvation. 200 hospitals have reach capacity. One third of all hospitals are almost out of ICU beds.
Yesterday alone 3.140 Americans have died of the virus. Bringing the total death toll to a staggering 298k with total infections reported as of today at 15.9 million. The virus is scarily out of control in this country. Worldwide 69 million cases have been reported out of which 44.2 million have recovered and 1.58 million have died to date.
How will it all end?