Day 66 under lockdown. Further easing ahead.

Going to the beach and swimming allowed.

It seems that in Greece, the infections and deaths due to the Coronavirus have stabilized and the hospitals have things under control. It doesn't mean that we are less at risk of getting sick, just that the medical system can handle the patients that arrive at their doors. We still need to be careful when in potentially crowded situations. 

The government has been easing restrictions for the past couple of weeks. We no longer need to report on our movements and gatherings of up to ten people are allowed (not that I do that). The beaches, the museums, and archeological sights are open once again. On May 25th, the restaurants and cafes will once again open.

Day sailing is now allowed for boats less than 12 metres. You must not go on land anywhere else and return to your regular harbour for the night. Perhaps it's time to fit the sails back on Eidos? Check the anchor and chain? There is some talk of letting people travel between the islands as of May 25th. Since I've paid for the marina until the end of May, this is where I'll be staying, but it looks like I might be leaving June 1st. So, where will I go next? Stay tuned.

Day 50 - easing out of lockdown

Home-made mask.

Beginning today, we no longer have to send a text or carry a piece of paper stating where we're going. We are free to come and go as much as we like as long as we stay on Lefkas Island, keep our distance from others, and wear a mask whenever appropriate. A few more shops will open as well. 

Small fishing boat in Lefkas.

Small boats are now allowed to go out as long as they don't land anywhere other than their own port. 
We can also go to the beach, row in the dinghy, and swim if we so choose. At the moment, the sea is still quite chilly but we'll see. For now, I've put the dinghy in the sea and went out for a row in the marina.

Eidos at Lefkas Marina.

We're still not allowed to sail, so I will be staying in the marina for the month of May. 

Lefkas Marina from the dinghy.

Under lockdown day 41

After an evening playing a game with my family in Canada over Google's Hangouts, I got to thinking of just how fortunate I am. 

Life outside has changed. We are not allowed to leave and sail yet. I had to pay for another month's stay at the marina where I'd spent the winter and it looks like May will be the same. My favourite cafe bar in the marina is closed as are all the other ones. When I do go to town, I feel nervous and avoid other people as much as I can even though there has been only one case of the virus on the island and it didn't spread.

But life aboard has not changed all that much. I do the usual things: cook, eat, write, read, play the piano, try to keep up with the Eidos' maintenance. Every couple of days I go for a run and pick up some food. My pension cheque arrives in my bank account as usual. 

My sons and their wives have adjusted as well. They can all work from home.  The children keep up with their studies online. 
I do hope that the virus can be beaten, but I also hope that we will not re-create the world as it was before. We really need to consume less and reduce the amount of garbage we produce.

Life during the COVID-19 pandemic era

It seems that people everywhere are going to have to get used to a new life, which includes the constant risk of the coronavirus infection or perhaps even a more virulently evolved version of the COVID-19.

So far, we are facing an extended lockdown, only to be relaxed briefly to allow some semblance of economic recovery as long as the hospitals can keep up with the inevitably rising infection cases. This means, many businesses will go bankrupt, and the ones that will survive will have to adapt to the new distancing measures and so raise their prices to survive.

Even if or when herd immunity is established, COVID-19 can easily mutate to cause a new pandemic or if not that, there is bound to arrive yet another virus perhaps even more deadly. This is not going away very soon. This is a long term change that we will have to face. 

Here are some of the specific changes that I foresee:

Housing: Whoever is able to afford it, will move to the country. The large cities will become too dangerous and so those who will remain will be the poor. The upper-middle-class and above will work remotely from their home in the country. Professionals will have their offices in their homes to avoid commuting and risking infection. They will have fewer clients and so their services will rise in price.

Food: Food will be grown and raised on small farms and in small gardens and orchards, each household growing their own if possible, with the shops sourcing local food. The delivery service to one's home will increase.

Clothing: People will be wearing cotton, silk and leather gloves, glasses, veils, hats, perhaps even longer, wide dresses. They will be keeping other people at a distance using large hats, sticks, and canes. 

Health: People will try to avoid going to hospital fearing infection. Those who will be able to afford it will have home visits from the doctor and delivery of medications from the pharmacy. Others will either die or develop immunity to the virus at hand until a new virus arrives. Many people will try to self heal and improve their health using herbs, diet, and exercise. Future generations will evolve to be more resistant to the virus. The gene pool will shrink. Survival of the fittest.

Caring for the elderly and at-risk: Older people will be staying home and having live-in trusted servants, caregivers, assistants and deliveries. The less wealthy will be looked after by family members. Fewer people will go into nursing homes. More will die at home.

Travel: Most people will stay in their local villages and towns. Holiday travel will become too expensive and so reserved only for the wealthy. Most airlines, cruise liners, long-distance trains will go bankrupt or have to adapt to distancing, and so become more expensive.

Crime: With less travel, the level of crime will fall. Criminals will not be able to escape as easily and so will learn to live in the community as best as they can. There might be more domestic violence temporarily but eventually, people will have to adapt to their home situation because leaving will become too difficult. 

Education: Most education will take place online. The wealthy will be able to afford tutors to teach their children at home but the poor will become less educated since they won't be able to afford the Internet and computers for at-home learning. 

Work: The more educated will work from home. The service industry will be reduced, raise their prices and serve the wealthy individually. The rest of the population will learn to service their own items. Guaranteed income will be instituted by most first world countries.

Shopping: People will shop less and for quality items only, made locally. There will be mistrust of poorly made items from China and Asia.

Social life and entertainment: Going out will become more risky, so many venues such as restaurants, theatres, and sporting venues will go bankrupt. Those that survive will become more expensive. Large gatherings will be rare or will seize altogether. More people will pray at home and the churches will have smaller congregations. People will entertain at home and invite only close acquaintances and friends.

Love: People will form romantic attachments from a distance, online. Romantic love will be reignited and physical love will happen more often only after engagement/commitment/marriage. People will need to obtain immunity certificates in order to marry. Marriage and divorce will become more difficult to obtain.

All of this sounds like we'll be going back to the Victorian or Edwardian era. Pride and Prejudice anyone?

Day 31 of lock-down. Promises of easing of regulations.

It doesn't seem believable that we've been under lockdown for a month now, but it is true. Thirty-one days have passed since the Porto Cafe in the marina was closed as well as all the other bars, cafes, and restaurants in Greece. There are some murmurings from the authorities that they might start allowing some businesses to open again starting with hairdressers of all things as it is what most people miss. I suppose it doesn't matter that it is impossible to get one's hair cut from a two-meter distance, yet that is what will happen. 
I would like the hardware stores and chandleries to open so that I could buy a new foot pump for the fresh water in the galley and perhaps some paint. And of course, I wonder how soon will we be allowed to swim in the sea again. It doesn't make any sense to forbid swimming since it is always done at a safe distance. 
Free movement will not be allowed until at least mid-June or early July, so it looks like I will be staying in the marina until then. That's also when the cafes and restaurants will open again. Unless of course, more people will start getting sick again in which case we'll go back to lockdown.

Day 27 - Boat work

We are having some good weather now, so it's a perfect time for varnishing. I put a second coat on the walls and cubby doors of the quarter berth today. Tomorrow the cushion can go back in.
I don't like cleaning, so I set the timer for five minutes and do one small job a day. So far, I cleaned all the walls!  

Catholic Easter happens this weekend and then Orthodox Easter the next weekend. We are still under lockdown, so the church celebrations will take place online. This is the biggest celebration of the year in Greece and I am sure there are people who are not very happy about the lockdown right now. But Greece is happily doing well and not many people are getting sick and in hospital. Everyone hopes that we'll get a bit more freedom in May. The tourist season will not likely begin until at least July because the other countries are not doing very well with the virus widely spread. Greece doesn't want to open up the borders and get foreign tourists coming and spreading the virus among the locals.
Over the next three weeks, the police will be out patrolling to catch anyone trying to travel for the holiday. The villages and the small islands are most vulnerable with older residents and no hospitals.

Here at the marina, life goes on with restrictions. The gym is closed but my neighbours are practicing Yoga on the dock in front of their respective boats. A young family kicks a ball further away from the water. People offer to pick up things from the supermarket. The son of a neighbour brought some freshly baked hot cross buns to share and I gave away a potted parsley plant in trade. In the distance, one can still see snow on the tops of the mountains to the northeast but it looks like spring is finally here. It's the Catholic Easter this weekend.
Here are some images from my run today.

Day 24 of lockdown. Good news.

The Greeks (as well as the rest of us, expats, residents, visitors, and yachts people) have been promised that if we behave over the upcoming Easter holidays and stay home rather than travel to native villages and thus risk spreading the virus to elderly relatives and friends, the lockdown might be eased somewhat towards the end of April. 

Greece has done an amazing job keeping the virus at bay by quickly enforcing strict lockdown at the beginning of March and the results are showing. Fewer cases and deaths than several other countries in Europe with a similar population and characteristics.

This doesn't mean that the virus has been eradicated, it only means that the hospitals are able to handle the cases that arrive at their doors. The COVID-19 is bound to strike regularly and keeping safe will be very important for everyone until a strong vaccine is found or until most of the population becomes immune to it and it will die out. 

We are still not allowed to go out unless for shopping once a week, for exercise or to the doctor. I have been staying on board except to run or shop every second or third day and spent my time writing, cleaning the boat, cooking and sorting through my stuff.

Perhaps if all goes well, in another three weeks of this self-isolation I can leave the marina and sail again. I am longing to anchor out and swim although it has been quite cold recently. 

Today was the first day that the sun came out after almost a week of rain, wind, and clouds. In fact, last night I saw the most amazing full moon - what's called a super moon - looking much bigger than normal due to some atmospheric conditions.

I took this opportunity of clear weather to hang out the bedding to air out, pull out the quarter berth mattress to air as well, sent laundry out to be washed and dried and moved my bed back to the v-berth for the upcoming summer.

The quarter berth, where I slept all winter is now empty, so taking the opportunity, I will be sanding and varnishing it over the next few days. I'm using the heater much less and hopefully will soon be able to put it away until the next winter.

Day 19: Statistics

Statistics can be helpful when dealing with potentially frightening numbers, such as deaths from the pandemic COVID-19 virus.

In 2018, in Greece, there were 120,297 deaths out of a population of 10,740,000. That's an average of 10,024 per month. So far, we've had 50 deaths from COVID-19 in March. That's an increase of 5% over what is considered normal. This doesn't seem like a lot, however, this involves strict distancing measures.

On the other hand, in 2019 in Italy, the population was 60,317,000  or 6 times of Greece. The number of people who died was 647,000 or approximately 53,917 per month, which is a bit lower given the population, than in Greece. In the last six weeks, however, there were 13,155 deaths from COVID-19 or averaged out, 9,390 per month. That's an increase of 17% over last year. Italy didn't adopt personal distancing measures as quickly as Greece did.

Stay home, stay safe.

What scares me now though is that most of us will probably get it at some time. And the older a person is, especially if they have underlying health issues, the more likely they will die. Some people are calling the coronavirus "the boomer remover." So, best to keep up one's immunity and strength. I try to eat and sleep well and run 5 km. every second day.


It is not easy facing certain death, regardless of when or of what cause, yet it is always there, waiting.

Cases in Greece as of April 1: 1415, intubated: 90 Dead: 50

Day 18, Lefkas marina community

While under lockdown, with most people in the marina staying put and venturing out only when necessary, individual preferences and quirks are becoming more obvious. Some people are noticeably more eager to socialize and from their cockpit chat up people walking by, while others are happy to stay inside. I imagine that with some couples, it can get difficult to be cooped up with one's partner 24/7 and I notice that often either one or the other head out to the shops or for exercise. 
I think that those who have projects to tackle, whether boat maintenance or writing a book, will be able to better cope with the lockdown. People who are used to sitting in cafes for hours at a time and chatting will find it the hardest to adjust.
There are those who out of habit, must go to the shops each morning, probably risking an infection more than necessary. Even though there is only one known case on the island, there could be quite a few people without symptoms. 
Most of us in the marina are retired, over 60, possibly with pre-existing conditions, such as heart and lung problems and thus more susceptible to getting a serious case of the virus. I'm very glad to see that the government is insisting on social distancing to slow down the progression of this pandemic. There is some talk of the virus not being as aggressive when it's hot - let's hope that the weather warms up soon.
A rainy day today again but a bit warmer - I'm glad to have gone running yesterday but I need to do some indoor exercises today perhaps with some hand weights. It's the 1st of April, so anyone who needs to or wants to can with port authority's permission move their boat to the town quay but it's not possible to return to the marina if things don't work out. So far, I haven't seen anyone leave yet.
A few people began organizing online events: birthday and anniversary parties, meetings. Tonight we are having a virtual quiz night and on Sunday, a talent night. 

Statistics: 1314 cases, 85 intubated, 49 dead and 90% had underlying health issues. 
The recommendation is not to wear masks and to leave them for health workers, those who are infected and those who look after the infected. However, since 10-50% of transmissions are due to asymptomatic patients, we should all be wearing masks. Make your own and leave the others for the health workers.

Day 16. Shopping and boat maintenance.

The morning dawned clear and cold. It's nearly April but still, I need to turn the heater on first thing after getting up. Rest day from running today, so after the morning VHF meeting with the manager, I went shopping (with permission, of course). Sending SMS with number 2 for shopping or 6 for exercise, my name and address is so easy, I worry that one day I may forget. Rob, my neighbour was on the dock checking his boat and he asked if I had remembered to get permission. Good to have a backup. He and I don't spend a lot of time together because he has different values than I do (cigarettes and alcohol) but he is nice and helpful.
The town was busy because it was already after 11 when I left and being Monday, many people were eager to shop after Sunday. The shops are all closed in Greece on Sundays I'm happy to report. It's a family day and everyone gets a rest although the churches are closed now due to the virus.
I've been getting more and more paranoid when near other people. Most don't respect the two-meter distance and I am the one who has to walk on the street or cross the road. Of course, there has only been one instance of the virus infection on the island so far, but we're bound to have more, considering that the man who brought it from Athens likely spread it through the community before he had any symptoms. It's just a matter of time so I prefer to be extra careful. When I came back to the boat, I left the grocery bags on the bow for half an hour before bringing them into the cockpit and even there left them in the sun to burn off any virus they might harbour.

After lunch and a nap, I tackled the galley foot pump that has been leaking and after taking it all apart found that the bellows had cracks along the edge where it is attached and so the source of the leaks. I found the email address of the company that makes them in Taiwan and asked for replacements but likely will need to buy a new one. 

TMC foot pump for the galley.

And so the day is nearly done. Pork chop with potatoes and onions for dinner, the bone into the soup. And later, Ryan and Justin and I will try playing a board game online together.

Statistics: 15,151 tests, with 5% of the infected needing medical treatment. There are 95 new cases, total 1,156. There are 69 people intubated of which 47% will die, 38 deaths (29 men, 9 women, average age 71) 92% of the dead had underlying health conditions. Lockdown extended to April 11.
Greece is managing well so far: 102 cases/1,000,000 people.
    

Day 15. Long run to the beach.

The sun is back this morning with only a few fluffy clouds to the south. It is so beautiful out and still quiet at nearly 10 am, so I went for my run and then walked back partially along the beach. 

Swallows are nesting under the marina office, their babies just born and parents frantically flying to feed them.






Update: My friends' daughter and son-in-law are much better today. Fever is gone. It took them two weeks to get to this point. They will now be immune!

My grandson who arrived back home in Toronto from Taiwan two weeks ago is finished with his quarantine. He is healthy.

Statistics: Number of cases: 1,061. Deaths: 37.

Day 14. Another day inside

Sorting documents.

 More rain this morning, so after breakfast, I started sorting my paperwork. I ripped up old bank statements, mobile phone, and Eidos haulout contracts, flight information and boarding passes and left them out in the cockpit to soak and disintegrate. The rest I filed away again. I'm trying to reduce the amount of stuff I have on the boat but it's a never-ending process. 

Tempting but deadly?

The farmers' market was canceled today but Kevin from Sunshine, down on my dock got me some apples. I left the bag outside and washed my hands carefully after getting it, conscious now of how many times I touched something that could have had the virus on it: the coins in my purse, the purse itself, the bum bag I keep the coin purse in, the plastic bag with the apples, Kevin's hand as we exchanged the apples and the coin. Boggles the mind. 
So far, no new cases of the virus on the island, but it's only been a few days since the first case was discovered so anyone who came in contact with the man could be harbouring it and only a few more days from displaying symptoms. I'm getting paranoid. The invisible enemy that could be near and we just can't see it.
Statistics: As of January 2020, the population of Greece was estimated to be 10,758,273 people.
14,363 tested, 6,800 quarantined, 1,061 confirmed, 69 in ICU, 65 intubated, 32 dead. 

Day 13. Update

It's been stormy for the past two days, so I stayed home and cleaned more pots, sorted through more clothes and made a new lining for my summer straw basket.

And made a pot of soup.

Put some dough for bread to rise.

Shredded cabbage for sauerkraut.

Strained and fed the milk kefir.

And here is the finished bread.

So, as you can see, I have plenty to do onboard. 

In the afternoon, the sun came out for a bit, so I went for a 6km run towards the beach. I am now on week 10 of the couch to 10km program and it was not easy. It's supposed to rain off and on all week, so I'll need to get out even when the weather is not ideal or I'll lose my tempo. 

Sadly, someone in Vonitsa has lost his boat in the storm. It is being lifted out today. Friends have sent me these photos. The owner was warned that it was not a safe place to leave the boat there but he ignored my friends and went back to Germany. The authorities are trying to find him now. He will owe quite a bit of money for the salvage if he wants his boat back.

As of last night, there are now 966 cases of coronavirus in Greece with 28 dead including two people in their 40s without any previous health conditions. Why did they die? It seems that the medical staff told them to self isolate at home and because of their young age didn't take their condition seriously enough. By the time they arrived at the hospital, it was too late. Of those who died, 23 were men and 5 were women. Most of them had underlying health conditions. Greece is testing now and 13,477 tests have been conducted, so 7% of the people tested were positive for the virus.

Here is my idea on how to limit your chances of catching the virus: go shopping only once a week then isolate for the rest of the time. If you have caught it, the symptoms should start to appear within that time. This way you will not spread it further during the week of self-isolation and while on your own, rest, sleep, eat well and look after yourself so that your body is strong enough to fight off the virus. If you did not catch it, then you are free to go out again the following week. 

More news: Due to the lack of airplanes flying in and out of Greece, the mail system is shutting down. Canada is one of the few countries where mail can still be delivered at this time. Also, our weekly farmers' market has been canceled for the second week.

I decided to stay in the marina until the end of April. Let's hope that we will all be able to do what we want to by then and those of us who want to sail, can do so once again.

Freedom is the main reason why I sail and live on a boat. Freedom to come and go, travel while taking my home with me. Yet, at the moment all our freedom of movement has been denied.

Day 12. What to do if you think you've caught it.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could all get a mild, symptomless case of the coronavirus, develop immunity to it and then get on with our lives? About 80% of us will do just that, but meanwhile, the other 20% will suffer serious illness and perhaps die. So, in order for the 80% not to infect the 20%, social distancing is here to stay for the foreseeable future.
If you suspect you might have caught it, compare how you feel with the following: 

Here's how symptoms progress among typical patients day by day, according to the Chinese CDC:

Day 1 (after the incubation period): Patients run a fever. They may also experience fatigue, muscle pain, and a dry cough. A small minority may have had diarrhea or nausea one to two days before. If you experience these symptoms, stay at home and self-isolate for seven days. Treat your symptoms the same way you would normally treat the flu.

Day 5: Patients may have difficulty breathing — especially if they are older or have a preexisting health condition. Now is the time to call the hospital. If it is only a mild case, you should start to improve in about 10-14 days.

Day 8: At this point, patients with severe cases (15%, according to a study from the Chinese CDC) may develop acute respiratory distress syndrome, an illness that occurs when fluid builds up the lungs. ARDS is often fatal. 

Day 10: If patients have worsening symptoms, this is the time in the disease's progression when they're most likely to be admitted to an intensive-care unit. Perhaps they will be put on a ventilator to help them get enough oxygen. These patients probably have more abdominal pain and appetite loss than patients with milder cases. 

Day 17: On average, people who recover from the virus are discharged from the hospital after 2 1/2 weeks. 

What to do to protect yourself from the virus:

1. Get the regular flu vaccine. People who are protected from regular flu are less likely to suffer from the coronavirus.
2. Drink plenty of clear fluids: water, herbal teas.
3. Red wine and black tea have been known to protect the body from viral infection.
4. Take vitamin C and D.
5. Take some exercise and fresh air.

What to do if you catch the COVID-19:

1. Let the fever do its job. It helps to round up the body's immune defense army. Don't take medication unless the fever is higher than 102 deg. F or 38.9 deg. C.
2. Sleep and rest as much as possible.
3. Keep drinking plenty of warm fluids, chicken broth with pepper to thin mucus.
4. Stop eating sugar and grains. Drink and eat fermented foods, eggs, grass-fed beef, fruit and vegetables, mushrooms, garlic.
5. Gargle with Hydrogen Peroxide.
6. Stay warm and get well.

Family of friends of mine, a young couple in France have caught the virus and have been ill for the past 12 days. They haven't needed to go to the hospital, just called the doctor and are staying home. Nevertheless, they are both in serious pain with a high fever from the so-called mild case of the coronavirus. 
Update day 13: they still have a high fever and the virus has now gone into their lungs but the hospital is full so they are forced to stay home. Their daughter is also not well. My friends are very worried but can't do anything. They are forced to stay isolated in their own home.
Update day 14: their fever has gone down. Hurrah!

Day 11. Understanding coronavirus statistics - fight fear with knowledge.

According to Scientific American and other reliable publications, over the next 18 months, 80% of us will get infected with COVID-19.  Out of the 80%, a further 80% will have only mild symptoms and approximately 20% will develop serious symptoms with 6% requiring hospitalization. Approximately 2-3% will die and 80% of the people who will die, will be over 65. Of the people who died from coronavirus in Italy, 99% had at least one pre-existing condition. 

The latest numbers from China are 6% of the people who have been tested for the virus had a severe illness and 89% have recovered. If the virus does not kill us, our bodies will develop immunity. Why 18 months? According to the scientific community, it will potentially take 18 months to develop a vaccine or develop herd immunity under controlled conditions.

What the authorities are trying to do now is to flatten the curve so that the health system can handle the  20% of people who will catch it and develop serious symptoms. Flattening the curve is like stepping on a balloon, the amount of air in it remains the same but the shape changes. As an example, in a population of 10 million people (similar to Greece), 8 million will catch the virus, 6.4 million will have mild symptoms that can be handled at home and 1.6 million will need to be hospitalized.

Greece has 6 ICU beds per 100,000 people so that means 600 beds in all. It is simply not possible to hospitalize all of the 1.6 million people at once and so the reason for flattening the curve with measures such as social distancing and self-isolation. Luckily, as of March 28, only 66 patients are in intensive care, so the hospitals are still under control. 

The most susceptible to the virus are people over the age of 65 (19% in Greece) and those with pre-existing conditions. Twenty percent of people in Greece live with hypertension (2 million). Others have diabetes (10%), or asthma (5%). People with diabetes, lung conditions, kidney or liver disease are also at risk. Some have several chronic conditions that make them especially susceptible to the virus. There is also some talk that people with blood type A are more likely to have a serious case of the virus and people with blood type O less likely. They are the ones to watch out for and protect. Perhaps they, the 20% of the most at risk are the ones to isolate and let the rest of the population go back to work, catch the virus and develop herd immunity? This is what the UK and US tried to do and failed due to too many people getting a serious case of the virus and the hospitals not being able to cope.

Given all of this, if you are young and healthy, your chances of having only mild symptoms and developing natural immunity are quite high. If you are old and healthy, the risk of getting pneumonia increases with your age regardless of your health, so good luck. And if you are old and unhealthy, watch out and self isolate. 

Furthermore, stop smoking, exercise, eat healthy foods, drink lots of liquids, wash your hands, don't touch your face and be prepared at home with sufficient food and medicines to last two weeks or more in case you get sick. And for the next 18 months, be nice to everyone but from a distance.

Day 10. It's too late to pull up the drawbridge. The dragon is inside the castle.

It was bound to happen, but I hoped that it wouldn't. Lefkada is an island connected to the mainland by a swinging bridge and so anyone who wants to can just drive on. Last week, all passenger ferry traffic was suspended to the other Greek islands, but not to Lefkada. The bridge stayed open. 
And so, a young man who has been splitting his time between Athens and Nidri (a popular tourist destination village south of Lefkas town) developed a fever, went to the hospital and was tested positive for the virus. He is not doing badly and will be transferred to Patras for treatment but meanwhile, I wonder to how many other people has he passed on the virus before realizing he was ill. Everyone he has been in contact will be informed but sadly it is too late.
The latest numbers in Greece (March 25) are: 743 cases with 20 deaths.
www.lefkadapress.gr

Decision time

This morning, all of us in the marina received an email with an offer of a reduced price for the months that we may not be able to move our boats. I have been here since November on a winter contract which although not cheap, meant my boat was safe in case I had to leave it for some reason and I could stay aboard in a community of other cruisers and liveaboards. I enjoyed my stay here but the contract expires at the end of March and my plan was to sail through the Ionian and then the Corinth canal.
This is not possible at the moment. No one knows how long we will be under lockdown in Greece. It could be a month or the whole summer. No one wants that. The charter companies are hoping to welcome their clients as soon as possible, the hotels, restaurants, and cafes would like to open again. But there it is. We are stuck.
As far as the yachts are concerned, we are not allowed to leave the Lefkas harbour without special permission and then only to go to our normal destination and stay there. 
The marina owners have offered us a 20% discount on regular, high season rates. For me, this is beyond my budget. I normally anchor out during the summer in order to save money for winter moorage or haulout. Of course, I do enjoy sailing and anchoring out when the weather is fine, but finances also play a role. 
There is a town quay in Lefkas with water and electricity available, but there is also a charge for that. Not as high as the marina, but nevertheless, difficult for me to pay every day. I may, during the summer stop in a place like that now and then to top up my water tanks, but again, I am not able to justify the expense. Besides, the town quay is noisier than an anchorage.
There are a few free harbours still in Greece. Palairos, Little Vathi on Meganisi Island, and Vonitsa are a few of those. But at the moment I am not sure if I would be allowed to sail there. I must ask at the port authority office. 

Unfortunately, cases of infection are increasing. We now have 695 people ill with 19 dead. But according to the reports in the news, the real number of people who have the virus and perhaps are not showing symptoms as of yet is more likely 8-10,000. This situation looks more and more serious.

On a bright note, this morning I sent a text message to an automated citizen safety permission centre and received an OK to go for exercise. Yeah! So, shorts on for the second time this spring, I turned my music on, started the C2 10K app, and pressed the start button on Strava to keep track of my route. 

Causeway looking south towards Lefkas town.

I saw hardly any people out at 10 in the morning. A few cars and mostly service or delivery trucks. No fishermen on the quay. A police car passed me and there were officers checking documents on the mainland side of the swinging bridge. I saw three other people running or exercising and three more walking. One older man sitting on a bench. No problem keeping my distance.
Halfway through my run, I was rewarded with a stunning view of the north coast of the island.

North coast of Lefkas Island.

Day 9. Week 2 of self distancing. Day 1 of complete lockdown.

View from Eidos towards the offices and shops.

View towards the south.

The day dawned cloudy with some intervals of rain, so I'm not tempted to go out for my run. And starting today we have to ask for written permission to leave home (or boat in my case). 

All of Greece is under complete lockdown until tentatively April 6. 
I am beginning to feel like the frog that is being boiled alive. If you put it in hot water, it will jump out but if you put it in cold water and slowly turn the heat up, it will stay in the pot and slowly get cooked to death. We have been slowly losing our freedom of movement for the past week to slow down the coronavirus transmission. The numbers of infected and dead are increasing dramatically. We now have 624 people infected with 17 dead. I am imagining that some master of the universe hungry for yet more power over the population is directing this drama from above or from some remote fortress, but it is the virus that's at the bottom of this tragedy.
It is now more difficult to travel onto and from Lefkas Island - there will be police near the swinging bridge checking documents. 
At the marina, we are also to expect coast guard and police patrols making sure we don't venture off our boats and onto the docks without a good reason and a permit even to go to the toilet or to drop off trash. I am expecting a bottle of cooking gas to be delivered today and need to add more money to my electricity dongle. Meanwhile, my phone refuses to send an SMS message to permit me to go for a run...
With a self-declaration in writing, I went to the telephone office and topped up my account for messaging, then quickly to the grocery store and bakery and back on board. I think this will be my outing for the day. 

Nationwide lockdown in Greece

As of tomorrow, Monday, March 23, from 6 am. everyone in Greece is under total lockdown. We are ordered to stay home.  No more gatherings for social reasons. The only exceptions allowed are to go to work, short trips to the supermarket, pharmacy, doctor, relatives in need, exercise (alone or with one other person), or to walk a pet. Reasons for leaving home must be provided by text message or in writing and everyone outside has to carry an ID/passport. There is a fine of 150 Euros for disobeying the new regulation.
The total number of confirmed cases is now 624 (up from 530 this morning) with 15 deaths.
I plan to go running tomorrow morning (unless it's raining) and will carry my passport, tax number document and a note stating: Είμαι έξω για άσκηση (I am here for exercise.)

Day 8. First week in self isolation

Lefkas town inner harbour.

It's been one week since Greece has been under lockdown and I've been in self-isolation. As an introvert, a writer and a solo sailor, so far, I haven't found it difficult. 
With my boat in a marina, I get enough interaction from my neighbors on boats nearby, yet they're all at least two meters away for safety. When I get off the boat to drop the trash off, have a shower or go for a run, I see other people but we make sure to keep our distance. 
I did a big shop before all this started, so have enough food onboard for now. A young family on another boat has offered to shop for anyone who needs anything and they bought some bananas and cooking gas for me a few days ago. I baked my own bread and made lentil soup and still have some eggs left. As of today, none of the fruit and vegetables I bought a week ago at the farmers' market have spoiled. 
What I miss the most is the cafe social life that's so important to everyone in Greece. With the sunny, spring weather, the outside tables are usually full of people but for the past week, they are either empty or have been put away. The diehards line up two meters apart in front of takeaways and then sit on benches alone or in small groups. The rest of us drink coffee at home or in the cockpit of our boats. But today, the clouds cover the sky and rain is expected. I wonder how this will affect everyone's mental health.
Here are some of the chores I've been meaning to do which are waiting for this second week of isolation: 

Keep varnishing inside as long as it's possible to ventilate the boat well.

Clean the bottoms of the pots and pans with baking soda and vinegar.

Nice!

Sort clothes and put away winter ones.

Return stuff to the now varnished v-berth.

This morning, we have been advised by the manager of the marina that we may be allowed to move our boats once to reposition. This is good news because many of us can't afford the summer rates at the marina and people have made other arrangements and reservations to take care of that. Even though I have been happy staying in the marina all winter, I can't afford it during the summer and so hope to be allowed to move Eidos to Vonitsa where I was last summer.
Sadly, in Greece now 530 people have contracted the virus and 13 have died. Fortunately none of them in Lefkas. There is some talk of closing the swinging bridge connecting us with the mainland to all but residents just as other islands in Greece have done it to try and contain the virus. What next?