Saturday, August 29, 2020

The quarantine conudrum

The past fortnight has been very hectic. Haven't been able to keep track of many of my favourite blogs. Shall catch up as soon as possible, as much as possible.

Father-in-law needs to have a medical review of an ongoing treatment at a hospital here. So, my parents-in-law returned from Kerala on Aug 20. He has an appointment with the doctor the next day. 

According to the safety protocol, anyone coming in from another state has to be in home-quarantine for 14 days. Our resident association rules stipulate that other members of the residence also need to be in quarantine for the same period. That's till Sept 3rd. Of course, a hospital visit is allowed.

AIRPORT TRIP

Meanwhile, an uncle and aunt of mine were scheduled to leave for the US on a repatriation flight to join their children there on Aug 21 late night. The airport is around 40 km / 25 miles away, and whenever they travel, they book a cab, though we keep telling them it would be our pleasure to drop them.

But this time around, considering the prevailing circumstances, they were reluctant to take a cab; and apologetically suggested that it would be nice if I or my brother-in-law could drop them on Aug 21 night. And therein was a problem.

I wouldn't be able to drop them since I would be in quarantine from Aug 20 night. If I ventured out, that would be a violation of the rule. 

My brother-in-law wouldn't be able to drop them either, because he would have taken papa to the hospital for the scheduled meeting with the doctor earlier in the day (Aug 21); and it would be considered risky for him (my brother-in-law), post the hospital visit, to take uncle and aunt to the airport the same day in the night. Plus, it would be such a hectic day for him too.

THE SOLUTION

So, this is what we did. I moved to my uncle's house on Aug 20 before the arrival of my parents-in-law at home in the evening. I stayed over there that night; took them to the airport on Aug 21 night, and came back home and entered quarantine. 

My brother-in-law took papa to the hospital as planned on Aug 21 morning, and dropped him back home.

So, there was neither a risk of my relatives getting exposed to infection nor rules of quarantine being violated.

20 comments:

  1. Hari OM
    Neatly resolved! This echoes the strife so many find themselves in -but without the resources to manage as you did for your family. Again the news is full of the big surges of COVID in India and it is most worrying. Over here, things are rising again, since lockdown eased, because with the best will in the world (and there often isn't a "best will" among some), keeping folk apart is next to impossible. I fear we will continue to face such strife for some time yet... Sending all the best for health matters. YAM xx

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    1. Hi Yamini - Thank you. Yes, the numbers are rising in India. But life has almost come back to the old normal. A bit worrying, because one doesn't know how this is going to pan out.

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  2. Hi Pradeep - yes as Yam says ... well resolved. I'm glad all is well = we all have to do what we can ... but I'm glad I'm not juggling many family members, or needing to go to communal places. Take care and stay safe ... all the best - Hilary

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  3. You get an A+ on problem solving skills. I am glad everything worked out well and you are all safe.

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    1. Hi Rajan - Thanks. Yes, everything went off well. Uncle and aunt reached Chicago safely on a Lufthansa flight on which the cabin crew took care of them extremely well.

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  4. How clever! And you're very thoughtful, as well, to take such good care of family. Please stay healthy as well as safe, sane, sheltered, and supplied.

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    1. Hi Darla - Thank you. Yes, we are lucky to have close relatives and friends around.

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  5. Clever solution. Of course the one time they actually take you up on your offer for a ride is the one time it's more trouble than normal. Murphy's Law at work.

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  6. Good that this didn't happen while you were already in the middle of the quarantine!

    Destination Infinity

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    1. Hi Rajesh - You are right. It was a luck that they reached before I went into quarantine.

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  7. Glad you worked that out. I'm so impressed that you and your family are so thoughtful about this, Pradeep. You'd be shocked at the craziness that people are up to.
    Hope your father-in-law gets well soon.
    And yes, happy Onam!

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    1. Hi Corinne - The least we can do is to be as careful as possible. Thank you for the Onam greetings. We had a small family get-together.

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  8. Smart way of dealing with the problem, glad you thought out so well and resolved it.

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  10. So success greeted you.There is a solution for every problem,even for Covid 19.

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  11. All very complicated as the rules keep changing. What I heard latest is that if one enters from other city/state and leaves within 7 days, then no quarantine, otherwise it is 7 days home quarantine.

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  12. You are very thoughtful, Pradeep. It's a bit of a nightmare, isn't it? Quarantine affects all of those around you, so it was great you could find a solution!

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  13. Innovative solution indeed! Kudos to you for looking after family elders.. not many people take up this responsibility.

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  14. Sorry, I have missed some of your posts too.
    Great solution by the way ;)

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