What a month that week was!

I was speaking to a friend yesterday, and I mentioned that this past week felt like a month and a hot second both at the same time. And in my head all week, with every new announcement, I couldn't help but think "well, that escalated quickly." Every. Time. It kept escalating quickly. It continues to escalate quickly. I already wrote a post with some humor from having my kids home. So here is a post about the rest of life. Gabon doesn't exactly make the international news like Italy or the USA, and luckily, the outbreak in Gabon is still very small. Here is a glimpse of life for the Colletts.

We'll begin with "normal life." Now that all of my kids are in school, I am basically a social organizer and a volunteer. Volunteering and social organizing take up about thirty to thirty-five hours a week.

March 5: Milkshakes after dropping off documents at a Gabonese government facility for our sea turtle volunteer group

March 6: A sea turtle patrol potluck party brunch by the pool

Saturday, March 7. Gabon's government sends out a cable with new restrictions, to prepare the country in case of an outbreak of COVID-19. Some of the restrictions or advice are the following. (Apologies if my English is ever awkward in these. I don't translate French to English very smoothly.) (Zero confirmed cases in Gabon.)

• The creation of a special fund for the response to COVID-19 to ensure the cost of care will be free for patients.
• Strengthening the health checks at all ports of entry: land, air, and marine.
• Extra equipment for two labs in Libreville and the lab in Franceville.
• Restrictions on travel for members of the Gabonese government overseas.
• Nationals and residents with symptoms of the disease from highly contaminated countries will be quarantined for 14 days.
• The creation of an awareness campaign to teach citizens about the risks of COVID-19.
• Recommending the postponement of all international events planned in Gabon.
• Advising to adhere to strict hygienic standards, such as no kissing, hugging, or shaking hands, as well as avoiding close contact with those who have fevers or who are coughing.
• Advertising a toll-free phone number to call if you feel flu-like symptoms, a COVID-19 hotline.

Sunday, March 8. We consider not attending church and holding "English Church" at home with our kids, but we decide to attend with our fellow saints. Now I wonder if this is the last time I'll see them. A 27-year-old man arrives in Gabon on a flight from France. (Zero confirmed cases in Gabon.)

Monday, March 9. Very last minute, I invite friends over and have a nice breakfast to celebrate International Women's Day in the morning. By the afternoon, an ocean cable is cut, so internet service is down for most of the country, and inconveniently my data and cell are also not working. I go to school and coach my soccer team of boys and a girl, ages 7 to 10. (Zero confirmed cases in Gabon.)

Tuesday, March 10. I stay home almost the whole day except to walk on the beach and play tennis in the morning. Yoga is canceled. A 49-year-old woman arrives in Gabon after having been in France. The 27-year-old man starts to develop flu-like symptoms. (Zero confirmed cases in Gabon.)

Wednesday, March 11. I walk and run on the beach in the morning. I attend the student-led conferences: Instead of having teachers tell us what our kids are learning and how our kids are doing, each child has prepared an individual presentation for their parents. The students have an hour to show their parents around to all of their classes and explain what they excel at, what they want to improve on, and what they are learning. My Embassy holds a town hall to update us on the current situation, but I can't attend, because I'm at school. The 27-year-old man isn't feeling well, so he goes to the hospital and is tested. The test samples are sent all the way across the country to our only testing center, in Franceville, about a ten-hour car drive. A 45-year-old man arrives in Gabon, flying in from Senegal. (Zero confirmed cases in Gabon.)

Thursday, March 12. I walk and run on the beach in the morning. I play tennis. I go to my French class. I take some friends to the market to pick up their new locally made dresses. I go out with friends to say goodbye to a dear friend who is leaving and to celebrate birthdays for two other friends. We start at a restaurant, but events can surprise you! We end up going to a night club, and being the only people there, we take over the dance floor. Gabon announces its first COVID-19 patient—the 27-year-old man. A 29-year-old woman who works at the airport starts to suffer from a fever, a cough, and a headache. (One confirmed case in Gabon.)

Friday, March 13. I attend the English Language Lab series I have coordinated this year. I accidentally shake hands once when I had promised myself to remember to not touch anyone. My friends cancel our cooking class, because we are nervous about COVID-19. I go to school for drama rehearsal, and the atmosphere is unusual. The teachers are instructing all students to take home every single book and notebook they have. When we are at home that evening, my children's schools announce they will be closing. My church suspends its Sunday worship service for every single congregation in the entire world. One of my friends flies away. The Gabonese government publishes a new list of restrictions. The 45-year-old man comes down with a fever and eventually a cough, so he calls the COVID-19 hotline. (One confirmed case in Gabon.)

• Suspension of tourist visas to Gabon from the most infected areas: China, the European Union, the United States, and South Korea.
• Closure of all schools, nurseries, universities, and professional training centers until at least March 30.
• Closure of bars and night clubs.
• A ban on gatherings of more than 50 people.
• Suspension of national sporting and cultural events.
• The recommendation to only use public transportation for essential travel.
• The commandeering of Ré-Ndama hotel to act as an isolation location for possible cases of COVID-19.

I don't know it then, but this ends up being the last time I'll get to volunteer with the English Language Lab program.

Saturday, March 14. We stay home the whole day. There were parties and engagements previously planned, but everything is being canceled. The US Department of State approves an Authorized Departure for every embassy and consulate in the entire world. The Gabonese government announces the closure of land borders with the exception of food being imported. A 29-year-old woman goes to the hospital because of her cough, headache, and fever. (One confirmed case in Gabon.)

We're not going anywhere, so I start covering my house in fabric. Gordon is sewing lines, practicing. I also sew lines, but I use my lines to make pillow cases.

Sunday, March 15. We stay home the whole day, just "doing church" as a family. The 49-year-old woman goes to the hospital due to a fever, headache, and joint pain. (One confirmed case in Gabon.)

Jill teaches us a Sunday School lesson and asks us to draw a scripture story. Do you think you can figure out which work belongs to which artist?

Monday, March 16. I walk and run on the beach in the morning. The missionaries for our church assigned to Gabon have transfers (which means some missionaries will be swapped out for others serving in Cameroon or Republic of Congo), so I gather up the missionaries that I can (six of the twelve) to eat at a restaurant and say goodbye. I feel a little nervous about being at a restaurant, but we wash our hands a lot and use sanitizer. And you can't hug missionaries anyway. This is the last time Jill, Daniel, and Alice leave our compound (three houses and a shared yard). My husband stays home from work today. Gabon announces additional restrictions. (One confirmed case in Gabon.)

• A ban on gatherings of more than thirty people.
• Restaurants' dining rooms will be closed. Only pickup and delivery orders will be available.
• Churches and mosques will be closed.
• Airport traffic will be limited to one flight per company per week.

We don’t know it then, but this is the last time we see those boys.

Tuesday, March 17. I walk and run on the beach. I go to Gordon's preschool with Gordon and pick up his homework packets. I pick up packets for all the American kids, so they don't all have to go to the school. I feel a little anxious when two teachers pat Gordon on the head. Gordon gets some regular childhood vaccines at the Embassy medical unit. I make a run to the grocery store and produce stand. Among other things, I buy toilet paper (because I'm proud to be an American!) and lots of flour to be able to bake bread at home. It is St. Patrick's Day, so I have to do something. I can't throw a big party, so it is just my kids and the kids next door. My husband stays home from work. This is the last day Gordon leaves the compound. Gabon announces two more confirmed cases of COVID-19: the 49-year-old woman and the 29-year-old woman. (Three confirmed cases in Gabon.)

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Wednesday, March 18. I walk and run on the beach. The Church decides to send all of its missionaries who are serving in Gabon back to their homes. All of the American missionaries leave on a flight at 11:00am. The others are booked on flights later in the week. Another one of my friends flies away. The kids and I are completely swamped trying to keep up with our school's online learning program. It's quite a transition! (Three confirmed cases in Gabon.)

Which log would you trust to walk on across that small ravine? 

Thursday, March 19. My husband stays home from work. Our Embassy has a town hall meeting to update us on the situation. It's a virtual one rather than in-person like last week. A 42-year-old man arrives in Gabon on a flight from France. He self-quarantines himself in a hotel but due to his symptoms calls the COVID-19 hotline. (Three confirmed cases in Gabon.)

Even the cats are overwhelmed.

Friday, March 20. The kids stay home all day. I leave briefly for a short walk and run on the beach for the turtle patrol. My husband goes to work but probably won't again for a while. The US Embassy closes and tells employees to stay home. The last missionary from my Church makes it out of the country. Gabon reports its first death from COVID-19, the 50-year-old man. Gabon releases an eight-page document with the newest restrictions and guidelines. (Three confirmed cases in Gabon. A fourth case was confirmed, but the patient died before the government alerts us.)

• Closure of all ports of entry: land, ocean, and air. All passenger travel is prohibited.
• Gatherings cannot exceed 10 people.
• Prohibiting gatherings, religious or political.
• Prohibiting religious celebrations and processions.
• Canceling all public events, including marches and meetings.
• Canceling all concerts.
• Closing leisure and pleasure sites, including but not limited to beaches and sports facilities.
• Prohibiting traditional ceremonies: funeral vigils, marriage celebrations, and other family events.
• Reiterating that schools are closed: Not just students but teachers also must stay home.
• Closure of bars, night clubs, dancing clubs, local drink sellers, and snack bars.
• Closure of the dining area of hotels; only pickup and delivery orders are allowed.
• Closure of all merchandise shops in markets except for those selling food.
• Closure of motels, cafeterias, jewelry stores, tailor shops, and hairdressing salons.
• Grocery stores, bakeries, pharmacies, gas stations, and garages may remain open, but people must stay 1 meter away from each other.
• If you have visited a country with COVID-19 and are showing no symptoms, you must self confine at home.
• If you have flu-like symptoms or have tested positive for COVID-19, you must quarantine and receive treatment at the hospital.
• If you have been in contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19, you must quarantine in the government-mandated location.
• In regards to public transportation, the following maximums must be observed.
• 3-passenger maximum (including the driver) in taxis and "clandos."
• 9-passenger maximum (including the driver) on an 18-passenger mini bus.
• 10-passenger maximum (including the driver) on a 30-passenger bus.
• Drivers must wear gloves and masks, and they must disinfect the vehicle in between passengers.
• Customers are required to sanitize their hands upon entering the vehicle.
• Bank counters and ATMs will remain open.
• There must always be 1 meter of space between two people. People are obligated to wash their hands regularly with soap. People should stop touching their noses and mouths.
• Hospital visits are banned without express permission.
• Prison visits are banned.
• The suspension of court proceedings, with few exceptions.
• The suspension of all cultural events, political events, and national and international sporting events.

Online and at-home schooling with four kids: three in elementary school and one in pre-kindergarten.

Saturday, March 21. My kids cry for the first time, finally realizing that life is a little different now. They have not really mentioned not leaving the house or doing school online. They all know about COVID-19 happening in the world—to varying degrees. But today they lose their playmates next door, and apparently that makes this new kind of life very real to them. Over fifty people are being held in the hotel for quarantine, because they have been in contact with the patient who died. (Four confirmed cases in Gabon; one death.)


Sunday, March 22. We hear back from one of the American missionaries from our Church that he made it back to his family at 10:30pm. The Embassy holds another virtual town hall meeting to keep us unified and current in the news.  The Gabonese government begins a nationwide curfew from 7:30pm to 6:00am. (Four confirmed cases in Gabon; one death.)

Monday, March 23. We hear back from another American missionary from our Church. He made it back to his family at 7:00am. (These missionaries had been in transit since they left Gabon on Wednesday at 11:00am.) Gabon announces two more cases of COVID-19 in Gabon, the 45- and 42-year-old men. This brings the tally up to six cases, one death, and 137 tested. The Gabonese government provides us with a new update. (Six confirmed cases in Gabon; one death.)

• There are 104 people who have been identified as having been in contact with the first four confirmed cases. Of those 104 people, 101 have been identified and are under medical supervision.
• There are 700 people who are working 24 hours a day to research contacts of those infected, to transport suspected cases, to manage the COVID-19 hotline, and to care for patients in the hospital and quarantine hotel facility.
• They have arrested the young man who pretended to have COVID-19 as a hoax. Pranks like that are taken very seriously.
• They beg us to please respect the new restrictions and to also continue to practice good hygiene, so we can stop the spread in our country.

I think it is clear that Gabon is taking COVID-19 very, very seriously. Jeff, the kids, and I are secure in our home. I feel guilty that I have the luxury to stay home without worrying about income, livelihood, and food. Stay safe, everyone, please.

Jill, Daniel, and Alice haven't left our compound since March 16.
Gordon hasn't since March 17.
I haven't since March 19.

Edited to add the newest restrictions.
Tuesday, March 24: The new restrictions from the Gabonese government are focused on reducing the risk of spreading the disease at marketplaces. (Six confirmed cases in Gabon; one death.)

• Markets cannot open before 6:00am and must close at 3:00pm.
• No one may sell items on the sidewalks, in the streets, or outside of buildings, but as sellers try to fit in buildings, they must respect the safety distance of 1 meter from other people.
• All sellers and buys in the market must wear masks and gloves and also use hand sanitizer.
• Any store in the market that does not sell food is now forbidden to open.
• Cleaning companies of market places must intensify their efforts and clean at least twice a day.
• The normal days to be closed must continue to be honored. No opening the market on the days it traditionally used to be closed.