Finland, Oulu, Julia, German, 26, PR Specialist, Not married/ No kids
General
How is the situation in your city/ country? Is there a 2nd wave yet?
The situation is relatively calm and has been compared to other European countries and even our neighbours (Sweden and Russia). However, the number of new infections has been rising continuously throughout the past two weeks, so it seems as if the second wave is arriving slowly, but steadily.
How did the atmosphere in your country change within the last months?
At first when all of this started, people were very concerned about their health, career and everyone seemed really cautious. However, since Finland wasn’t hit as hardly as expected by the virus and summers are so short here (so they are always enjoyed to the fullest), the majority of Finns became more relaxed, started to travel more and it even gave the impression that the virus never existed in the first place. One thing which I noticed though is that travelling within Finland increased significantly, due to the restrictions on travel abroad.
How are you and your family?
We are all doing well.
What was the biggest challenge for you within the last months?
For me, probably the biggest difficulty was the temporary insecurity of the job and the contact restrictions. They made it difficult to nurture and maintain relationships. I had planned to visit my family in Germany over Easter, but this was impossible due to the pandemic.
Measures
When did you realize how serious the situation is?
When Uusimaa (the region where Helsinki is located) was isolated from the rest of the country and there was suddenly an inner-Finnish border.
How did your government react to the crisis? Which measures/restrictions were taken first?
The state of emergency was declared in Finland, schools and borders were closed and Finnish citizens living abroad were asked to return to Finland immediately. Meetings with more than ten people were prohibited.
Are you satisfied with the measures of your government? What was good/bad?
I think altogether everything was handled pretty well. At first I thought that maybe the bars, restaurants and cafes re-opened too soon. But the number of infections did not increase significantly because of this, so perhaps it was appropriate to lift the measure.
What would you like to say to your government?
That a mask „recommendation“ won’t really do its purpose. I believe that the majority of people will only start wearing masks when either the number of infections rises drastically or masks become mandatory.
Which sentence of a virologist/politician did you memorize the most?
That the coronavirus situation is more extraordinary than banking crisis, Angela Merkel.
The Virus
Do you know anybody who was infected with COVID-19 or even died?
Yes.
Have you already done a Coronavirus test or have you been in quarantine?
No.
Are you afraid of getting infected with the Coronavirus?
Partly, yes.
The lockdown
How long is/was your lockdown and what was allowed/what wasn´t?
Around 2 months – but restrictions might be coming soon again. Uusimaa was cut off from the rest of the country for 2-3 weeks in April. Theaters, libraries, museums..all sorts of public institutions were closed, people from abroad needed to go into quarantine, visits to hospitals and care facilities were restricted. Schools were closed. People worked from home.
Did you spend the lockdown time with somebody and what did you do during this time?
I was alone most of the time. Apart from working, I studied languages and spent a lot of time talking on the phone.
What did you miss the most during the lockdown? What helped you?
Go out to cafes, meet my friends without restrictions, travel to Germany to see my family. I think the thought that „everyone is in the same boat“ helped me.
Changes
How did your work situation change within the last months (shorter hours, working from home, etc.)
I mostly worked from home.
How did your social life (relationship/friendships/dating) change due to the Corona crisis?
More calls rather than face-to-face meetings, if meeting friends was possible mostly just one-on-one, not in groups. The pandemic caused significant issues and a difficult turn in the long-distance-relationship.
What impact has the Corona crisis on your financial situation?
Luckily nothing bad so far. Especially during the first two months of the pandemic, I saved more money, since going to restaurants, cafes etc wasn’t possible.
Social distancing: How does your daily life look like at the moment?
Quite normal again. Finland hasn’t been hit too strongly, so travelling within the country to meet friends is possible. I’m going to the office again most days, public transport goes regularly.
Perception
Who are to your opinion the heroes of this crisis?
People working in health-care.
What did the crisis show you?
How vulnerable and unstable our whole social and economical system is.
What will you appreciate more after the crisis?
Seeing my family and travelling home to Germany.
Which images will you never forget?
The images on the news showing the transportation and storage of the covid deaths in Bergamo/Italy.
Which stories/incidents/experiences touched/shattered you the most?
The same as in 23. Also the situation in South America at the moment. I have heard that due to the unstable political situation in Bolivia, specifically, country roads are being blocked by protestors. This, however, prevents the transportation of oxygen from one city to another (due to the roads being blocked). As a result, people are fearing for their lives just because some demonstrators are not thinking outside the box and only about themselves.
Perspective
What are you afraid of right now?
Of course, my first concern is the health of everyone. Not only physically, but also mentally. I believe many are suffering greatly from the current situation. I am also afraid that we all will suffer economically for a very long time.
What gives you hope?
That life somehow continues even in times of crisis.
Are you planning to travel within the next months?
Only within the country. I will decide spontaneously if going to Germany is possible at some point.
If they find a vaccine, would you take it?
If it is reliably and sufficiently tested and proven to be safe, yes, definitely!
What can we all learn from this crisis?
That all the consumption in which we normally live in abundance is not so important as long as we are in good health.
If you could give 2020 a headline, what would it be?
The global nightmare.