Missing the work as a tour guide in Egypt

General

How is the situation in your city/ country?
We had a large number of infected people and numbers increased.

How did the atmosphere in your country change since the pandemic started?
We didn’t recognize how bad the situation was till we had so many cases.

How are you and your family?
Me and my family are good.

What is the biggest challenge for you during the crisis?
The biggest challenge was staying at home suddenly due to the lockdown.

The biggest challenge was to stay at home suddenly.

Measures

When did you realize how serious the situation is?
When the airports shut down, the country started the lockdown and all of us stayed at home and in the television they started anouncing the number of infected cases and deaths.

How did your government react to the crisis? Which measures/restrictions were taken first?

Are you satisfied with the measures of your government? What was good/bad?
Yes, I´m satified – they did good.

What would you like to say to your government?
Nothing.

Which sentence of a virologist/politician did you memorize the most?
Stay at home to safe your life and others.

Stay at home to safe your life and others.

The Virus

Do you know anybody who was infected with COVID-19 or even died?
Yes a lot and even me I got the Covid infection twice.

Have you already done a Coronavirus test or have you been in quarantine?
Ýes I did three time. And stayed in quarantine.

Are you afraid of getting infected with the Coronavirus?
Yes so afraid.

I got infected with Covid twice already.

The lockdown

How long is/was your lockdown and what was allowed/what wasn´t?
Around 3 and half months.

Did you spend the lockdown time with somebody and what did you do during this time?
I stayed with my family and spend it at home.

What did you miss the most during the lockdown? What helped you?
I missed my work in ‘ tourism ‘, but I focused on my study and finished my PhD.

I missed my work in tourism during the lockdown.

Changes

How did your work situation change since the pandemic started (shorter hours, working from home, etc.)
No work: No tourists. I am a tour guide so no work at at all due to Covid till the vaccination.

How did your social life (relationship/friendships/dating) change due to the Corona crisis?
It didn’t change.

What impact has the Corona crisis on your financial situation?
I spent most of my savings.

Social distancing: How does your daily life look like at the moment?
Stayed at home more than 9 months and when we started back at work, we kept the social distance and were wearing masks.

I am a tour guide so no work at all due to Covid till the vaccination.

Perception

Who are to your opinion the heroes of this crisis?
The doctors, nurses, pharmacists and everyone working in the medical sector.

What did the crisis show you?
Life can change completely in one day.

What will you appreciate more after the crisis?
Health.

Which images will you never forget?
The numbers of death cases and people on hospitals.

Which stories/incidents/experiences touched/shattered you the most?
The sickness is so hard and the side effects of Covid last for a long time and effects on your health.

Life can change completely in one day.

Perspective

What are you afraid of right now?
Nothing.

What gives you hope?
Trust in God.

Are you planning to travel within the next months?
No.

Would you get yourself vaccinated or have you already been vaccinated against COVID-19?
I am fully vaccinated.

What can we all learn from this crisis?
No guarantee for anything.

If you could give 2020 a headline, what would it be?
Year of lessons or appreciate your health.

Trust in God gives me hope.