COVID-19 Friday Five: Sometimes When we Touch

Chester and me

Touch is natural. It is healing. It is how we calm, reassure and express our affection. For the people who like to hug, this has been a tough few months. Even for those who don't, we have had to modify our behaviour and attempt to alter our instincts. Thank goodness we are still allowed to pet animals and cuddle the cat.

A couple of weeks ago I was out walking when I came across a woman who had sprained her ankle. Others were with her, assisting, and we stopped to check she was okay. Someone was crouching beside her, placing their arm around her shoulders in a universal gesture of support.  She and her walking companion had a phone between them them and they were able to call for help.

The first responder on the phone was asking lots of questions and giving medical advice (they were on speaker-phone so we could all hear) and at the end of the call the person stated that they had to ask some COVID-19 questions and began to ask whether the patient had recently been overseas or come into contact with anyone who had, or had symptoms or had been in contact with anyone who had symptoms. 

At that moment, the assistant looked shocked - "I hadn't even thought of that" he said. Of course not, because as a decent human being, our first reaction when we come across an injured person (or animal) is to help. And that help often expresses itself through contact. It's who we are. And, while the current medical guidelines suggest that we don't for our own health, it is really difficult to overcome that instinct. 

Physical proximity of the kind about which we are now warned, also indicated trust. Some sources suggest that the history of the handshake dates back to the 5th century B.C. in Greece, and was a symbol of peace, showing that neither person was carrying a weapon. Similarly, one of the theories about why we clink glasses before drinking is also about trust and intimacy. Back in the days when poisoning a foe's drink was a convenient way to kill him off, it was believed that if glasses were filled to the brim and clinked hard, a bit of liquid from each glass would slop into the other. Mixing drinks and then taking a sip was, therefore, a gesture that you trusted your drinking partner (at least not to murder you). 

Whereas these are extreme measures, it would be a shame if our lack of touch led to a lack of trust. These times make me really conscious of the physicality of our communications.

5 Touch-related common expressions:

1. Get in touch/ keep in touch/ lose touch
2. Lend a (helping) hand
3. Welcome with open arms
4. Reach out 
5. Give a hand up/ hand out

And this is my performance of Mrs Midas by Carol Ann Duffy; a poem that explores the effect of the tactile. Enjoy!

COVID-19: Keep Your Distance

Cyclists have long known that a metre matters. Launched in 2009, the Amy Gillett Foundation's A Metre Matters campaign focuses on advising drivers how to pass cyclists safely. The research and evidence shows that when passing cyclists drivers need to allow a minimum passing distance of one metre (or 1.5 metres in speed zones over 60km) to reduce the number of cyclist fatalities, Over the past few years this recommendation has become law in several Australian states. 

Due to COVID-19 and the fear of infection, in Australia we are meant to be practicing physical distancing, which includes keeping 1.5m between you and another person to help to stop the spread of the virus. In the U.K., this recommended distance is two metres - I'm not sure who calculates this distance and on what exact science it is based. But we get the picture; back off buddy. 

Whereas people are pretty good at observing these measures in shops and work spaces, I have noticed they are not so compliant when it comes to exercising. I have a handful of regular routes that I walk, jog or cycle four-five times week. On my usual walk up Mt Painter I see maybe a couple of other people; last week I saw 49. The same sort of figures are true when jogging around Umbagong Park or cycling trails in Black Mountain. Great. I'm all for people getting out and about to get their exercise, and this is a wonderful country with space for everyone to share. 

But, can we still please adhere to the physical distancing guidelines? I know many walkers wear earphones so if I am coming up behind them, I feel it is up to me to move out the way. If a cyclist is approaching from behind and really feels that they can't move out of the way, then they should alert the person in front to their presence (in the ACT it is mandatory for a bike to have 'a warning device such as a bell'), unlike the person on the e-bike (don't get me started) who overtook me while I was jogging within a foot with no previous indication. 

I don't care who comes here more regularly (it's me), but surely people must realise that we can't share the path in the same way as we used to, and be prepared to give way. I would expect, what with this flurry of exercise being a new thing for some and people not used to the etiquette yet, that when it comes to a case of who blinks/ moves out the way first, it would be about 50/50. Remember that walk I mentioned last week with the 49 fellow folk out enjoying the fresh air and the exercise? Guess how many moved out of my way rather than holding their line on the narrow path. One would expect approximately 20, right? None. Not one person thought they should yield. I felt like I was fighting a battle and losing every single time. I know it's not about winners and losers, but that was ridiculous. It's about compromise, surely? 

And another thing, we are still allowed to smile at each other and say hello. You can be social while maintaining physical distance. As far as I am aware coronavirus is not transmitted through eye contact. So, if you're new to this getting out for a walk/ run/ cycle malarkey, welcome. And please play nicely.