Having had lunch with someone on Friday who has since developed Covid-19, I have put myself into voluntary self-isolation because I am obviously at some level at risk of developing it myself. No-one can know what the level of risk it is. It’s an odd sensation: the disease which had developed a degree of unreality as a result of living with its presence (or absence) for six months suddenly becomes a much more real threat again; and the life I have been leading of reading and writing becomes much more lonely by being imposed, if only self-imposed. I feel a bit like the man who was out on the mud flats yesterday in the far distance:-
| Charles | Saumarez | Smith | 
Dear Charles, I’m sorry to hear you are having to isolate because you’ve come into direct contact with covid now, as you say, after 6 months of being ok it has/had become slightly unreal. I do hope that you remain well and free of it. Sue
Dear Sue, Thank you. So far, I’m fine and with luck will remain so. Charles
Fingers crossed, Charles. Thank you for being responsible. Monika and I finally had the COVID test going into Germany last week for my exhibition; both negative, happy to say.
Congratulations ! Hope Germany went well ! Charles
Hope the time passes quickly and that you don’t develop any symptoms. Here in Newham we are part of the Track and Trace experiment (the trial areas are Newham and Isle of Wight). I will supposedly get a phone notification if I have been in contact with a person who has tested positive who also has the app downloaded. I would be interested to see the figures as to how this is working. Best wishes, Joan
Dear Joan, Experience so far suggests that our ‘world-beating system’ is more than a bit Heath Robinson. Charles
If it’s any consolation, we have been self-isolating in Globe Town since lockdown (save for one trip and then quarantining), and getting grocery and food deliveries was pretty hard early on, though it is much easier now. (Rinkoff even managed to deliver bread.) If you need any help, the folks on the Stepney Covid Solidarity WhatsApp group are very supportive and have picked up medications for my partner.
Dear Nico, I’m so sorry to hear this. I’ve been fairly self-isolating, so locking down completely is so far OK, although it feels a bit odd listening to chatter out of the window. Charles