Monday Greetings

You will get more of these in the coming days and weeks.  They're as home-bound as we are ... haha!

Finished the Australian MOOC yesterday evening.
Began the Extinctions MOOC today -- the course that I have been wanting to take for quite a while now.  Just that other courses kept getting in the way.

Some sunshine!  It's been forecasted for a couple of days, to be followed by some rain again.  Had the situation been better, I would have taken a day trip to Germany again, but from what I've observed, it hasn't been all that sunny there anyway.

We continue to keep our distance from everyone, and so far we have exhibited no symptoms except for the occasional sneeze, more from the dust than anything else.  No fever, no shortness of breath.  For AW, no bridge as all the bridge clubs have cancelled their evenings, an enormous relief for me.  In the meantime, Breda and the rest of Noord Brabant are in urgent need of help.  I posted this on my FB page --

The Dutch Prime Minister had a special message on TV this evening, explaining the decision the government has made after consulting experts and advisers --
TO PROTECT THE MOST VULNERABLE GROUP, which is the ELDERLY, and TO ALLOW THE INDIVIDUAL IMMUNE SYSTEMS OF ALL WHO LIVE HERE TO DEVELOP A NATURAL RESISTANCE TO THE VIRUS. This means that --
> the elderly will be given priority when it comes to medical assistance and available facilities
> those with only mild symptoms, or no symptoms at all, will be asked to self-isolate and to follow all the current restrictions already imposed, including social distancing, closure of all sports venues, schools, restaurants, museums, theatres, spas; no handshakes, sanitation guidelines, cancellation of all events, especially events where more than 100 attendees are expected, etc.
-- This will free all medical facilities for those who really need them, and will help prevent shortage of hospital beds and medicines as well as medical personnel.
-- Total lockdown of the entire country will not be required at this time. That said, we are already in a state of semi-lockdown anyway.
The other options were
> to allow the virus freedom to spread at will, resulting in a rapid peak of infections but also a rapid decline. This option is not viable as it will result in overcrowding and understaffing in hospitals, and will surely hit the most vulnerable group where most of the fatalities will occur.
> to keep the virus out at all cost, meaning total lockdown. This has also been deemed problematic because 1) the virus will always find a way in, and 2) no one will be able to develop any immunity to it, but also 3) there is no guarantee that the virus will not reappear once the lockdown is lifted.

Adrian and I wish you all continued good health and otherwise a speedy recovery!
Zullen wij met z'n allen nuchter blijven en elkaar steunen en helpen!