Not in Ecuador
When I heard the news about a novel coronavirus outbreak in China, I was in Bangkok, Thailand. I was working on the pre-production phase for an audiovisual shoot that would have taken place in 4 countries throughout Asia. The team followed the news closely. And, of course, the news drew more attention from us when the first confirmed cases outside China were reported, including the first one in Thailand. Still, at this point, life went on pretty much as normal in Thailand, as in the rest of the world.
By the end of January, the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus outbreak – which later would be officially named COVID-19 – a public health emergency of international concern. Yet, governments were not really taking any major official preventive safety measures (e.g.: social distancing) against the spread of the virus, except for some recommendations about the use of face masks and hand sanitizers. In major cities in Thailand, especially in Bangkok, a lot of people are used to using face masks, due to the high pollution levels. The difference now was that you could see more people using them on the streets, in addition to also a higher use of hand sanitizers.
During the following couple of weeks, I took some flights within Thailand and one to/from Singapore. You could see the increase of preventive safety measures at major airports. But on the planes, nothing really had changed, other than more travelers, including me, were using face masks. Nevertheless, you could feel a thicker air, a sense of fear and anxiety. Things were changing.
Bad news kept coming. Back at work, we were getting closer and closer to starting our project. We started wondering if it was safe to continue with our original schedule. E-mails, calls and meetings were coming and going. By the end of February, the project was getting postponed, and we needed to wrap everything up as soon as possible. This included working on all the crew member flights that had already been purchased. By that time, airlines were not applying any waivers for changing/refunds fees. So as you guessed, lots of green bills were spent. After changing everybody’s tickets, it was my turn to change mine. I was going home (Ecuador) earlier than originally planned.
I started planning my long way home. My flight schedule was departing on March 13th from Bangkok, with connections in Frankfurt and Panamá City, to finally arrive in Quito, Ecuador, on March 14th.
The situation kept quickly escalating: more COVID-19 cases were confirmed around the globe; Italy and Spain were struggling with a fast increase of cases. On February 29th, Ecuador reported the first confirmed COVID-19 case: a 70-year-old lady that arrived from Spain. Soon, more safety measures started to take place at the Ecuadorian borders, like requesting a mandatory 14-day self-quarantine for travelers arriving from China, South Korea, Iran, France, Italy and Spain. Even though travelers arriving from Thailand were not included in that group, I had already planned to self-quarantine before seeing my family and friends.
On March 11th, two days prior to my departure, the WHO classified the outbreak a pandemic. Countries all over the planet started to take more measures to prevent a major spread of the virus. I didn’t really know what to expect and just hoped at that point to be able to go home safely to my loved ones. Lufthansa, the airline I was flying, had sent to all their passengers an e-mail ensuring a safe flight, explaining howthey “are equipped with high quality air filters that ensure an air quality similar to that of an operating room”. This gave me a sense of relief, especially because I was going to be inside their aircrafts for about 30 hours.
Flying back home
9pm (Thailand time) of March 13th: When I got to Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK), everything seemed similar as in the last few weeks. The terminals were busy as always, and the airport stores and restaurants were operating normally. This time though, I saw 100% of the airport personnel and airline agents wearing masks and gloves, and there were more hand sanitizer dispensers throughout the terminal. The check-in process was as usual, but the security area had the longest snaking line that I had ever seen. There were temperature checks, and all passengers needed to briefly lower their face masks when asked for our IDs, in order for the officers to verify our identities. There were no health questions asked. Once through security, the boarding and seating process was also normal. The flight was pretty full. I believe more people were trying to fly back home before the entire planet would enter into a total lockdown, which was totally understandable, but this caused the opposite to social distancing.
A totally different scenario greeted me at my first connection point at the Frankfurt am Main Airport (FRA). At 6am (Germany time) on March 14th, we landed at a much less busy terminal, with only a few airport concessions open, and no safety measures against the spread of the virus on sight. At the assigned gate for my next leg of the trip (FRA-PTY), there were few people who appeared to maintain a fair distance from each other. The TV screens were on with constant updates about the worldwide spread of COVID-19, yet the boarding and seating process went smoothly like it was another “normal” flying day. This flight was also full, but not as much as the previous one.
Panamá City (Tocumen International Airport – PTY), the last stop before arriving home, was much busier than Frankfurt. Upon deplaning, all passengers got our temperatures checked, and randomly a few were asked some health questions. Ironically, right past the checkpoint, there was a super crowded terminal with no signs of social distancing at all. I got a little nervous, I have to admit. While waiting at my boarding gate I got the news that the Ecuadorian government had just announced the closure of the country borders, effective March 15th… the very next day after my arrival! All commercial, international and domestic flights were suspended, except for authorized humanitarian flights.
The last leg of my trip, and what would it be my last flight in a long time, was actually not full at all. I felt a sense of insecurity, of not knowing what the future would hold. I was returning to another reality from the time I left home.
Arrival in Ecuador
As we were getting closer to land at Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito – Ecuador (UIO), all passengers were handed a Traveler Health Declaration form to be filled out. The information requested included flight and seat numbers, country where my trip started, connection cities, countries I had visited in the last 21 days prior to my trip, address where I would be staying for the next 21 days after my arrival, e-mail and phone number to be reached once in Ecuador, and, of course, a yes/no answer questionnaire inquiring about possible symptoms that one could have. Upon arrival we all, once more, got our temperature checked and continued to a second health checkpoint where we handed the Health Declaration form. The health agent asked me if I was planning to do a self-quarantine, even though it wasn’t mandatory for me. After hearing my affirmative answer, she asked me to confirm my address and phone number that I had entered in the form. It was around 9:30pm (Ecuador time), and it seemed that we were the only flight that had arrived, because the entire process went pretty fast. After queuing for immigration, I went to collect my luggage, as the usual, and I headed to grab my taxi that took me to my self-quarantine time. I was home, but I was not going to see any of my closest loved ones for the next 14 days.
The night of March 16th – two days after my arrival – the President of Ecuador declared a state of emergency, and the country entered into a strict lockdown.
In general, the government implemented a vast quantity of restrictions on mobility and everyday activities. Some of them were effective immediately, others were established in the later days: Suspension of all public events, a curfew prohibiting any circulation of vehicles and people from 9:00p.m. to 5:00a.m.; temporary closing of institutions, museums, theater venues, businesses such as cafes, bars, shops, and also social areas such as parks and beaches; a vehicle rationing system allowing vehicles to run only one day per week depending on the license plate number, and no private cars circulation on weekends; prohibition of all inter-province travel, and mandatory use of face masks in public places.
Only essential activities have been permitted, and essential businesses have been able to remain open. The in-person work or attending schools and/or universities have been changed to online systems.
On May 4th, after seven weeks of strict lockdown, the government announced to gradually ease restrictions with cities color-coded according to their risk level. Depending on their health indicator, each city is identified with a traffic light color: red, yellow or green. This determines the gradual reopening of some sectors: Red regions remain under actual shutdown restrictions, but online delivery services are expanded. Yellow and green cities have transport restrictions partially lifted, curfew hours have been scaled back, up to 70 percent of employees have been allowed to return to work, and some shops have reopened. Nevertheless, it’s still not allowed to travel between provinces, and big-crowd events remain banned and schools suspended.
The borders in the country remain shut. But the government is planning to give green light to the international airports to resume commercial flights from June 1st… although only with a reduced percentage of the number of flight frequencies. The authorities are currently working on safety measures, new regulations, and requirements for travelers after the reopening of the operations.
Ecuador is one of the countries most affected by the virus in Latin America. The official data of active cases and deaths are difficult to rely on, due to the limited testing, which is one of the smallest problems of an overwhelmed system. Images of cadavers waiting to be picked up from homes in Guayaquil, the city most affected by the virus, were broadcasted across the world, putting in evidence the consequences of a health system in a total state of collapse.
In spite of the efforts of the government to act quickly against the pandemic, it has been difficult for a developing country to handle this disease that further ravages the economy of the country.
But there’s also the other side of the story. There’s the great solidarity of citizens around the country. Many collaborative groups and fundraising campaigns have been organized to help people with limited resources, some of whom are older, younger or highly disabled and vulnerable. There are also campaigns to help and protect pets in state of vulnerability, and campaigns to educate people to not abandon them due to the crisis. People are reinventing themselves: Home gardening and barter have been some of the practices that citizens are applying to overcome the crisis.
There are so many things to tell around this global crisis: the good, the bad, the ugly. Now the human being has been forced to take a step back and re-think what they’re doing. Governments need to reorient the economic, social, and political architecture towards systems that embody solidarity, regeneration, and equity.
I Still Haven’t Seen My Loved Ones
I left Ecuador in December, knowing that I would’ve been back by this month to see my family, friends, and start working on new projects. After my arrival, my 14-day quarantine has turned into a 70-day quarantine. The jet lag helped me at the beginning, and I admit that I took this situation like a small vacation from everything and everybody. Now I’m uncertain, like everybody else, of what the future holds. There’s still a long way to go, but hopefully I’ll see my loved ones soon. And we, all together, can start working towards a better “new normal”.
Editor’s Note:
Por Todos, which translates to “For Everybody,” works to deliver supplies, food, and money to those who need it the most. So far, it has collected $11.5 million for those most vulnerable in Ecuador. Its objective has been to save lives with the most effective solutions. Resources have been put into helping people directly with supplies, increasing testing, and buying and distributing PPE.
