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Day 5:  

Things are going to get worse before anything starts to feel better.

Day 1: 

Just the night before, the government of Guam announced its first few cases of covid-19. I was supposed to take a quiz today, but the University of Guam decided to cancel all in-person classes. It’s unknown how long till classes resume. All my Whatsapp chats are buzzing with information. 

After my mom’s shift, she picked me up to get some goods. Stores implemented rationing of cleaning supplies to two per person, and lines had already started to form. It looked like Black Friday from the outside, except instead of walking in for a Nintendo Switch, people were in line for basic things like canned food, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, etc.  

When we got to the front, we were told that they were limiting the amount of people who could go inside. For a moment, I felt like I was in that 2012 scene where people were trying to get on board, but they couldn’t because it was too full. Then I snapped out of it, and instead of having two representatives of my family inside, I decided to remove myself and let the family behind me decide who they would let be their representative. 

Afterwards, I asked my mom to take me to Home Depot to get some supplies. I bought sunflower seeds to remind me that when this is all over, things will be okay. 

Day 2: 

The stock market is collapsing. Trump calls for UBI. Two more cases on Guam. 

If I told you a year ago, what I thought I would be doing today in 2020. My first guess wouldn’t have been sitting at home in a pandemic, but you know whose might’ve? The National Security Council Pandemic team that Trump fired back in 2017.  

In line with practicing social distancing, UOG Green Army held a council meeting using Discord and Google Docs. I pushed the meeting back a few hours because I took a nap. Then, we shared the idea online for others to use.  

Day 3: 

Three more cases of covid-19. 

There is an outcry on Facebook for the local government to ban flights, but because we are a US territory, we (sadly) do not have the authority to control our borders- the US does. I wonder if this would get people to think more about Guam’s political relationship with the US. 

I am somewhat-confident in my local government’s ability to handle this crisis. ‘Confident’ might be an overstatement- maybe, comfortable? But justifying why I feel in better hands with this administration is because I feel that our governor has taken active steps to being transparent, in addition to her nurse and mother credentials. Did past administrations inherit a playbook on how to handle a pandemic? No, although keep up the criticisms (and at the same time, remember that we have our part, too). 

Day 4: 

Four more cases, which brings the total to 12 infected. 

Considering Guam’s population density, 12/160,000 is statistically more dense than other places, and my fear is that with Guam being nuclear family-centric, the numbers will climb dramatically. This doesn’t even consider those who are asymptomatic. 

The government issued a mandatory closure of restaurants, places of worship, bars, etc. starting at noon tomorrow until the end of the month. 

I feel trapped inside, and I started to crave Great American Cookies. With their adjusted hours, I feared that I wouldn’t get a chance to eat their soft cookies, and I was right. Hopefully I’ll get some when this is over. 

Day 5:  

Two more cases of covid-19. 

I’ve been meaning to start this journal since day 1, but I got lazy. I checked out my notifications, and this doesn’t feel real. I feel like things are going to get worse before anything starts to feel better. 

I bet you’re wondering how I’m passing time. Well, if I’m not sleeping, I’m on TikTok or eating. I haven’t received new word from my classes about transitioning online. I fear that I will do incredibly worse online than in-person classes. 

Today, I binge-watched 100 Humans and On My Block season 3.  

Day 6:

1 more case.

A few days ago, I told you I was somewhat confident. Now- not so much. Articles and tweets have been calling for the government to release geographical locations of patients who were infected- lots of security concerns there. As well as doctors calling for hardline closures.

Day 7:

12 new cases. 1 confirmed death. total: 27.

I’m concerned about COVID-19 treatment here on island. Is there such thing as a treatment or are we just isolating people from each other? It was confirmed that there is evidence of covid-19 spreading within the community.