Lockdown extended; 'mini-gym' entertains our daughter

Vietnam is taking strong steps to control the coronavirus, extending a two-week lockdown that started March 29 until the end of April. As of Sunday, April 12, Vietnam had reported 259 cases nationwide, an incredibly low number if the figures are accurate. My wife went to the supermarket Sunday and had to have her temperature taken to get in, and when it registered a little high, she had to wait for a re-test. She told security her temperature was high because of the weather -- it's been 98 or 99 (degrees Fahrenheit) every day and very humid. And my wife is very pregnant and covered in clothing to protect herself from the sun. After a short wait, her temperature dropped, she passed the re-test and got my yogurt. If her temperature had stayed high, I assume the police would have been called and an ambulance would have taken her to the hospital for further  evaluation. Of course, she had her face mask on, which is a requirement here.

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Admittedly, keeping an active, nearly 4-year-old girl entertained during a lockdown and stifling heatwave presents a serious challenge. But my perceptive wife bought a small, multipurpose mini-gym apparatus for our daughter Joanna that includes a swing, two 'rings' and a wooden ladder on a rope. My daughter loves to climb and creates a lot of anxiety in our house by scaling the banister on our stairs. No more. I praise Phuong every day for this purchase. Joanna has lost interest in coloring and doesn't feel particularly challenged by letter tracing, so the mini-gym has been a God-send. As noted, she's active and needs physical activity, which is difficult under the present circumstances. But the mini-gym has taken a little pressure off mom and dad.

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Joanna and I always wear masks when we take a daily walk at 4 p.m., and the heat makes it uncomfortable. When we get to the park I let her take the mask off and I'll remove mine as well. We'll put them back on when we see people approaching. Most kids don't wear masks and cluster to play football and hang out. I haven't seen police break that up, but police came and told my sister-in-law to remove chairs and tables from her little restaurant and serve takeout only. She had already made the change to takeout only but was lazy about bringing the chairs inside.

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Last week our 77-year-old neighbor died -- a very nice man but a hardcore cigarette smoker -- and the three-day funeral was not very strong on social distancing. Some folks clustered around tables playing cards,and drinking and about 20 percent of those who attended didn't wear masks. Few women smoke in this country but obviously it's difficult for the many men who smoke to puff with a mask on.

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My wife finally got an appointment for her U.S. visa interview, but it was postponed indefinitely due to the coronavirus. I'm not sure what our plans are. Not important at this point.

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 A friend of mine made what I think is an astute observation about the coronavirus, saying as horrible as it is, it gives us a chance to hit the reset button. With lockdowns in place around the world, pollution levels have dropped dramatically. People are spending more time at home, and in some cases that means more time with family. The negative has been overwhelming, but we're nothing without hope. People have a way of finding hope.