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Nana Kwasi Gyan Apenteng, quarantined in London
Nana Kwasi Gyan Apenteng, quarantined in London

Quarantine Diary 6: A Day in the Sun (Almost)

Today is Day 8 in my ten day quarantine in London as a requirement for having arrived from Ghana, which is an Amber country. It could be worse. Those arriving from “Red countries” such as India have to quarantine in hotels at their own cost. I am at home but unable to step outside the main door.

Today is a significant day in the quarantine regime. I took my second of two tests this afternoon. Travelers to the UK must not only quarantine for ten days; they also have to take two tests for which they pay before departure. The tests are taken on the second and eighth days. As it turned out, my second day test result came a few days ago. I was negative. I need today’s test to be confirmed negative in order for me to release myself after the 10th day. I can’t wait.

Today has been another important landmark in this quarantine in which little and rather insignificant events take on a huge importance. I went out into the garden for the first time since my arrival here. There is no law against stepping out into the garden unless you count the law of nature – the weather. It was only since last night that it started lightening and heating up, although for those who live here, it has been warm enough to celebrate the approach of summer.

In truth, it has been an unseasonably cold year. For example, there has been only one day this May when the temperature has risen to 20 degrees Celsius while there had been 20 such days in the same period last year. At some point this afternoon, it may have reached 21 degrees, which was good enough for a man from the tropics who has been cooped inside for a week to be tempted out.

Sometimes we forget that the reason for all these quarantine, lockdowns and inconveniences conveniently known as the new norm is the new coronavirus SARS Cov 2, colloquially known as Covid-19. It has dominated our lives over the past year and half to the point where it has almost blended into our existential fabric as a seamless overlay. Of course, it is still very much front and back around the world. Sadly, we are getting used to it, and events like quarantines may become a normal feature of life. One hopes not, but we should be prepared for it over the long haul.

Here in the UK, the media agenda has been dominated by the testimony of a gentleman known as Dominic Cummings who used to be the Prime Minister’s best friend and advisor. Now he has turned against Boris Johnson and told a committee of the House of Commons that the Prime Minister is “unfit for office”, among many other damning statements. The political fallout should not obscure the fact that the state machinery is trying to find out what went wrong or right with the government’s handling of the pandemic. It is such continuous investigation and assessment of government that produces responsive and good governance.

Of course, there is partisan politics in all of this. One interesting fact is the sudden “friendship” between the opposition Labour Party and Mr. Cummings who was their nemesis when the latter used to be an advisor at 10 Downing Street. It confirms the old adage that in politics there are no permanent friends…

I am not sure whether this applies to Ghana. Indeed, will our Parliament set up an independent investigation into the government’s handling of Covid-19, to help learn lessons and be better prepared for the future?

For the moment, that question will hang in the balance while the focus shifts onto tomorrow’s UEFA Champion’s League final between Manchester City and Chelsea, for which an Arsenal man says, a plague on both their houses.

Two more days to freedom.

We shall overcome

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