Quarantine

And just like that… we are in Quarantine / Isolation in France for the next 14 days.
The borders are closed for 30 days.
We may have avoided that, but there were a whole lot of idiots in Bordeaux, Paris and a few other places, taking advantage of the sunshine yesterday, out in vast numbers, practically on top of each other — directly after all public places, bars, restaurants, cinemas and non-essential shops were closed. As well as all events over 100 people being cancelled.

Not only that, just after Macron announced that bars, restaurants etc will close at midnight — a lot of people ran out to have “one last drink” with their friends. (And if any of them had CV, it may well be the very last drink they had with them!)
Thanks, you dimwits.
Stock up on condoms please, because we really don’t need more of your kind in 9 months.

So what does this mean?
No one is allowed to visit anyone, or be visited by anyone.
Essential short distance travel to get groceries, go to the doctor, pick up meds — and only with a document stating exactly where you come from, where you are going, and why.
Workers need a letter from their employer that they are required to work for essential services, or they cannot go to work. Again, need to have documentation as above.
No one is allowed to leave the house, except with the above documentation. Whether it is to go jogging, or to walk the dog for 10 minutes.
All outdoor activities like exercise, walking the dog etc, must be solitary. No meeting people for a walk, no letting kids play with each other. None of that. Zero contact. If you encounter anyone, you have to keep your distance.
There will be fixed and mobile spot checks. If you cannot produce the document required, it is an instant €38 fine.
Clearly there are RoboCops in France. 😉 Unless the Gendarmes are not classed as human… (Contact is contact, right?)
All contact with people outside your household is strictly prohibited, except for necessary interaction with grocery staff, doctors etc. Even then you are to keep at least 1 meter between you if possible. 
This means no riding / training horses outside your property, and not even on your property, if you have neighbors. If your horses are boarded elsewhere (and being looked after), you are not allowed to go there. Period.

Obviously this means no vets (except emergencies), farriers, trimmers, equine dentists, feed deliveries allowed.
None. Zero. Zilch.

So even if you think it will “never happen”… don’t. Just don’t.
If your animals need vaccinations, surgery, meds, farriers, dentists etc — do it NOW.
If you need meds, dentist, vaccinations etc — NOW IS THE TIME. Not tomorrow. Not next week. NOW.
Because on Thursday Macron announced schools closing today. On Saturday evening he closed the bars, night clubs, non essential stores at midnight the same day. And today, Monday, at 8pm, he put everyone into isolation as of noon tomorrow.
So inside of 3 days we went from “Schools closing Monday”, to full isolation by tomorrow. Not much time to get anything done. A friend of mine has a sick cat. Her surgery was just cancelled because of this. Poor thing is in pain, but there is nothing my friend can do for her. And that sucks.

So here are a few tips:
First of all:  Check your medical thermometers. Mine were both deader than a Dodo. I managed to grab one yesterday — the last one! — because the delivery of the one I ordered is still not here.
Make sure you have enough feed for at least 4 weeks.
Make sure your first aid kit (both for yourself, and your animals) are up to date.
Have Vetwrap, Animalintex, Wound treatment etc handy. (Because that vet may not be able to get to you!)
Nappies for dressings. Duct tape.
Have a hoof rasp and some pincers, in case you need to treat a hoof / take off a shoe.
I always have Nux Vomica (D6), Belladonna (D6),  Arnica (D6), and Apis Mellifica (D6) in my kit. (Pearls, not tablets or drops.) Nux Vomica and Belladonna for mild colic. Arnica for bruising / wounds. Apis Mellifica for hives / stings. (You can get them at the pharmacy usually. D6 is X6 or C3 dilution. Depending where you are.)
Batteries for anything you might need that might run out.
I also keep Arnica ointment and my own Plantain ointment handy. Hibiscrub and/or Betadine too.
Nitrile / Latex gloves, too.
Make up sheets with the name and photograph of your animals. List their feed requirements, habits (as well as any unpleasant / dangerous ones!), comfort requirements. Stabled or out? Rugged, unrugged? Which halter belongs to which horse? Tag them. Where is the feed kept? How is it fed? Where is the water tap, the hose, the buckets, the trough? Is anything on meds? If yes — detailed descriptions of where it’s kept, what to give, how often and dosages. Be specific.
If you end up in hospital, and a stranger ends up looking after your animals — they need this!
List all emergency numbers too. Vet, Farrier, Close Friends, Relatives.

Have enough food for yourself, too. 
Leave some toilet paper, pasta, soap, sanitizer for others too, omg.

I have 9 confirmed cases less than 4 miles from me, and another 3 cases about 6 miles from me.
Luckily I’m way off the beaten track, so “no contact” isn’t difficult, and I can be out on my land if I choose.
Others are not so lucky.

And when (it’s a when, now, not an if) you’re in lockdown… sit back, relax, chill and stay away from people.
Nothing you can do but stay put.

Which is exactly what I’ll do now.
Take care, don’t do anything stupid, wash your hands properly.
We’ll get through this.
Eventually.