Homecourt
For the first time, a Beaconite attended Magistrates’ Court this week from the comfort of his own living room. It was another example of how bizarre daily life has become during the coronavirus pandemic. By logging on to a Zoom meeting, he was able to join other journalists and court officials who were all meeting virtually to continue the territory’s legal processes. Since the Beaconite would easily trade in-person court hearings for the comfort of virtual ones attended from home, it was a silver living to this sub-par moment in history, and the Beaconite will take as many of those as he can get. The public is invited to the Zoom meetings as well, and if anyone else would like to attend they can get in touch with the Magistrates’ Court for a schedule.
‘Invisible’ disease?
A Beaconite was fortunate enough to speak with people in the medical field recently to get an understanding of what it’s like to battle Covid-19. It stood out to her that coronavirus could be called an “invisible” disease, but those on the frontlines are seeing the devastation with their own eyes. The public is largely shielded from images of people dying from the disease. So the reporter would argue that it’s not an invisible virus at all. She spoke to a doctor in Boston and had an illuminating interview. She asked him how it felt to be at the frontlines of this pandemic. He let her know that it’s scary, especially when the safety of his family is concerned, but she can never fully understand how it feels to see people dying every day. If anyone spent one day in the shoes of such doctors, she suspects, they would not complain about the obstacles to getting a haircut or lament missed opportunities for parties. Sometimes, she feels, people need to take a step back, assess what’s really important, and act accordingly.
Truth teller
Recently, while talking to a friend, a Beaconite described her days “as hours of boredom punctuated by seconds of terror.” Any whisper of a new case, or a change in government policy toward the lockdown, pushes the Virgin Islands rumour mill, active at any normal time, into hyperdrive, especially when every new development seems to have life-or-death consequences. The Beaconite, as someone privy to the truth by nature of her work, has taken it on as her personal mission to correct misinformation wherever and whenever she encounters it. True, it’s like playing Whack-a-Mole sometimes, and she is often frustrated when people simply refuse to listen. However, this is her public service. Some people are volunteering, donating food and contributing to the fight in other ways. The Beaconite doesn’t have that much time or that many practical skills, but one thing she arms herself with, always, is the truth. It’s the least she can do.
Talk about it
Prompted by an assignment, a Beaconite spent a considerable amount of time this week contemplating emotional and mental health amid crisis. She doesn’t purport to be any sort of expert, but she would like to share her personal compassion for those who are struggling right now. It can be difficult to comprehend the full implications of a pandemic while the sun is still shining as brightly as ever through the window. But uncertainty is unsettling and easily gnaws at the back of one’s mind. This reporter has a habit of bottling her emotions, but she is making an effort to be more open about them with her family and roommates. It has helped tremendously. She encourages everyone in the territory to seek out similar relief, whether that means having an open conversation with a loved one, calling a family member, seeking professional expertise, or even simply journaling these emotions to recognise that they exist. It’s okay to feel anxious or confused or even angry that all this is happening.