MARTIN McElroy is originally from Lower Main Street, Letterkenny has been living in Madrid for some 17 years.
Madrid is the worst affected province and Spain is the fourth most infected country in the World. Apart from Hospitals, supermarkets, chemists and any other essential services, everything is closed.
“It’s all of us in this together, isolated but together. Whatever measures the Irish Government implement, follow them to the letter. Listen to the Medics and do exactly what they say. Don’t hoard, think of others especially the elderly. And of course, stay at home and use the time wisely,” he stressed.
A lot of people are working from home and those that don’t need a special permission from the police. One person per car and one at a time to enter supermarkets. So far in the whole country 30,000 have been fined between 100 and 6,000 euro and 350 have been arrested for not complying with the regulations.
“It is scary and difficult to comprehend that a thriving bustling city of over six million people can be brought to a virtual standstill.
“I have been outside my apartment twice in nine days for food shopping. Streets are empty and the silence is unsettling. There was a lot of hoarding at the beginning but it has eased off as the Government has assured the public that supermarkets are open every day and stocked,” he said.
“People are slowly getting used to this way of life and a wonderful connection of solidarity is being felt. Every night at 8pm we open our windows and applaud not just medics, police and firefighters but also those that work in the local supermarket, those involved in the transport division such as bus drivers and truck drivers.
“It is uplifting to see and hear such emotion being shared and when this crisis is over I hope it will remain and that we all have learned from it. Stay safe everyone and we will get through this,” he said.
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