Es Mercadal.

Lockdown day 11.
I had to go out today for a repeat prescription, and decided to go to the closer town of Es Mercadal instead of the capital city, Mahon, on the premise there would be fewer people with whom to come into contact. That was in fact the case, and I only saw two people out, a lady collecting bread from the bakery, and a policeman in facial protective mask, goggles and gloves. I expected him to stop and challenge me, but after giving me a close look he carried on past. It was eerie walking along the deserted streets, normally teeming with life: children on bikes and scooters and roller skates, people chatting by the shops and elderly ones sitting in folding chairs outside their doors, not to mention the square full of tables and chairs normally doing a brisk trade with 3 different bars (see extra for today). Apart from the empty streets there was also absence of sound, as though the whole population behind those doors and windows were holding their collective breath. I was the only customer at the pharmacy, where I was surprised to see the door fully open - of course, it's to prevent people touching the handle. Likewise dumpster bins are left with lids up, which makes sense really. You never think of these things in "normal" times. The pharmacist was in full scrubs like a surgeon, and a makeshift fence had been fashioned from empty drawers down the middle of the shop. She held out a pretty coloured glass bowl to receive my medical card, and passed me the meds in the same way. Likewise the credit card for payment (cash frowned upon as has to be handled). Quite a surreal experience. Unfortunately the main item I'd gone for was out of stock, so as I'm running out in two days will have to venture further afield after all. Not today though. It feels really unsafe to be out, despite the excellent precautions here. The council in Mahon and elsewhere have organised night-time street cleaning, including benches and shop doorways of those allowed to open. This takes the form of a huge mobile tank of disinfectant, attached to which is a hose deployed by a council worker in full protective suit like an astronaut. Of course I haven't personally witnessed this, or would certainly have documented it in pictures, but the local paper and media constantly report the situation here. This is likely to be the peak week for the virus, blitzing through mainland Spain, but with just 29 positive cases here, of which 6 in intensive care, but as yet no deaths.