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I’m back from my first trip in a year. I went to the Netherlands to deal with some EU setup stuff for Enda.
I’m certainly glad to be back in the land of massive and delicious avocados.
Being in the Netherlands was scary. A thread….
I’m certainly glad to be back in the land of massive and delicious avocados.
Being in the Netherlands was scary. A thread….
There have been all these articles about “why is Africa doing so well in the pandemic?” I can tell you a couple of answers right now.
https://www.dw.com/en/covid-19-in-africa-milder-than-expected-pandemic-has-experts-puzzled/a-54918467
1) masks. early in the pandemic they were universal in Kenya. Now they’re maybe like 50/50.
https://www.dw.com/en/covid-19-in-africa-milder-than-expected-pandemic-has-experts-puzzled/a-54918467
1) masks. early in the pandemic they were universal in Kenya. Now they’re maybe like 50/50.
In the Netherlands it was almost zero. On the streets no one is wearing them. Maybe a food delivery person. otherwise. 0 masks. People reluctantly put them on going into a grocery store or getting on a train, but that’s it.
My airbnb host greeted me not wearing one, and a friend’s brother brought some baby clothes to bring back to Nairobi, he wasn’t wearing one. They next day he sent me a message saying he might have symptoms, but…
2) testing. He apparently couldn’t get tested. Testing in the Netherlands is for people with known contact or severe symptoms. Nairobi, the tests are priced out of most people’s range, but they’re readily available.
Thankfully it seems it was just a stomach bug, he’s fine.
Thankfully it seems it was just a stomach bug, he’s fine.
minor sub note: I had to get tested to travel. It cost twice as much as a test in Kenya, and when I went to pay, they didn't accept visa and asked for cash. Same thing at the grocery store. Cash.
Many places in Kenya have now completely stopped taking cash.
Many places in Kenya have now completely stopped taking cash.
3) handwashing. Again, not universal in Kenya, but most places you enter will require you wash or sanitise. Netherlands, even in places like train stations or grocery stores where there is a large volume of touching things, there's no washing station. no enforced sanitising.
In Kenya, you've got things (see picture) like this all over the place. It's not perfect and not universal. But without a doubt it's miles ahead of the Netherlands.
I know this is all anecdotal, and just my experience. But from what I saw, there are huge differences. I'm glad to be back in Kenya.
