Some Oklahoma Christian University students, spread across the globe, are feeling the effects of this worldwide pandemic more than others.
One of those people is Oklahoma Christian junior Carlos Trapero from Madrid, Spain. Spain is one of the multiple countries to be on complete lockdown because of COVID-19. 11 days ago Trapero ventured back home, to a place he has known for so long, that has now been completely changed by this pandemic.
“It’s hard,” Trapero said. “Being on complete lockdown is really hard. It’s the first time any of us have gone through this. Knowing that you cannot leave your home and that you cannot go outside just to take a five minute walk, it’s really hard.”
Having been in quarantine for 11 days and counting, Trapero states his outlook on this virus has changed drastically from when he first started hearing about it.
“First, I wasn’t scared at all; I thought it was just a flu and that people are getting too crazy with everything,” Trapero said. “But then I realized that it’s not that simple. When I first came back home to Spain, 11 days ago, there were 4,000 infected and less than 100 deaths. Today, it’s been 40,000 infected and 3,000 deaths. In only 10 days it has increased that dramatically.”
The virus is spreading so fast the hospitals are not able to keep up with it.
“It’s incredible the speed that this virus is able to spread,” Trapero said. “That’s the main problem; the hospitals are collapsing due to all the people coming in. Madrid, the capital, where I live, is the worst city, and the military is building new hospitals in record time to be able to take care of everyone. It’s nearly impossible to keep up though; for example, today we got 7,000 new cases. It was a record. We are in the worst moment of the pandemic right now.”
Knowing if he gets the virus he will probably be OK, Trapero is not fearing for his own life, rather the lives of those he loves.
“I wasn’t scared for myself when I first came back, and I’m not scared for myself now,” Trapero said. “I’m scared because of my grandparents. Because I know that if they get it, they would probably die. Since I’ve been here, I have not been able to see them, just in case I share the virus with them, because there is always a slim possibility that I have it and just don’t know about it due to young people not always feeling the symptoms of the virus.”
Being in quarantine for so long, Trapero has had to find ways to entertain himself.
“I always try to have breakfast with my family,” Trapero said. “Then afterwards I try to do some exercise in the mornings to stay healthy. I do some homework, then I eat, play cards, watch Netflix. I always try to stay busy and constantly be doing something to help myself not overthink the situation.”
Although quarantine is not the ideal way for Trapero to be spending his time, he and his family are making the most of it.
“The best thing about all this is that at least I’m with my family,” Trapero said. “After some months away from home, living in the U.S, same as my little sister, to have all four of us back together again is a good thing. And knowing that my immediate family, and so far all my friends, are doing good as well is something positive.”
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