Liam happy with decision to self-isolate in Spanish home
AN Arklow man who is currently living in Spain said he’s happy with his decision to stay there.
Liam O’Loughlin and his wife chose to remain in Spain as the pandemic unfolded.
Speaking to this paper by phone from his home in La Marina, Liam said, ‘we’ve been in lockdown for two weeks. They seem to be taking the whole business more seriously here. The police are around the roads enforcing the rules. You can only leave home to get food or medical supplies. If you go out, only one person can be in the car or they will fine you.’
The Spanish government introduced a state of emergency to combat coronavirus on March 14, placing the whole country on lockdown. People were ordered to stay in their homes unless they had to buy food or medicine or go to work or hospital. The lockdown was extended for a further two weeks on Saturday, March 28.
The 81-year-old and his wife Mary have been dividing their time between their home in Arklow and their home in La Marina, south of Alicante for the last ten years.
‘I don’t get sick in the better weather here over the winter and I find it’s good for my health.’
Liam said he was surprised at the speed of the Spanish government’s response to the crisis.
‘I couldn’t believe how fast they brought in the lockdown. The Spanish have a laidback reputation and I never thought they’d take the coronavirus as serious as they have.’
Liam has been in self-isolation at home because he is at a higher risk from the virus due to his age and because of an underlying health condition.
‘It’s strange way of living but it’s in my own interest to stay indoors.’
The couple, who have two sons and a daughter in Ireland, opted to remain in Spain because Liam said ‘I thought Spain was taking coronavirus more seriously than Ireland. From watching the news, they seem to be having problems [in Ireland]. We also would have had to get on plane home with other older people and I thought that would be a risk in itself.’
The family remain in regular contact through social media, however, Liam said the experience of self-isolation ‘feels more isolating as it goes on. Some of the time, it can be really tough but I’m happy here. I think the Spanish are doing well. They’ve lost all the visitors over the Easter period and worried about summer tourism which is why they are doing this now.’
The couple normally travel home to Ireland for the summer in May, but Liam said they may return earlier if restrictions are lifted.
‘If we get the opportunity, we’ll come back early, but it could be later. I was speaking with the ferry company last week and they are only carrying freight for now. We use a camper van [to travel here] because it’s only a day’s drive to Bilbao but the ferry company told me there’s no camper vans until April 10 at the earlier. Once we are allowed to move, we will think about going, but it could be the end of May or June.’
Liam said he is keeping busy ‘doing jobs around the house and garden and keeping the hedges tidy. I think we’re more comfortable here than we would be in Ireland.’