OK, a chum of mine is in Madrid, Spain where he is a financial entrepreneur buying up transition properties and breathing value into them with capital and repairs. Smart guy.
He is at home with WutangCurse symptoms with a wife and child. He is in quarantine within his own home.
He sent me the updated numbers for Spain. I always like seeing the detailed, granular breakdown for things like this. Take a look. [Translates as follows: Total conf=Infected, UCI=ICU, Fallecidos=Deaths, Curados=Healed.]
He goes on to further elaborate that he is one of the 20,000 in self-imposed isolation in Madrid alone. He has been feeling poorly for six days, but has plenty of room and a nice arrangement whereby he can even be isolated from his family.
His wife is taking care of him, their baby, the dog, and the house which sounds like a big work load. Kudos to having married well.
He presciently laid in stocks for two months and says supermarkets are open and operating.
The real estate industry — wherein he operates — is at a standstill. He predicts skyrocketing unemployment as an after effect impact of the WutangCurse.
He says Spain’s dependence upon tourism leaves them vulnerable and expresses doubt in the ability of the socialist/communist government to manage the crisis to a soft landing.
He thinks 25% unemployment is possible, but worse he believes that the best and brightest of the young folk will emigrate thereby bleeding Spain of talent.
Not a pretty picture. This man is not a bomb thrower or an alarmist. He is a very smart guy and a keen observer of the human condition plus an entrepreneur who knows his way around the financial markets. Heed these words.
And, that, dear reader, is the view from Madrid, Spain.
Stay safe. Stay isolated. Maintain your social distance. Do not become a carrier. Be careful about infecting old people with your behavior. Do not kill Grandma!
We are going to come out of this well if all of us do out parts. Pray for grace for our leaders. 