After 50 days of lockdown as the ‘new normal’, can we begin to safely emerge?
SUNDAY NIGHTS for my household in the last 50 odd days of lockdown have been spent catching up with family on a virtual games night.
A chance to chat with loved ones scattered across Yorkshire who we have not been in the company of since March.
Our video “get together” though was delayed as the Prime Minister addressed the country on TV with his state of the nation speech on the next phase of the war with Covid-19 and a new battle cry: Stay alert, control the virus, save lives.
The stay at home message up to now had been pretty clear. Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales continue to adopt it and maintain the restrictions to stop our precious NHS being overwhelmed.
As we looked at each other with eyebrows raised, our ‘games night’ turned into a question time with confusion and different interpretations of what we had just heard.
The Prime Minister’s “road map” this week set out a new course with new rules, small steps towards opening up the country again.
Guidelines on socializing with people outside your household, wearing face coverings in enclosed places such as shops; more exercise and even driving to destinations for outdoor walks.
Steps were laid out for people who could not work from home to be encouraged to go back to work and dates set for the possible return to class of some school pupils.
It is all conditional. If virus cases start increasing, it will be reviewed. He urged the public to exercise common sense.
I do have some sympathy with Boris Johnson. It is such a fine balancing act to deal with a pandemic we have not experienced the like of for a lifetime.
Yes we must look at starting on the long road back to reopening communities, kick starting the economy. But that has to be balanced by public safety and ensuring any “easing” of restrictions is not too early to cause more tragedy for families.
Yes, we must look at starting on the road back to reopening. But that has to be balanced by public safety, ensuring easing of restrictions is not too early.