Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Unprecedented times in face of drastic measures
Unprecedented action in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak has seen lives across the Canterbury district turned upside down.
And measures that have seen thousands retreat into isolation and avoid social contact are only likely to get tougher as the infection spreads.
Latest figures released yesterday afternoon revealed 72 people had died from the virus in the UK, from 2,626 confirmed cases. Globally the death toll stands at more than 8,000, with 206,000 now having been infected worldwide.
On Monday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged people to “avoid all unnecessary social contact” in a bid to curb the outbreak.
He told people to work from home and avoid pubs, clubs and theatres as officials prepare for a peak in cases. Anyone with symptoms including a high temperature or a new and continuous cough - or anyone living with someone with symptoms must now stay home for at least 14 days.
The most vulnerable in society - people aged over 70, pregnant women and those with underlying health conditions - are also being asked to self-isolate for up to 12 weeks.
The advice has been followed by many, with quieter high streets placing huge financial pressures on all manner of businesses - big and small. Among those feeling the effects is Canterbury’s Marlowe Theatre, which has been forced to close for a month, while even the city’s high street Mcdonald’s has chosen to shut down its seating areas.
As this paper went to press yesterday afternoon, the Prime Minister was expected to announce the closure of all schools in England.
With speculation of a ‘total lockdown’ on the horizon, things are predicted to get even tougher for independent traders, the self-employed and those forced to take time off.
But a £330 billion package of state-backed loans to help businesses and those struggling financially will have come as some relief when it was announced by chancellor Rishi Sunak on Tuesday.
He joined the Prime Minister at what have now become daily press conferences to address the nation on the latest developments.
Those across Canterbury, Herne Bay, Whitstable and Faversham continue to watch with bated breath as the picture changes as quick as the virus spreads.