Coronavirus: How people in the city are being affected
Lockdown - in its various guises since the middle of March - has brought unique challenges to us all. Some initially enjoyed spending more time with families, or the roads being clear, when the country was in full national restrictions mode, but now it has dragged on for seven months, with the rules getting ever more confused. The Mercury headed into the city to get a snapshot of what it means for a random sample of people...
LOCKDOWN in Leicester has affected everyone living in the city and surrounding areas, there is no doubt about that, but not all in the same way. The Mercury’s Chris Gordon visited the city centre to speak to a few people about their own personal experiences and opinions – to find out how they have coped, how they think Leicester City Council and the government have handled the lockdown and coronavirus crisis, and how they and others have managed to follow the rules.
We also wanted to know what sacrifices people have had to make – and whether they had dared to share a hug with someone outside their family bubble.
The individuals who kindly agreed to speak to us were:
■ Vicki Chapple, a Leicester Market trader, of Western Park, Leicester;
■ Sarim Nagi, 22, an international student living in North Evington, Leicester;
Cliff Hogarth, 68, a collection and delivery driver from Wigston;
■ Beverley, 67, a care worker, also living in Leicester, who didn’t give her surname.
This is what they had to say:
HOW HARD HAS IT BEEN TO UNDERSTAND THE LEICESTER LOCKDOWN RULES?
Vicky: “It’s been quite difficult because it’s changing weekly. It’s been very difficult to work in the city of Leicester, especially with Covid.
“You’re getting mixed messages all the time and don’t know if you’re doing right by doing wrong most of the time.
“I don’t know what areas I’m supposed to be in, or where I’m allowed to visit, who’s allowed in the house from week to week - it’s quite difficult.” Sarim: “It’s too hard, really.”
Cliff: “It’s been very hard. My daughter updates me regularly about what I can and can’t do. I think, left to my own devices I’d probably end up breaking the rules.”
Beverley: “It’s not really been hard for me because I’m single and I don’t have to worry about half of the rules, to be honest, because I have no bubble - I really just stick to myself.”
HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU KNOW WHO HAVE BEEN BREAKING THE LOCKDOWN RULES?
Vicky: “I don’t really know anybody who has, to be fair.”
Sarim: “None, but I’ve seen many people breaking the rules. During the summer break, I have seen many people walking in the parks and not obeying the rules, and not even wearing masks.” Cliff: “None personally, but I run regularly in Knighton Park and I see groups of kids together who shouldn’t be together.”
Beverley: “I don’t know them, but when I arrived back from Belfast on Monday I wanted to get back on the plane. There was a whole lot of people at the particular Tesco I go into with no masks on. It’s not acceptable at all.”
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE WAY GOVERNMENT HAS HANDLED THE LEICESTER LOCKDOWN?
Vicky: “Well I think they’ve tried their best, without ostracising too many people - I just think they’re working with something that nobody really knows anything about, to be fair, and they’re trying their best.” Sarim: “I think the government has handled it very clearly, but there hasn’t really been anyone walking around to make sure people have been obeying the rules.
“But during the lockdown I feel I’ve had a lot of support from the government - and the city council also. I got food delivered for two weeks because I wasn’t able to get out and buy stuff.
“I think the government has handled it very well for me - I don’t know about others.”
Cliff: “Shoddy. I think that’s the best way I can put it. As I said previously, I think it’s very hard to understand.” Beverley: “The government, to me, is doing everything it can. To have something thrown at you like this... if you go and look in Spain, Italy, anywhere, the opposition to the governments are all
My daughter updates me on what I can and can’t do. Left to my own devices, I’d end up breaking the rules!
moaning and saying ‘you could do this or do that’. But, for me, they’re doing the best that they can - and for our safety.”
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE WAY CITY COUNCIL HAS HANDLED THE LEICESTER LOCKDOWN?
Vicky: “They seem to have been doing okay. They’ve prepared all the restaurants and all of the shops. They’re giving out enough information to people - like what you’re supposed to be doing and what time they’re closing. I think they’ve been doing a pretty good job, to be fair.”
Sarim: “The city council has handled it very well. They supported us, they gave us the food when we needed it, in an emergency. That’s what I experienced from Leicester City Council.”
Cliff: “Much the same as the government really. I think it’s got to be the same answer. I can’t put it any other way - shoddy and hard to understand.”
Beverley: “I think they’ve done well. Things got better when stringent measures were put in. It’s got worse again but it’s a different age group that’s causing it to get worse from what I can see now.”
WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON OUTSIDE YOUR FAMILY THAT YOU’VE HUGGED?
Vicky: “Nobody really, not for a long time - not even my grandchildren.” Sarim: “No-one. My family and friends are abroad. I’ve just been avoiding personal contact and following the rules properly.
“Even though I’m staying in my student university accommodation, I totally maintained social distance, even with my roommates.”
Cliff: “I met an old school friend in Coventry two weekends ago and, without thinking, she and I hugged.
We both had masks on but just did it out of natural instinct. I hadn’t seen her for a year.”
Beverley: “It would have been my friend in the apartments that I stay in.”
WHAT’S BEEN YOUR BIGGEST PERSONAL SACRIFICE DURING THE LOCKDOWN?
Vicky: “It’s not being able to see my grandchildren. That’s quite heart wrenching because I’ve got one grandson who has severe cerebral palsy.
“I go there and try to help out in the house and you’re not able to touch or to cuddle - that’s the only ways my grandson is able to communicate with me really, through touching and cuddles, so it has been quite difficult.”
Sarim: “It’s been depression, I would say. I’ve been through a little depression because nobody was there, even though my roommates were always in the room - but the city was closed, there was no-one about and we can’t go out. So the biggest sacrifice was my mental satisfaction, compared to before and after the lockdown.”
Cliff: “Freedom of movement. I come from Essex originally, so I’d normally be down a couple of times a year to see my family and friends but because we can’t do that and I can’t stay with them overnight, that’s been the biggest sacrifice.
“Fortunately, I’ve got my daughter and granddaughter in my bubble, so they’re my mainstays.”
Beverley: “There’s not been many, because I’ve always been able to go for a walk. I think it was when you could only walk for half an hour. That was the biggest sacrifice.”