How quickly our world can change, our assumptions and dependencies.
Covid-19 is amongst us, a silent killer, a global killer, seeking out the vulnerable, inflicting misery upon all of us.
Who would have thought last year, amidst the hideous Brexit crisis, that another crisis, even more serious would descend upon us all? As we toasted in the new year, did we ever think that we would be enduring this situation right now?
As we look at the rising numbers of infections around the world, and in our own communities, we need to take stock of what is important to us. We need to also consider how we might protect each other in order to beat this threat.
The future now is uncertain. But I am certain that there will be an end to the crisis. I also think that the world will be a different place when we surface back to normality. Hopefully it will be a better place, where people support each other more, and we look after our vulnerable citizens better. Hopefully it will not be a world where selfish nationalism and self-interest out-weighs our self-reflection.
I am scared. There is no getting away from the fact that the unknown is scary. Who might I lose during this crisis? Will I still have a job? Will I still have a future? But I am trying to seek out the positives. I see that the number of infections in China and South Korea are falling. The numbers in the UK are rising, but at some point there will be a peak, hopefully a flattened one, but those numbers will fall.
And the deaths? If 2% of infected people in the UK die, that would mean (based on a worse case infection rate of 80%) that 800,000 people will die. That's 800,000 who only a few months ago were toasting in the new decade. Gone. Family members and loved ones might be amongst them. I might be one of them.
All we can do is mitigate, avoid or reduce social contact, wash our hands. I am self-isolating because of my immunosuppressants. In the absence of clear government guidance I managed to get a doctor's note to work from home for the next two weeks. Then in two weeks, if there is still no guidance, I will get another. It's lonely, but it's necessary. I still have to attend the hospital next week, however, for blood tests. I will take precautions. I have already spoken to them and my consultation will be carried out over the phone, so I should be in for only a short while. At some point, however, I need to pick up medicines.
I really hope this all draws to its conclusion quite soon. I know we will get through this. I'm not going to apply jingoistic war analogies as some are doing. This is different. We have the internet to help us, we have better access to news; and at some point we will have a vaccine.
For the time being, I will carry out all those chores I have delayed in my flat, water my plants, scroll through Netflix, whatsapp my other half. That is the hardest part, the love and companionship, but I know it is only temporary. This nightmare is only temporary.
Covid-19 is amongst us, a silent killer, a global killer, seeking out the vulnerable, inflicting misery upon all of us.
Who would have thought last year, amidst the hideous Brexit crisis, that another crisis, even more serious would descend upon us all? As we toasted in the new year, did we ever think that we would be enduring this situation right now?
As we look at the rising numbers of infections around the world, and in our own communities, we need to take stock of what is important to us. We need to also consider how we might protect each other in order to beat this threat.
The future now is uncertain. But I am certain that there will be an end to the crisis. I also think that the world will be a different place when we surface back to normality. Hopefully it will be a better place, where people support each other more, and we look after our vulnerable citizens better. Hopefully it will not be a world where selfish nationalism and self-interest out-weighs our self-reflection.
I am scared. There is no getting away from the fact that the unknown is scary. Who might I lose during this crisis? Will I still have a job? Will I still have a future? But I am trying to seek out the positives. I see that the number of infections in China and South Korea are falling. The numbers in the UK are rising, but at some point there will be a peak, hopefully a flattened one, but those numbers will fall.
And the deaths? If 2% of infected people in the UK die, that would mean (based on a worse case infection rate of 80%) that 800,000 people will die. That's 800,000 who only a few months ago were toasting in the new decade. Gone. Family members and loved ones might be amongst them. I might be one of them.
All we can do is mitigate, avoid or reduce social contact, wash our hands. I am self-isolating because of my immunosuppressants. In the absence of clear government guidance I managed to get a doctor's note to work from home for the next two weeks. Then in two weeks, if there is still no guidance, I will get another. It's lonely, but it's necessary. I still have to attend the hospital next week, however, for blood tests. I will take precautions. I have already spoken to them and my consultation will be carried out over the phone, so I should be in for only a short while. At some point, however, I need to pick up medicines.
I really hope this all draws to its conclusion quite soon. I know we will get through this. I'm not going to apply jingoistic war analogies as some are doing. This is different. We have the internet to help us, we have better access to news; and at some point we will have a vaccine.
For the time being, I will carry out all those chores I have delayed in my flat, water my plants, scroll through Netflix, whatsapp my other half. That is the hardest part, the love and companionship, but I know it is only temporary. This nightmare is only temporary.
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