Once again we have more lockdown rules easing in the UK, and I’m here writing my response.
Although I try not to criticise on this blog as much as possible, I think before I go into the details I need to clarify my position, that I think lockdown is easing far too fast. I acknowledge that there are many consequences of lockdown, to mental health and people’s livelihoods, but I feel that the government is making change after change without pausing long enough in between to see the effect it has. While virus testing is theoretically available to everyone, it’s not an automatic thing for the general population—people are being tested if they’re symptomatic or are known to have been in contact with someone who has confirmed positive. So the actual number of people infected is still unknown as common sense says there must be asymptomatic people slipping through the cracks. It’s basic maths—if it can take up to 14 days for someone to show symptoms and an unknown portion of the population is asymptomatic, and it takes a number of days (I’m not sure how many) for the statistics to be gathered, then any rise in the infection rate is going to take some time to filter through. Any rise in the death rate will take even longer since there will be a time gap in between someone being confirmed as having the virus and their death. During the time in which these numbers aren’t yet available, more easing of restrictions could have taken place.
Having said all that, I was closer to being relieved than I expected when I saw the decision of the debate about the 2m distancing rule this morning. I was very anxious about the thought of it being reduced, especially after seeing someone on the news (I can’t remember who) confirm that a distance of 1m is definitively riskier than 2m, and I’m aware that the review is probably mainly down to the pressure on the government from the business sector.
I’m very thankful that it’s not been reduced as a standard thing, and that it’s been accompanied by the advice to keep to 2m wherever possible.
However to quote a doctor on Breakfast, “We must not get complacent”. Don’t take the smaller distance limit lightly, as it carries a significantly higher chance of being infected if the other person has the virus. I did try to make a note of the stats, but I couldn’t actually make sense of what he said.
I feel for people worried about losing their livelihoods, I really do, and I wish there was a simple solution. But protecting lives has to be the priority here.
So my advice to people is to please avoid going out where possible. If you go out, keep to the 2m as much as possible. Don’t switch back into your pre-pandemic habits; be vigilant about hygiene and protect others as well as yourself. Avoid indoor public areas and areas in which social distancing is being ignored. If you see a shop or other kind of venue that’s not taking the proper precautions, don’t stay silent about it.
I understand that with the warm weather, and places opening again, it must be very tempting to go out for a bit of enjoyment. But for the sake of those of us who don’t have that luxury because we don’t feel safe doing so, please find responsible alternatives to help prevent a second wave. I’ve done a post on alternative leisure options here.
As aforementioned doctor also said: if we have a second wave because people go back to their normal lives, then it will likely fall in colder weather, when being outdoors—where the virus transmission rate is much lower—is much more difficult. A second lockdown in colder weather will mean less freedom than before.