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Yes, we’re all champing at the bit to be allowed out to play again. Day after day on the Coronavirus update we listen to the same tired old questions as to when lock-down will be lifted. Every time comes the reply that we’re not through the woods yet.
The summer is just around the corner here in the UK, and the days are gradually becoming warmer. By the end of May if we’re still in lock-down I’m sure some people will be ready to make themselves an exception to the rule. After all, they’ve sat indoors since the middle of March, and as far as they’re concerned, they need to get outside. However, before they do, they need to remember a few things:
Coronavirus is one of 7 types of virus that are related to the common cold and which have adapted to enter and damage the cells that line the respiratory tract. Each of these 7 types of viruses have sub-virus branches known as serotypes, of which there are about 200.
This proliferation of serotypes is probably the main reason why there has never been a cure found for the common cold, as producing many single-serotype vaccines, each one targeting a different strain, is totally impractical. Antibodies produced for one virus serotype will not detect the rest.
In my opinion, Coronavirus is here to stay, and we just need to be a bit more mindful on how to avoid catching it. Just because the lock-down gets lifted, it doesn’t mean that the virus has been sent packing. Like the common cold, it will be around for many years to come until a scientist one day stumbles upon a cure.
Little things like washing hands more frequently and coughing and sneezing into a tissue can help keep the spread under control, as can isolating yourself if you have a germ instead of going to work and ‘toughing it out’, thereby not infecting others. We are going to have to make lifestyle changes and get used to thinking of the global effect of our actions and not just about our own selfish wants and needs. We cannot stay in lock-down indefinitely because the economy will collapse, and so we will have to learn to live with Coronavirus instead, because it’s not going away any time soon. Social distancing is not always practical, but should be considered if at all possible to help avoid a second tidal wave of infections.
Let’s hope we all have a happy and healthy summer. x
Image by Miroslava Chrienova from Pixabay
Stevie Turner 
I agree mostly Stevie, but I would add that masks should be the continued dresscode in public because u cant always social distance and stores cant afford to have lines of people standing 6 ft apart waiting outside to let 2 at a time in for very long either. All this until there’s a vaccine. And if not, that’s the new way or risk your life. Great choice 😦
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Good advice. Thanks.
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There will be a gradual lifting of the restrictions here in Spain. We can start going for walks on Sunday even without a dog. The goal is to all be back to work by the end of June, but probably not allowing may tourists in. It will hurt the economy but saving lives is better. The strict lockdown is working, we have had no deaths in our region for 5 days. Of course, we will still have to take precautions even after the lockdown.
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Our lockdown hasn’t been as strict as yours. Perhaps it should have been.
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Absolutely. We will have to learn to live with the virus. Even if we eliminated it in this country it would mean anybody trying to come back into the country would have to go into quarantine
God alone knows how we’d cope with lorry drivers coming in on the ferries
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Hopefully they would have been tested beforehand in their own country?
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we’ve run into this issue with moving livestock and TB testing which has been going on for a number of years. The problem with testing before hand is that the tests are only so accurate, and not only that but you can catch it after the test, or can have it and not be at a stage where the test reveals it.
So with cattle they will recommend what is effectively quarantine, but also in some areas a post movement test as well
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The ferries are still running now, Jim. I don’t know what precautions the drivers of trucks face. A story in the papers here at the weekend that shocked me concerned Travellers who had come across from the UK with caravans and campervans to park up at the Curragh, where, in previous years, there had been a summer religious festival. The festival was cancelled but they came anyway. Presumably they must now stay put under our lock down restrictions. How they were ever permitted to board the ferry is beyond me.
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I read when people land at the London airports, all they’re given is a leaflet.
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At the moment I’m not sure what ‘frontier checks’ there are. I think that anybody can come in or go out of the UK but could be entirely wrong in this. But I think you’re expected to self isolate when you get here
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Your comments are very sensible. I think our economy has already collapsed. We weren’t in a strong position when all this started.
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So many businesses are on the brink of collapse. There will be a very different world when this situation is all over.
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I agree with you, Stevie, but many people thing we are going to just pick up where we left off. I think that governments will be forced to reduce pensions and social grants going forward too. A lot of people are facing salary cuts right now.
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Or no salaries at all.
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Yes, sadly.
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