It seems like a while since I’ve written about the pandemic. But I don’t want my readers to think I come across as jaded, negative, or to say, oh here she is again talking about Covid, but it's handling in the UK has become an issue and it's not going away.
Mental Health
My philosophy on mental health books is, that if it helps what I deal with, around my mental health, then I will buy the book. Before I started writing, I used to wile away the hours in book stores, looking at self-help books, to see if there was anything that made me feel better around my mental health. In Covid, mental health isn't something to be ignored.
My 'Books'
Years on, and I have shone the spot light on my own mental health and have written two books, based on my mental and emotional health. Although the truth never sits comfortably, it's the truth after all, the truth should always be spoken.
I write the truth and that doesn't sit comfortably with me, because it's hard for me to read the truth, particularly when the truth can keep us stuck and we have little support. But getting my thoughts out there lessens my anxiety, so I continue to write.
The Pandemic mistakes
There is no getting away from the fact that in the UK, from the beginning of the pandemic, mistakes have been made. We are left with vaccines that give some protection, but they don’t continue to protect. Like me, there are many people who have reduced protection, unless they choose to take the vaccine again, but how realistic is retaking the vaccine, and how many times can we take the vaccine, before enough is enough?
By the end of the month in the UK, all measures including the need to self-isolate are being lifted, which means anyone can spread the virus. The UK government are saving themselves, but are failing to save us.
Conquer and Divide
The UK government rule on ‘conquer and divide’ and that is seeping into our communities and into society as a whole, with divisions, rifts, arguments and mean-spirited behaviour being normalised.
That said, it is important to pull back and support others so that we may all function in ways that work for each of us. Supporting one another in the pandemic, is important for mental health.
As I write on my blog, many have also taken to social media to tweet about how they feel. What they're tweeting about, isn't dissimilar to what I write about.
Conclusion
In another attempt for the UK PM to save his political bacon, he has announced that all measures be scrapped by the end of February, including the need to self-isolate if testing positive for Covid.
This has been welcomed by the right wing Conservatives but the Scottish Government has stated this is not supported by any evidence and according to The Times newspaper today (Source: https://epaper.thetimes.co.uk/the-times) it has not been recommended by the government’s own advisers the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, reaffirming the suggestion, it is part of wider moves to try to save the PM's Premiership.
Also, he knows that if they continue with Covid-19 measures, their back-benchers (who have already told them they don't support the measures) will stop supporting them, in getting policies through Parliament.
Leaving millions of people including disadvantaged and high risk people at risk, is a new all-time low, even for the UK government.
My books deal with mental health. You can grab paperback and Kindle copies on Amazon, or through the following link https://linktr.ee/Ilana_Estelle
It is telling that Johnson's 'plan' (and I use the term loosely) to drop all Covid-19 measures is not supported by any scientist - I haven't heard, seen or read anything from any scientist anywhere which supports this.
If we think 70k new cases daily is okay, then it's a great idea! unfortunately, the evidence actually suggests otherwise. Ironically I think he is on his way out and this last minute, pathetic attempt to curry favour with his back bencher MPs won't work and he'll be 'down the road' sooner than he thinks.
Personally, it can't come soon enough. The relationship between our mental and emotional health and the pandemic is well covered in your book, 'Spirituality, Healing and Me' and it is a really important addition to anyone's armoury in tacking the difficult times we are living through. Thank you for writing it.
Thanks. With lots of mistakes made from the beginning of Covid-19, things aren't looking any better 2 years into it.
Yes, I am high risk, but I am entitled to live my life feeling protected. I don't feel protected because decisions that have been made are not protecting me. We also can't continue to vaccinate. I have friends on their 4th. It's madness.
We also know the vaccines decrease in protection, not increase, therefore the vaccines don't go far enough. They are not without their issues and raise more questions than they solve.
But lifting all measures, when the world is still in the thick of Covid-19 is stupid, foolhardy, neglectful, mind blowing, ignorant and abhorrent. That is the biggest Covid-19 travesty to come from the UK government.