Autism is a mental health issue and trying to navigate it in a pandemic, is impossible for many. Unless we have clarity or a resolve, and we are able to neutralise what we feel, we can continue to live with and deal with anxiety.
Omicron
Omicron, has brought about many issues for people dealing with autism, as we all continue to live and deal with anxiety, made worse, because cases of Omicron are continuing to rise, and that's affecting our mental health.
Omicron is spreading at lightning speed, and that means we should be making sensible choices. As a result, the UK Government have now made mask wearing compulsory and yet many aren’t wearing masks and others wearing masks are still wearing their masks around their chins.
Ignoring the science
Although the UK Government are telling us we can go out, The Scottish Government are asking that we do our bit and stay at home as much as possible. Even if you have had all your vaccines, whilst you're getting into your lives, you can still catch Covid.
The vaccines don't protect on their own unless all the other precautionary measures are in place, as the scientists keep telling us. You can still catch Covid and long-covid with them.
So, whilst we're all living in the midst of a pandemic, it is important to make sensible choices; to wear a mask in public spaces, social distance and to regularly sanitise your hands.
There is suggestion there could be 5,000 Omicron deaths a day in the UK this winter, without the government enforcing more restrictions. But it also means we need to do our bit.
With Omicron taking a hold, Britain’s cases have rocketed to record levels for the third day in a row. Over 160,000 people have tested positive for Covid in the UK in the past 24 hours. (Source: https://bbcgossip.com)
Omicron is thought to be spreading faster than testing can keep up with it, with cases doubling nationally every two days. We have an opportunity to change; to impact ourselves and the world differently. A personal kindness if you like.
Conclusion
After two years of the pandemic and now on to our fourth wave, it is very much time to take stock, for us decide to do more to try to reduce the virus and its effects.
To come home, my children self-isolated for a few days before getting their booster jabs, and then isolated again for another couple of days before heading home. They were picked up by car, so they didn't take public transport home.
Masking up, social distancing and hand sanitisation is what the scientists are asking us to do, citing we can still catch Covid and long-covid. The virus is here to stay, and we can all reduce the virus and its effects by taking the necessary precautions.
The irony is that whilst we're living in a pandemic, none of us are really getting into our lives. The normal life we had is gone.
As individuals living in this pandemic, we all have a responsibility to each other. We must adopt a new perspective.
We are social beings living in an organised hub we call ‘society,' and so we do have the responsibility of ensuring the greater good for all.
I can't see any other way through this pandemic otherwise, but I see little evidence of this happening while we have so much justified distrust in governments.
Thanks. You're response is absolutely spot on. I am hoping that in the weeks and months to come, others' attitudes can change, particularly because we're being told by scientists that we can still catch and pass on Covid with the vaccines.
I agree with you that we have the responsibility of ensuring the greater good for all. I hope in the months and weeks to come we will see that in the reduction of numbers. It's all about being mindful, so that we can keep ourselves safe.