I like many, will go to bed anxious and wake up still anxious around Covid, because of the way the UK Government is handling it. How I manage living with a disability, is the difference between me remaining calm and me feeling anxious.
The UK Governments' mixed messages
It isn't right governments continue to send out mixed messages, so it's not okay for schools to close early for Christmas because of Covid, yet secondary schools are going back in the first week of January, with some pupils learning on line, so schools can stagger students going back to school.
Scientists' voices are being drowned out
Then we have Christmas, where the rules are being relaxed, with scientists’ voices being drowned out because the government are playing to the masses and ignoring scientists' advice on cancelling the country cancelling Christmas. In the wider world, you mostly have younger people ignoring the rules and thinking it’s okay to live normal lives, whilst the rest of us continue to struggle with the virus.
The virus and underlying conditions
With an underlying condition that affects your ability to fight the virus, you are automatically high risk. I have been confined to my home since March. I manage walks with a mask on and my only going out is a trip to the hair salon with face protection and further protection where full PPE is worn.
We’re not in normal circumstances and the virus spreads the more we interact therefore, it is important we stop interacting until such a time it's safe to do so. We should all take precautionary measures, if not for you, for your loved ones who still need protecting, and for those who may struggle and could die, if they get it.
Underlying health problems
I have underlying health problems, including respiratory disease. For those who took precautionary measures but got caught out, others should listen to their stories because they're real. It's a bit like knowing you have a food sensitivity, but you keep trying the same food in the hope that something will change. Hearing other people's stories should serve as reminders on Covid.
We need to understand Covid
We need to understand Covid and what it really means. For some it's a damaged nervous system, damaged lungs, damaged kidneys; and an uncertain future, loss of extremities. Is that what you want?
I want a world without Covid. Now we all need to work towards reducing the virus so that we can all live our near to normal lives once more.
At this point, I think the conversation needs to turn towards prevention, with clear and consistent messaging that masks and social distancing actually work to contain the spread of the virus. Vaccines are promising but we must remain vigilant.
That kind of common sense messaging should be repeated over and over again until health authorities and governments finally mandate mask use in public. It is time to move on from this virus as quickly as possible.
I would love to read the experiences and views of your vast readership on this topic and others. We are in this pandemic together, let's share.
Thanks Tim. Yes, you have clarified and said what we all need to hear. Yes, we must all come together.
I am sure, or as sure as I can be that we are all struggling with the enormity of Covid, which makes it even more important we come together.
I would love to hear how more of my readers feel.
The news at the weekend that we have a new variant of Covid here in the UK is devastating. Like millions of others, Christmas is cancelled and like many other families will not have their children at home.
This is a scary development, which reinforces the way the pandemic is being handled is a mess, with ever increasingly fatal consequences.
Thankfully we have this great community you have created to exchange experiences, express our hopes and fears and support one another during these terrible times.
Thanks. Yes, it's a place that allows me to work through my anxieties, including the pandemic and Brexit. They seem to be featuring at the top.
Both continue to be handled badly by the UK government, which is causing me more anxiety. I don't know how politicians sleep at night.
There are days when realities hit and I feel okay and more at ease than I was, then it hits me again and I become anxious.
For me the realities of Covid hit hard and because is no end to it.