Maybe it is the pessimist in me that makes me worry about the new attitude people are having towards the Covid pandemic. Many people say that I am a happy and positive person but, regarding this situation, I like to think of myself as more of a realist.
When I am confused about something or want to make a decision, I usually weigh things up using lists. Here is my pros and cons list about the current situation:
Pros
1) The vaccine is mostly rolling out well (although we still have many who refuse to take it and teenagers who have not been given the chance).
2) Businesses have been able to reopen fully, which means job security and the end of government loans and furlough.
3) That’s where I start to run out of positives but I can see people enjoying themselves, partying and generally having fun.
Cons
1) The UK infection rate is rising rapidly. Roughly 50 thousand people are testing positive daily.
2) Hospitalisations have increased markedly in the past few weeks. Currently 4.5 thousand people are staying in hospital each week.
3) The death rate has reached 96 in a day, heading towards a few hundred a day in the near future.
4) Freedom Day meant an end to social distancing and mask wearing in public spaces.
5) Large crowds of football fans and lots of close gatherings, including nightclub events and celebrations have meant a very quick relaxing of attitudes towards Covid. Such sudden relaxing could easily fuel a steeper rise and the introduction of more variants.
So yes… At this time I do feel like the negative points outweigh the positives. It is unlike me to concentrate on the negatives but I feel there is no choice right now. Pragmatic people can see that the reality is that we have a problem and just turning a blind eye to it will not make it go away.
This was one of my most serious posts yet. I do want everyone to have a lovely summer but fear that if we all go crazy it may be a very bleak Autumn indeed.
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Here is a link to my recent poem about Freedom Day: https://jamieadstories.blog/2021/07/19/freedom-day-really-uk/
