I think one of the next challenges might be not to judge people who relax the social distancing advice while the lockdown eases. My guess is that the government will phase us back into normal life over the next few months, and as we slip from season to season, the flow will happen more naturally.
That means some people might accelerate it a lot faster than others think is wise, and that’s where we get a little judgy. I’ll do what I can to protect my parents. But will everybody?
The worst thing imaginable would be a wave of infections returning - the dreaded second spike. And it’s a bit of a worry, once the country opens up again and the thick isolation starts to thaw.
Speaking of ‘opening up the country’ I was speaking to a friend today who had engaged in debate with some US trolls on a social media feed. The trolls had decided to ‘switch off the fake news’, unfollow the science and blindly trust their wotsit-in-chief, whom they consider ‘a great leader’. My friend tried to show the trolls some logic and reasoning but it’s tough to get trolls in trenches to listen to anything. Meanwhile, their all American hero, President Business, is throwing open the country for trade as though he’s never seen the plot of Jaws, or even worked out that he’s the mayor.
Today too, the UK reached the second highest death toll in the world at just over 29,000. It wasn’t that long ago it was 300. And on March 5th it was 1. It’s hard not to believe that something went wrong on this packed-out little island.
So there are challenges ahead, including not judging people for holding dinner parties and small groups when the restrictions are finally lifted. We all need that human connection back; we all need each other. But somehow that’s the point too - we need each other to distance ourselves for now, and until it’s safe again. I can’t see myself going back to hugs any time soon I’m afraid. So in place of that, I guess I’d better remember to think the best of people.
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