It's been a month. March 23rd was the date that Boris Johnson momentously directed that all shops and more shall shut. Lockdown began on March 24th. Naturally, pundits are now considering what life might be like should lockdown be lifted, even a little bit. This includes potentially opening up small businesses.
But, before we get to that point, in Wales, lockdown is locked down a little further from tomorrow. Travel for exercise is barred and cycling other than what might be considered as walking distance is also prohibited. The Welsh government is changing the core requirement for people not to leave the place where they live—to a requirement not to leave or remain away from that place. This will help clarify that people who leave their home with a reasonable excuse (e.g. shop for food, for healthcare or for work) cannot remain outside to do other things.
And, on April 22nd, we also learnt that physical distancing seems likely to be with us in some form for a year.
Let's be honest, lockdown has its advantages. A 20 second commute is fine by me. Life in the sunny rear grounds at home isn't all bad. In fact, I'm enjoying the quietude and the fact life has slowed right down. We don't need to travel. We don't need that much, actually. Perhaps we should savour lockdown while it lasts. The only things I really miss are friends and family. Nothing else is important.
And there's the pure altruism, the kindness we are now showing each other. Such a pity that this newly found humanity will evaporate when lockdown ends faster than a disinfectant cleaning spray in the bathroom. "What's so Funny 'bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding"?
There is certainly a groundswell for a move out of lockdown in support of our economy. For me, even were lockdown to be called off tomorrow, I would't risk going to town to shop. Not a chance. It will take some considerable time for me to feel confident in doing so. The thought of rubbing shoulders with customers and shop workers would be too much for me. If I were to make a choice, I would prolong lockdown in my own household to become effectively self-imposed house arrest. So, no visits to town for shopping other than essential groceries, as now; no trips to the restaurant or the pub; no home improvements; no click-and-collect; to hair treatments. In fact, as little interaction as possible. Not good for the economy, of course it isn't, but the economy is here to serve us not us it.
This may contradict calls to consider the local economy but I feel people should come first. So do 15 top NHS clinicians. Again on April 22nd, the 15 have requested the Welsh government to prolong lockdown measures in rural tourist hotspots, specifically targeting non-essential travel to these areas. We would assume this would include much of Denbighshire and Rhuthun/Ruthin. Not only would tourists bring with them a possibility of higher risks; not only would they place a strain on local health services; they would make physical distancing more difficult in town. It's true, though, that their absence would add to the economic burden we are going to face.
I shuddered on April 17th—and not because of the weather at that time—when I heard someone on the radio saying that we should sacrifice lives, the sanity & the quality of lives of older people to protect the economy. Few young people under 45 die of covid-19 so lock away the old while the rest of the country gets back to normal. Far from protecting us all, it will simply result in a second wave, while destroying older people's mental health. Whatever happened to the notion of a society being defined by how it treats its vulnerable?
So far at any rate, few in Rhuthun have been affected by coronavirus, so it's possible many will side with those who want to open up the economy. We also know that two temporary hospitals one at Venue Cymru and the other at Deeside ice rink are both being prepared for the worse of it. And we know that those responsible for deaths and cemeteries are on alert and that they have plans for mass graves.
Moving out of lockdown sacrifices everything and is like negotiating with terrorists. I just wonder: isn't the economy here to serve us rather than we it?
Deaths are some 19,000 in hospitals. That's significantly more than the population of Rhuthun and Dinbych combined. We already have a warning of 40,000 deaths without any new foolhardiness. That's the population of Rhuthun, Dinbych a'r Rhyl. Now is not the time to open up to the possibility of further spread. Otherwise, the pain simply hasn't been worth it.
Sign in Rhos Street
But, before we get to that point, in Wales, lockdown is locked down a little further from tomorrow. Travel for exercise is barred and cycling other than what might be considered as walking distance is also prohibited. The Welsh government is changing the core requirement for people not to leave the place where they live—to a requirement not to leave or remain away from that place. This will help clarify that people who leave their home with a reasonable excuse (e.g. shop for food, for healthcare or for work) cannot remain outside to do other things.
Let's be honest, lockdown has its advantages. A 20 second commute is fine by me. Life in the sunny rear grounds at home isn't all bad. In fact, I'm enjoying the quietude and the fact life has slowed right down. We don't need to travel. We don't need that much, actually. Perhaps we should savour lockdown while it lasts. The only things I really miss are friends and family. Nothing else is important.
And there's the pure altruism, the kindness we are now showing each other. Such a pity that this newly found humanity will evaporate when lockdown ends faster than a disinfectant cleaning spray in the bathroom. "What's so Funny 'bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding"?
There is certainly a groundswell for a move out of lockdown in support of our economy. For me, even were lockdown to be called off tomorrow, I would't risk going to town to shop. Not a chance. It will take some considerable time for me to feel confident in doing so. The thought of rubbing shoulders with customers and shop workers would be too much for me. If I were to make a choice, I would prolong lockdown in my own household to become effectively self-imposed house arrest. So, no visits to town for shopping other than essential groceries, as now; no trips to the restaurant or the pub; no home improvements; no click-and-collect; to hair treatments. In fact, as little interaction as possible. Not good for the economy, of course it isn't, but the economy is here to serve us not us it.
This may contradict calls to consider the local economy but I feel people should come first. So do 15 top NHS clinicians. Again on April 22nd, the 15 have requested the Welsh government to prolong lockdown measures in rural tourist hotspots, specifically targeting non-essential travel to these areas. We would assume this would include much of Denbighshire and Rhuthun/Ruthin. Not only would tourists bring with them a possibility of higher risks; not only would they place a strain on local health services; they would make physical distancing more difficult in town. It's true, though, that their absence would add to the economic burden we are going to face.
I shuddered on April 17th—and not because of the weather at that time—when I heard someone on the radio saying that we should sacrifice lives, the sanity & the quality of lives of older people to protect the economy. Few young people under 45 die of covid-19 so lock away the old while the rest of the country gets back to normal. Far from protecting us all, it will simply result in a second wave, while destroying older people's mental health. Whatever happened to the notion of a society being defined by how it treats its vulnerable?
So far at any rate, few in Rhuthun have been affected by coronavirus, so it's possible many will side with those who want to open up the economy. We also know that two temporary hospitals one at Venue Cymru and the other at Deeside ice rink are both being prepared for the worse of it. And we know that those responsible for deaths and cemeteries are on alert and that they have plans for mass graves.
Moving out of lockdown sacrifices everything and is like negotiating with terrorists. I just wonder: isn't the economy here to serve us rather than we it?
Deaths are some 19,000 in hospitals. That's significantly more than the population of Rhuthun and Dinbych combined. We already have a warning of 40,000 deaths without any new foolhardiness. That's the population of Rhuthun, Dinbych a'r Rhyl. Now is not the time to open up to the possibility of further spread. Otherwise, the pain simply hasn't been worth it.
Tags:
Coronavirus