The Virus

Everything is ok, keep washing your hands, stay at home, more cases confirmed, only key workers go to work, keep washing your hands, stay 2 metres apart, everywhere closed. There is some helpful stuff and lovely stuff online and on FB, but also some scaremongering and insult throwing. I'm exhausted by the constant talk of corona virus.

Daughter and I went shopping yesterday, I just needed a few provisions, and if possible the ingredients for a family Sunday roast. First stop Morrisons, queue from the door to the car park. Daughter is not the most patient, she wasn't prepared to queue. Next stop Tesco xpress, no queue but no provisions. Onwards to Sainsburys, huge queue , same with Asda. We knew Tesco would be the same so we then went to Aldi, no queue and all the provisions I wanted. They have erected protective screens around their cashiers, and not before time, the lady who served me said she has had people coughing and sneezing at her without using a handkerchief or tissue, how disgusting is that. I don't know whether people haven't been taught to use a tissue, or whether some don't think it's cool to use one.

I bet Theresa May is glad she got out when she did. I like Boris, I voted for him, he gets things done. He has tested positive, I hope he doesn't develop the virus. Anyone who says Jeremy Corbyn would have done a better job, well it's easy to say that as it will never be put to the test. Corbyn can't run his party let alone the country. 

Apart from the trip to the supermarket I have been staying indoors. I like being at home, I can always find something to do, but I do miss the day outings that my friend M and I would have been doing. I don't think the complete lock down is necessary though. All the shops and businesses closing, jobs lost, some small businesses may never recover, the government's salary compensation plans could take a long time to process. I hope crime rates don't increase. I also feel for people living alone, in high rise blocks, people who need to go out for something to do or company. I know we have to protect the elderly (of which I am one) and vulnerable but I think it's a high price to pay. Historically every year thousands of people in the UK have died from seasonal flu and pneumonia. Although flu might not seem like a deadly illness, on average it kills around 17,000 people in England a year. Worldwide the figures reach millions. But we've never reacted like this.

The pharmaceutical companies advertise "Now you don't need to take time off work, just take our cold remedy and keep going" I used to get very cross with people who came to work with a streaming cold, spreading germs everywhere.  I stayed at home whenever I had a cold. I have always been a bit of a germophobic, the only thing I like about winter is wearing gloves, primarily to keep my hands warm but also not touching surfaces with my hands. I can't help thinking common sense has been replaced by panic and hysteria.

~ Be safe and well ~ 

Polly x