Thoughts on COVID

We were in London on Saturday, as you know. And I have some thoughts.

You'll be glad to hear.

We live on the edge of a village, access to the countryside is literally at the end of our street. Even in April last year, we could go out for a walk and in two minutes be among nature.

One of us would go to Tesco once a week for supplies, and generally we kept ourselves to ourselves. We did form a family bubble with Jen, but other than that, met and mixed with few people.

Most people in London can't do that.

Living cheek by jowl with others in the same situation, having to go to work, on public transport, all the while being front line staff with customer interfaces, being the most likely to be infected.

The only place to go would be a local park, where hundreds if not thousands would be wanting to do the same. I know people who didn't leave their flats for a year. They were lucky, in a way, as they had a choice, many didn't.

Where we stopped for brunch, we were discouraged from checking in with the track and trace app. We wore no mask, neither did the waiter. Which was fine as we sat outise, but the track and trace should still be happening as the rules didn't change until today (Monday).

In the park, people were having birthday parties for children, football practice was taking place and other people met and socialised. Many kept their distance, some didn't.

And, once again, this was before laws and guidance were relaxed today.

COVID hasn't changed, 48,161 new infections recorded yesterday, a 43.3% increse week on week.

People are being told that wearing masks is a personal choice. Its not. We were masks to stop us infecting other people, if you choose not to wear a mask, you either don't understand why we had masks in the first place, or don't care about other people.

Oh, I'm sorry, did I offend you?

Well, double vaccinated people can catch COVID, as can sngle vaccinated. Unvaccinated children can catch it, and 1 in 50 of those who catch it will develop long COVID.

Please, continue to wear masks, especially when in shops, bars, restaurants or on public transport, as it is these who will be most prone to being infected by people like you and me.

For the three and a half million who have immune system issues, this will not be freedom day, but when they have to shield and become prisoners in their own home.

Think of them, too.

Remember, this is freedome day, but freedom for COVID, freedom for it to tear through this plague island.