How Covid-19 Shrank MyWorld
And made it larger
Back in March this year the UK went into lockdown. Children couldn’t attend schools. Only essential outings were allowed, with only one hour of exercise a day. People were mainly confined to their homes and if they were really unlucky their apartments with no outside space available to use. Lucky were the people who had use of a garden.
But grin and bear it we did as a virus raged around us. Daily death rates climbing and the news was grim and getting grimmer by the day. Friends who you would see often now had to be treated as potential disease carriers and disappeared physically from your life. You were only together by connecting through the net in the form of Zoom meetings, WhatsApp, Facebook, and many other platforms. It’s somewhat impossible to hug your nearest and dearest through a laptop or phone screen but onwards we went with no physical touch, just images on a screen.
For many of us, the world got a lot smaller. People that we would pass the day with were suddenly “not allowed” if they were from different households. The neighbour who would pop in as they passed your house suddenly had all the appeal of a rabid dog. Of course, you never know, they might HAVE IT.
An innocent cough on the essential food shopping trip would bring anxious stares from people two meters around you. Many a time people would try to hold that cough until they had left the shop and had either fled up the street or to the safety of their car.
People read that losing your sense of taste or smell could be an early sign, the question “have you lost your sense of smell?” was frequently asked. As someone who looks after a flock of sheep, I formulated my own test for this which consisted of smelling the Ram’s immense snout. If I was totally overcome by the reek of testosterone and “Eau de Ram” I concluded that things were at the very least somewhat hopeful. I would obviously not expect any medical professional to recommend my somewhat unorthodox “smell test” to the ordinary man in the street. Particularly when what you are smelling has about 107 kilograms of power behind it.
Another question. “Do you have a temperature?”. Thermometers were sold out everywhere. It was easier to find a hen with a full set of teeth. Utterly impossible unless you were prepared to pay stupid money for something that would normally cost very little. Somewhat luckily I remembered the sheep medicine box in the car. Problem solved, there lurked the Rams thermometer. My statement of “if it's good enough for Ron and Nigel then it’s good enough for me” went down a storm. On telling my Doctor this he went a deathly white and had to sit down.
But in all of this, the world got larger. Various online community forums sprang up. Ran by volunteers they offered to assist the vulnerable with the collection of medicines, food, and other essential jobs. These groups helped to identify the needy and could provide assistance. The elderly and shielded were helped with some of the tasks of day to day living which made them feel less isolated from the world and part of a larger community. Many people learned to never underestimate the kindness of strangers because these strangers were turning into friends you hadn’t yet met.
The mental health effects of Covid-19 have been enormous. People have suffered grief, fear, and loneliness. Couples who have at least had some of the days apart at their jobs have been thrown together all day, every day due to lockdown. Parents with very demanding children at the end of their rope. Yet again the web provided forums for people to let all their worries out. In a place where the unsaid could be said anonymously and safely without fear of upsetting those who you were trapped inside with.
The Gym wasn’t open for obvious reasons. YouTube came into its own with zillions of fitness videos so people could keep exercising in their front room and all the while being part of something that was bigger than them, an exercise program turned into a village and a large one at that. People worldwide were connecting. The global community was coming into its own.
As I write this, lockdown in the UK has eased greatly. Eateries are now open but with social distancing. People are easing back into the office and children have returned to school. Within certain limits, people from different households are allowed to meet once again.
Will it last? That I do not know. Like America, the UK has its problems and big ones at that. Over here according to the Worldometer site cases are slowly rising which doesn’t bode well if it coincides with the flu season. I have no doubt that the NHS is looking towards the coming months with much trepidation. Add into that Brexit which may end up in a no-deal and with a Prime Minister that has no compunction in fleeing towards a fridge if need be, the bystander can easily see that we are in trouble.
But what can I take from this? Yes, my world has physically got smaller, not so many visitors. The nosey neighbour has gone from my door. The days of “just dropping in” are over. But, through the power of the Net, my world has enlarged greatly with new voices, viewpoints, and learning experiences. I have been extremely lucky in that COVID has not come to visit and I pray that it stays away.
Whatever may come the human spirit is strong and may we all stay connected as friends. Good ones at that.
This piece is written with only my thoughts on the current situation. I know that families have been ripped apart by this dreadful virus and death aside many have been left with ongoing health problems. These poor souls have my kind thoughts and remembrance. For the families left behind and those still suffering I hope that things improve in time yet to pass.