Feest Isolation Days –24 June
“They think it’s all over…well it is now!” For some that famous football sentiment will be ringing loud and clear. But the fact is, it ISN’T all over even though the new rules make it seem like it kind of is.
There was a summer solstice party in Bristol and the Police apologised the next day for not stopping it before it was in full swing. Hundreds of people gathered as loud music blared into the night, revellers peed on peoples lawns and doorsteps. And this was BEFORE the unlocking measures announced yesterday. Kids will be kids I suppose, but doesn’t that mean the adults have to look after them? When the adults act like kids it does make it tricky. The Police have a lot to answer for there, instead of apologising, perhaps it would have been better to uphold the law.
And now the laws have changed. Again. Or they will do from the 4th of July. Or are they rules? Or suggestions? Or measures? Such clarity! Other news from the government yesterday, there will be no more Press Briefings! It must be all over…
The death rate and the infection rate both seem to imply that the worst is indeed over. Why do my fingers hover over the keys that type…for now? This isn’t over. It is a new phase. When does risk outweigh benefits? And when will we be happy to oblige these new measures? Before we make pronouncements on our plans, it’s useful to set the new rules out.
These “measures” will all begin from the 4th of July. Fitting that in one corner of the world (America!) the 4th is called Independence Day! The wittiest thing my first husband ever said to me when I woke one 4th of July and suggested we go for a picnic, was “lie back down woman, you’ve been captured by the enemy!” These days the biggest enemy is a virus called corona and it’s still here.
Okay are you ready for new easing measures? It’s a wild ride!
1) Pubs, restaurants and hairdressers will open again! – if Covid secure (see below).
2) People can visit each other one family at a time in each other’s homes but maintain social distancing but you can stay overnight! (how does that work?)
3) Hotels, holiday apartments, campsites and caravan parks open but shared facilities must be cleaned properly. (they weren’t before?)
4) Theatres and music halls can open but not allowed to hold live performances ( !)
5) Libraries, community centres, bingo halls, cinemas and museums, galleries, theme parks, skating rinks (do they know its June??) may open.
6) Zoos,safari parks wildlife centres, model villages, aquariums will all open
7) Places of worship can open but no singing. Weddings with up to thirty guests are now possible (don’t sing!)
All of the above must have in place Covid Secure measures. If you want to know more…here’s a good place to start!
Swimming pools and Gyms remain in the list of establishments that cannot open along with nightclubs and casinos. But the government is working on it!
Social distancing is still important. This now means stay one meter plus apart. What they mean is two metres is recommended but where that is not possible one metre with mitigation should become the norm. Mitigation includes things like wearing face masks, using Perspex shields, sitting side by side, and not singing!
I sort of had a meltdown after all of these announcements. I was upset because the reality is we aren’t going to manage to do many of these things! Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance both stressed that the plans were not risk free. Could we just have the kids stay over for a normal visit? No. We can’t. Not yet.
The economy needs to keep going, and besides all of the openings announced, people were asked to continue to work from home where they can. This is all tricky business. It will be interesting to see how many people return to the places they can now visit.
The headline news this morning is that ministers were warned by health leaders urgent action is needed to prevent further loss of life. The Presidents of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons, GPs, Nursing, and Physicians all signed a letter published in the BMJ seeking a cross party examination of how to move forward with the preparations for a second wave of virus. They think it’s coming and who knows it might even be at a cinema near you now!
We won’t be going to any restaurants, pubs, hotels or shops just yet. We won’t be taking public transportation. Seeing the animals in the zoo will have to wait.
In short, we will be doing more or less what we have been since the beginning of lockdown. Our toe in the water (that we can’t yet swim in) will be to see friends in the garden for a socially distanced meal together. If the weather holds. Other than that, we don’t have any plans to make use of these many new freedoms. If we were younger and not financially secure, we would probably take a different view. But we are where we are.
We will have an “in house” review in three to four weeks after all these measures are in place and see how the virus is doing. It isn’t all over…no matter how much we wish it was! Good luck!
With love,
Kathy x