Thursday, May 28, 2020

Worst Apocalypse Ever

So besides the fact that there's a raging disease circling the earth and there are no zombies, no dystopian futuristic happenings, things still aren't looking good... 

All of the preparing mega nerds did, having thoughts of 'What would I do in this situation?' when watching World War Z, Contagion, The Purge, etc has simply gone to waste thus far during this global pandemic. BUT WAIT! There's still time!


According to the recent announcement in the UK, from Monday people may now gather in groups of up to 6 people in gardens or other privately owned outdoor spaces, provided they keep 2 metres apart. There is more guidance on this than from any other press junket, but it still seems like bloody common sense to me: 
  • "Try to avoid seeing people from too many households in quick secession" to help "avoid the risk of transmission from lots of different families"
  • Those deemed most vulnerable should still isolate themselves
  • People still need to be vigilant in maintaining good hygiene and social distancing 
Duh.

It's safe to say from my previous posts that I will not be going out and enjoying any backyard BBQs anytime soon. 

I think it's nice that people are able to see their friends and family again--to boost moral, manage signs of depression, spend time with loved ones whom are having a hard time, etc. But I also think that this change to regulations is coming too soon, especially with previous lock down adjustments (surely people should have been able to see their families first in private gardens before being allowed to exercise with members of another household in public outdoor spaces where let's face it, after the restriction changed was a bit more packed than usual). 

Until there is significant change in the rate of infection and it looks like this thing can finally be beat, I will be earring on the side of caution. As much as I want to see my loved ones and be social again, I think the risk outweighs that desire. 

My anxiety has been through the roof anyway and I think that being near other people (even distancing) in a private social gathering would set me off more than just simply staying home and using skype/zoom/video messenger to see people. All it would take is for a friend to invite me to a BBQ, where one of the 6 people have not been social distancing properly, or picked up COVID during a supermarket shop and from plating up food, to eating someone hasn't washed their hands and I've contracted it unknowingly. 

In my opinion, part of the reason this adjustment is happening now is because there's been quite the scandal going on with one of the Prime Minister's chief advisors, Dominic Cummings.

The above Facebook 'Event' has been created to make light of the current headlines.


Long story short, a civil servant broke the law. On March 27th, Dominic Cummings drove roughly 260 miles with his family to be with relatives when his wife developed COVID-19 symptoms

There's a lot of other BS involved in it and it looks so much like a political cover up, but the main point is that prime minister Boris Johnson went on record in a press conference right after the press had a conniption fit about this scandal, and he defended Cummings actions saying, "I do not mark him down for that"... "He has acted, responsibly, and legally, and with integrity."

Well that's a bunch of bull because the prime minister himself has told the British population on live television the contrary multiple times: 
  • March 16th: "If you or anyone in your household has one of those two symptoms [high temperature or new and continuous cough] then you should stay at home for fourteen days." 

  • March 18th: "Everyone. EVERYONE must follow the advice to protect themselves and their families, but also more importantly to protect the wider public. So STAY AT HOME for 7 days if you think you have symptoms...whole household to stay at home for 14 days if one member of that household thinks that he/she has the symptoms... "

  • March 23rd: " You must stay at home, because the critical thing we must do to stop the disease spreading between households. That is why people will only be allowed to leave their home for the following very limited purposes: ...[shopping for essentials, exercise, to help vulnerable people, to travel to work]... That's all..... You should not be meeting family members who do not live in your home."

Ergo, the British people are maaaaaaad and for good reason. The commoners are told to do one thing while the elite are allowed to do another? Smells like Favoritism to me. 


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