Covid 19- epidemic 2019/2020

 

The world fighting a virus.

So COVID 19 or cornovirus as most people will know is this new type of flu virus that has spread around the nation. It is a national emergency and has infected trillions of people around the world and has large fatalities.

Sadly millions of people have lost there lives to this virus already, with the number increasing hitting over 15,000 in the UK so far. We not even over the worst yet.

So life as we knew it has changed drastically. It is a scary and worrying time but also I feel it is teaching humanity many valuable lessons. I will talk though what has been going on, what has changed, how people have reacted or followed government / medical advice. How we coped as a family and my hope for the future getting out of this at the other end. Beating this virus!

So firstly some facts. It is believed to have started in a city in China called Wuhan, at a fresh food market. These market sell and cook live exotic animals like bat's, snakes, ect... Scientists suggest it came from a bat species however past onto humans via another animal like a snake. There is not much known or any real evidence to know exactly how, where or when this all started.

It started a global panic in early January but believed it was actually around since December even November. Again they do not know or have any evidence to know exactly when it begin. There are rumers that doctors in China were warning people about this deadly virus in December however were told they were spreading rumers and threatend with imprisonment by the Chinese government. There are many suggestions and rumers this virus is man made, that got way out of control. I am not suggesting anything just giving knowledge that I know about what been going on.

It hit Britain in February /early March and spread in many other countries. The government here in the UK were in my opinion not quick enough to react. They wanted to try slow the spread and just wait and see. However as more people got infected, those of whom started to get really ill needing critical care in intensive care unit at hospital. Then when large amounts of people sadly were losing their lives to this virus,i when the government stepped in. However people had already started to panic, while others still do not believe how serious this was.

At first not many people really took it seriously. In the early days of feburay march we didn't really, it made no change to our day to day routine. We where being more careful when travelling on public transform, by walking more. Avoiding tubes or trains with ariyah. But we had to travel to view houses, I had job interview and we were moving.

The government just said people had to social distance meaning to stay 2 metres apart, wash your hands and be careful. They stated if you had symptoms then you must self isolate.

Symptoms

What we know so far is that many people get really sick while many other may get mild or moderate flu like symptoms which is why it's hard to completely tell who has it or not. In addition people can be carriers where by they get the virus but do not get symptoms therefore go on to spread the virus to many others without knowing.

Main symptoms are:

• Persistent and dry cough
• Fever over 39
• Aches and chills
• Chest pains, difficultly breathing 

 Other more mild symptoms:

• headach
• Sore throat
• Vomiting
• Snessing
• Dirreah
• Loss of taste or smell.

Social distancing and self isolation.

This means to stay at home, away from other people and the public. To not gather or have large events. They started cancelling sports events, weddings, concerts, any big event with large amounts of people in early march.

Everyone who was vulnerable or had any symptoms had to self isolate for 7 days or 14 if living in a household. They started ordering anyone who had any symptoms to stay home not to go to their gp or a&e but to call 111. They tracked and test who had it and who they may have been in contact with to prevent and minimise infection rates, thus stop the spread of the virus.

However as more people became ill and the UK saw larger rates of infections, also sadly having fatalities, the government started to loss track of those who were infected. Testing was stop, unless you were hospitalised, due to the lack of test/equipment. More warnings and restrictions happened, for example reduced trains, tubes and buses. Then slowly more things closed like cinema, swimming pools, restaurants and pubs. Until all non essentials shops or business we're forced to closed. School were shut.

Fast forward to today. We are thankful we did move as the UK like many other countries is on lockdown. School were closed for most children other then very few who parents were key workers or who had sen needs or who had social care involvement. Now all schools are not due to open after Easter hoildays for the forthcoming months. Everything is closed. The government have put restrictions in place however not everyone is listening meaning there is still risks this all will therefore take longer to stop the spread and defect this virus.

The death total is now 15,464 (18/4/20) with over 100,000 testing positive but they suspect even more as those being test are only people in hospital. Or being admitted with symptoms. Mass public testing is still yet to happen. Therefore could be much higher rates.

So yes we are lucky to have moved to a house, with a lot more space. We got settled and got stuff we needed before this got worse. We also now have our garden which has been amazing considering it been such nice weather and we can not go out. If we were stuck in the damp flat, no garden, living in our front room I don't think we would have coped. It's difficult being coped up in door now let alone if we didn't have a garden and all this space. I feel bad for all those and their kids stuck in flats.

What does lockdown mean:

Lockdown is different in many countries around the world. Some countries like Italy, France and China it is enforced by law. You need a piece of paper signed and dated to allow valid reasons to leave. Only for essential like getting food or medicine. Police are on patrol and can fine or assest people for breaking these restrictions.

However in the UK, we are on lockdown, it not as strict- school are closed, non essential shops closed, business closed, people working from home instead. Only key workers sholud travel and go to work. Gp are mostly only phone appointments unless necessary like me and Ben having hormone injects. But we would get screened before entering. However compared to other countries it is just less controlled here. As it is not full enforced by law. This is mostly because of how our government works as well as just not enough police to truly enforce as of yet. This could change.

So since the 23rd of March we were all order to stay home only leaving for these reasons:

1. Essential food shopping
2. Collecting medicines 
3. Exercising once a day (walking the dog)
4. Traverling to work if necessary and are a key worker. 

Who are Key workers? 

The government states anyone who is on the front line fighting this virus who are essential to fight this desease can still go to work if well. So nurses, doctors, NHS staff, careers, delievery drivers, shop and supermarket workers, food distributors, bin men, postal services, teachers and school staff, those contractors doing emergency works like plumbing, gas and water maintenance. Ect... 

Vulnerable people are being identified and shielded from this virus, this means they have been ordered to stay in doors for up to 12 weeks, not going out less really need to. Others in the community are then coming together to help those vunerable, by collecting medicine or food for them. Those   who are over a certain age, (60) who have pre existing health contiditions such as diabetes, lung conditions, asthma, any thing that means your immune system weak eg.. Cancer, pregnancy, illness. Has be ordered to stay home and self isolate for 12 weaks.

I fall into this category as I have asthma, yes it is not serve but I have been in hospital less then 2 years ago on drip and steroids due to my chest. I get bad chest infections because of my asthma and have to go on steroids. Plus with Ariyah-mai being so young, the fact she was premiture and already suffered a lot with colds. We are not risking anything.

I am a key worker but lucky my new work place are so understanding and have advice I stay home too. Which is amazing that they understand. I am also lucky I get full sick pay to be off. Again luckly we moved and I got a job just before all this happened. I was due to start on Monday 23 March which happened to be the first day of lockdown. So I did not start but am employed which meant I get paid thoughout this pemedemic.

This is not the case for many others and a reason lots of people are really struggling, then not listening and still going to work. Especially in the early days of the out break because the government had not put things in place financially to protect everyone. Those self employed or on zero hour contracts where not getting paid. Along with lots of people lossing their jobs due to business having to close. There has been a few thing put in place now however not fully. People can apply for benfits but this is over loading the service, taking staff weeks to sort through thousands of new claims, while working from home themselves or with limited staff in job centres. 

This is a hard and horrible time for most of us, however we will all get through it. Although many people are still not listening, people are still going out, meeting friends, gathering, sunbath and well just breaking the restrictions put in place to protect us. Many people have stock piled, brought items to then sell for ridiculous amounts to profit from this national crisis. It is impossible to get supermarket home delivery. Store are restricting items as well as how many people enter the stores at once. Leading to ques outside, people having to stand two metres apart. In some case has caused fights. 

Stock piling why? 

Many people panicked at the beginning, hearing that vulnerable people or those with symptoms had to self isolate and stay in doors. People thought that they could be ordered to do the same therefore started buying food and cleaning products in bulk. Everyone went a little over the top, buy up all the toilet roll, pasta, hand sanitiser. Cleaning products. 

You could not buy cleaning stuff, pasta, beans, nappies, wipes, baby formula anywhere. The more stricter shops became the more people panic brought. Even going to the hassle of buy a second fridge or freezer. People were buying essential items then selling them on ebay for extortionate amount, just to make money off people in need. One of the main things was baby formula. This is normally around £10 for standard tin. However because it was hard to get hold of due to people stockpiling it, other took advantage. Buying it to sell for hundreds of pounds online. Some as much as £300-£400. As people were desperate, thus paying that amount just to ensure there baby had milk. This is disgusting there one thing selling toilet roll for more but baby milk when it's a baby life source is beyond inhuman.

Thankfully we have precription milk from gp which is lacose free. We had enough tin's as well as being able to get more once we moved and registered at the new gp. We managed to get other bits we needed with the help of my mum. Admittingly we did struggle a little, as we could not risk going out, the stores had no deliveries, there was online ques for hours. Then if we went out, the worry was other people not keeping to the restrictions of 2 metres apart. We did manage to get a kind neighbour to do some shopping for us, then managed to get help from a local charity group to pick up our asda shop. 

If one thing positive come from this virus, is it has also brought people together. 

People are showing respect to keep a good distance apart if they do need to leave the house. People are helping each other like collecting medicines and food for the elderly and vulnerable. Personally we had a nice lady down the road help us get food. One negative of moving is that we do not have people round the corner we know to help. Nevertheless our community has been great here. 

Communities are coming together to support each other, calling and check up on everyone. Lucky in this generations we have technology and facetime to keep us in contact with our loved ones. Children are painting rainbow and pictures in their windows to show appreciation for those NHS and key workers. There is door step claps every weeks for those putting their lives at risk working and fighting for us all. 

Family and parents are sharing idea on social media to help each other with educational or fun ideas to keep the children busy during this confusing and frustrating time. Where they now have no school, no routine, having to be home taught. On top of this they could not see their friend or family. It a very confusing and difficult time for us all, especially those children who whole lives have been turnt upside down. They are scared and worried about things us adults struggle to manage.

I want everyone to know we are all here for each other, stay safe, stay home and look after each other. Here to talk if anyone needs feel free to message, comment find us on Instagram. 

Let's use this time wisly to reflect on our lives, the greed and selfishness of this world, then the beauty it holds and everything wee should appreciate. To cherish the time we get to spend as a family. Make our kids proud, let fight this and make the future a better place for the next generation. 

(Written in April 2020)