It’s two years today since the PM announced the UK’s first lockdown and issued a stay-at-home order.
Two years.
Covid-19 is still here.
Covid cases are rising again, as are the number of Covid-related deaths.
The UK has lifted all restrictions.
The four Home nations are not united in their approach.
Free lateral flow tests are difficult to obtain; from 1st April, lateral flow tests will no longer be free. Boris Johnson said, “As the number of cases diminishes, and certainly the number of patients in hospital is thankfully coming down now, the number of cases in ICU is certainly way, way down, we’re in a different world.”
Our world still feels fairly small.
I feel anxious when near people I don’t know.
We are still testing The Boy twice a week in order for him to go to school, but we are confused about whether this is still a requirement.
I wear a mask when I go inside a shop, but most people around me don’t.
We haven’t been inside a pub for months.
We limit our use of public transport.
It’s hard to imagine a time where we live our lives will look like they did before.
How are you feeling about the pandemic now?
This West London Life 
Hello ☺️ An interesting post. I, too, live in the UK and feel that what the politicians put forth is out of step with what is happening.
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Hi, thanks for stopping by … you are not alone in how you are feeling!
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Such a good question Ruth. I sometimes feel like I am still taking things more seriously than others. I will test myself if I am going to be socialising in a group of people and also if I hear that someone I have seen has since tested positive. I think I will continue to do that even when we have to pay for tests. I still wear a mask in shops, but not while walking in the street. I will always wash my hands as soon as I come home from anywhere – but that’s probably something I should have been doing anyway! I have been out for a few meals now, but have been selective in where we have gone and chosen places where I know the tables are well spaced. I feel like I am just dipping my toe into going out and about again. We still haven’t booked a holiday, it’s hard to know how things stand in other countries. It worries me that people will become complacent and we will end up back in restrictions again.
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You are definitely not alone in your thinking!
May I suggest the Channel Islands as a holiday destination … a very short flight or the option to take a car ferry.
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Your post is wonderfully factual, Ruth. I find myself responding with: Well, sorry, Mr. Johnson, but it doesn’t feel much like a different world. Covid rates in our rural area have tripled in the last two weeks. I am still wearing a mask in shops, I haven’t been on public transport, and I don’t go to the cinema or the theatre; cafés and the very occasional eating out only if it’s in the open air. We have met up with a large group of friends once but only after we all had negative Covid tests. Nothing feels ‘over’ … I’m sure the government would like it to be, but we have waning immunity, lots of social mixing and the real possibility of variants. Let’s hope someone is keeping an eye out for them.
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I like to think that Sir Chris Whitty is on top of things … she says, with fingers crossed!
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I don’t feel comfortable yet in returning to a normal life. Covid seems to be everywhere again. Everyday I hear of someone getting Covid. I do feel the government have been rather hasty and reckless.
I still wear a mask if I go into a shop or public place. Unfortunately, very few people seem to be wearing masks now.
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We seem to be thinking the same things.
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HOT Button for me. In Ontario, as of March 21st, we just lifted the mandated mask wearing, except on public transit & health care settings. I will continue to wear my mask indoors. Mr Man & I continue to live in a COVID cocoon; IMO, this pandemic is far from being over, nor it is it time to “learn to live with it”. IMO, it’s all political moves, there doesn’t seem to be any medical or scientific reasoning in any of the latest decisions. Omicron B1 has been our dominant virus version since last November, now as we see rising cases (&deaths) of Omicron B2 in Britain & Europe, you know, I know, the doctors know, that it is just a few short weeks away from being a new wave here. Our reported numbers are culled of facts; with testing limited the experts tell us the new cases numbers are probably at only 10-15% of actual new cases. I could rant on … grrr
Good news for Oxford University (England), you are getting one of our lead virologists & infectious disease experts, Dr Peter Juni. He’s an amazing voice of knowledge & reason. His parting comments to Ontario’s leaders – too soon, you’ll regret this lifting of the masks. I agree Dr Juni, I agree …
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It does seem that governments are now ignoring the scientists and the science …
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I know loads of people who have, or have had, the virus, and I am the only one among my circle – including my own family – still being cautious! I don’t socialise indoors (except for one funeral. I tested myself beforehand but wonder how many did. Nobody was masked and there was a lot of kissing and hugging, even among strangers!) and I test myself if I need to drive my parents anywhere. I still wear a mask to shop and carry sanitiser. Haven’t been on public transport or to the cinema for over two years. I don’t feel hard done by (though there are things I miss) as I can still do nice things with others in a way that feels comfortable. I realise that people in different circumstances are exposed to different levels of risk, and I am fortunate that I can have quite a large degree of control over what I do and how, but I don’t see why it has to be all or nothing, and why a few basic precautions can not be kept, as well as free testing. It seems to me that “learning to live with the virus” really means shrugging off the fact that some people will certainly die thruogh no fault of their own, and valuing their lives less. It’s reckless and unnecessary. Like Alexa I am mindful of new variants (not to mention a possible neurological impact further down the line, as people age and other ramifications are possibly thrown up). If I get it despite being careful, I will accept it as probably inevitable … but it bothers me that as a society we are encouraged to be blase.
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I had thought I was alone in my thinking, but it is good to know I am not. I think we should all do what we are comfortable with and not the herd does or the government suggests.
I have tickets for the theatre coming up soon and I am unsure how I feel about it …
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I find it staggering that the majority of people are behaving as if Covid has gone away, no wonder cases are rising rapidly. I am feeling more anxious now than I did at the height of the pandemic. We are continuing to carry sanitiser and to wear a mask in shops – getting funny looks sometimes – and limiting our mixing with other people. There are certainly no trips to London, cinema or theatre visits or travel on public transport on the horizon. My husband and son are clinically vulnerable so, as a family, we are not taking any chances, yet again we will not be getting together for Easter as I don’t want to risk our son travelling long distance on a train. Our daughter’s wedding did go ahead at the New Year, but with a smaller guest list than she had originally planned, and everybody took a lateral flow test before travelling – sadly, three much loved relatives tested positive and couldn’t attend and had to watch over zoom instead. We did manage to have a lovely day but, due to restrictions, do not have a large group photo to remember it by, just photos table by table. I am concerned about new variants appearing and feel the government lifted all restrictions too quickly in an attempt to improve their popularity at the expense of people’s lives.
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I hear you, life has not gone back to normal. especially for those with health concerns.
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