I managed to go on four short walks near my home today lasting for all of 15 minutes each. Well, one was a little longer as I stopped and chatted to a neighbour. A friend was visiting at an appropriate social distance. And I learned a new word that I’ve not heard before, ‘jellyfishing’. It’s when someone gives a compliment with a sting, something along the lines of ‘I love your dress. I have the same one, only in Size 6.’ And then they swim away. You get the idea.
With the new lockdown rule that we can go out more than once a day for exercise, I’ve noticed a significant improvement in my mood. It’s a small freedom in the midst of a global pandemic, and one that is helping keep me sane in these strange times. On this front, I’m fortunate, not only because I’m not shielding, but I’m becoming increasingly aware of people I know who are really suffering in terms of mental health.
But this stuff still manages to catch me out. I was scrolling through Twitter and saw the news of the death of Safaa Alam, a 30 year old midwife in Birmingham, from coronavirus. Maybe it was the photo of her smiling. This is not someone I know. I had a good cry. I don’t know why the news got to me. It’s not her age. Every death from this bloody virus is sad. I’ve chosen not to try and work it out. It would worry me if I didn’t have these moments.
Numbers are starting to head in the right direction (for now). A further 384 deaths bringing the total to 33,998. 236,711 people have tested positive in total. 10,024 people are currently in hospital which is a 13% fall on last week. Also, care homes finally seem to be getting some of the degree of attention they should have had from the outset, though for many, it’s too late. There’s still a lot to be done to prevent another spike in infection rates and deaths.
Thinking of the numbers that came from ONS yesterday suggesting that 1 in about 400 means that it’s more than likely I’ve come across at least a few people with it. Yes, I’ve been maintaining social distancing as though everyone around me is infected, or thinking about how I’d feel if I had it, didn’t know, and made others ill. It’s an odd way to think about things.
I am concerned about the weekend – it’s due to be lovely weather. Yes, I am meeting up with a friend which I’m so frigging excited about. I’ve not seen any close friends since a few weeks before lockdown began. And while it will be at a distance, I can’t wait. But more widely, I am concerned about folks meeting up where appropriate distancing isn’t maintained, where kids from different households play together, kids from different households skateboarding and so on. And while kids aren’t so badly affected on the whole, the ONS data suggests that infection rates are pretty even across age groups.
Here’s to a socially (or at least physically) distanced weekend.
So that’s it for Day 53. Stay safe, stay well, and stay home!
Here the weather isn’t so good which is a blessing. I’m about to go on my first run with another person – we’re both v careful, neither has even been near someone who we know has the virus, and we’ll keep our distance. I’m excited but nervous.
Lillian Mudzivare, the other healthcare worker who died in Birmingham recently, was on my friend Jo’s new team, although she never got to meet her as she was already ill when she took over. Too close to home again. Thank you for honouring our victims.
And I’m glad going out little and often is helping. I’ve not actually done that bit yet; it seems enough to know I can, if that makes sense?
I hope you had a great run and a catch up. And yes, I get entirely that the idea of being able to go out more than once a day is important. Thankfully lots of quiet streets around me so it’s comfortable to do.
And yes, it is too close to home. And it’s sad and infuriating, and a reminder of why we need to continue with lockdown.
It was lovely, thank you: we stayed safe and we got to run on some secluded traily bits we both won’t go down on our own. When we had encounters with people and had to step aside or wait, it was FAR better with two of us there somehow, more something to go grrrr about than something to be upset by.
Brilliant!!! And yep, there are some woods near me that in normal times I wouldn’t run there alone during the week, weekends were fine. Yep, and I think we’re all learning the art of patience as there’s no point stressing about it all! Happy days 🙂