It is now over a week since the Prime Minister instructed
the country into lockdown in our fight against Coronavirus.
For every single one of us this is a new experience – none
of us have been through this situation before. It is affecting every single
person in our country – every individual, household, community, business and public
service. Life is very different from the open and free lifestyle we have all
grown up with and have probably taken for granted.
It has been good to see the vast majority of people across
mid-Cornwall following the instructions of the government and staying at home,
apart from the exceptions allowed. As I have been out for my daily exercise
walk it has been a slightly eerie experience to see the roads almost empty of traffic,
shops, pubs and offices closed and only a few people out walking.
The fact that we have had to take such drastic measures in
order to save lives - and ensure our NHS does not become overwhelmed by those
falling seriously ill from this virus - should put into sharp focus for us all
just how serious this is. I know there a few cynics around who still seem to
think this is an over-reaction to something that most of us will only
experience mild symptoms from. But we only have to look at the scenes from Italy
to understand this is a fight for the lives of the elderly and vulnerable – our
own parents and grandparents, and those who we know and love with underlying
conditions, are the ones we are primarily doing this for.
How long we have to endure this phase is very much dependent
one each one of us. If we all keep to the restrictions and play our part by
minimising our trips from home and avoid all contact with those outside our
household, then we stand a good chance of getting through this fairly quickly and
seeing life begin to return to normal. But if too many people flout the rules, it
will simply mean we all have to endure this for longer and quite likely see
greater restrictions placed on us in the coming weeks.
So, I simply want to appeal to anyone who for some reason
thinks these restrictions do not apply to them – stop being selfish! You are
not only risking the lives of the people in your community; you are risking
every one of us having to live under these conditions for longer than we need
to.
A great example of
the spirit we all need was experienced last Thursday when at 8pm millions of
people across the country went to their windows, doorways or gardens to clap
for our carers. This was a simple act to show respect and appreciation to all
those working on the frontline in the battle against Coronavirus – the doctors,
nurses, ambulance crews and support staff in the NHS; those who care of the
elderly and most vulnerable, the local pharmacists providing essential advice
and medicines and all those going to work under vastly increased pressure and
putting the wellbeing and safety of others above their own.
I will admit I found it all quite emotional. Not only as I
thought about all those people I know who are serving in these ways, but also
because there was such a sense of unity – both locally and nationally. Our
communities coming together in a very simple act that contained so much
meaning.
Who knows what the coming weeks and months will bring. Both
individually and collectively I am sure many of us will experience great
challenges, heartache and even hardship. I know it is an overused cliché but it
is true – we will only get through this together. It is by playing our part and
behaving responsibly towards our neighbours by following the restrictions. By
looking out for the elderly and vulnerable among us. By volunteering and making
ourselves available to others and a thousand different acts of kindness, great
and small, that we will pull through the coming weeks.
More than at any time in almost all of our lifetimes, this
is the time each of us needs to put the wellbeing of our neighbours, our county
and our country first. It is a challenge our grandparents rose to previously.
Now it is out turn. Let’s do this together. Let us all play our part in beating
this horrible virus. Stay Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives.
