I'm sure you have all had it with the talk of "unprecedented times" but unfortunately, we still have no end date to our quarantine #StayHome. If, like me, you have had important events cancelled and plans placed on hold, then you cannot wait for this quarantine to be over so you can get back to checking off your 2020 to-do list.
For a lucky few, quarantine has allowed for some much needed rest; for most, it has caused boredom and cabin fever, but for many others, being forced to stay home has affected mental health, cost them their jobs, lead to hunger (many children have their only daily meal at school), increased the frequency of domestic abuse and caused an increase in drug related urges. It is important during these times to reach out to anyone you know that may be struggling and to know that many of the relevant professional bodies are still available to help.
I ran a poll on Twitter to determine what my following's biggest fear was in relation to the current pandemic and these were the results:
The results mirrored my thoughts. My biggest concern has definitely been the health of my loved ones and I, and second has been life after the pandemic. It is estimated that global travel restrictions won't return to normal until 2023 and for someone like me who heavily relies on globalisation for my livelihood, that could be disastrous! In some parts of the world, things are slowly reopening and the restrictions on movement are being reduced however, with a recession looming and so much disruption, there is no telling how long it will take for the world to adjust to the new normal (things will never be as they once were).
Although all these feelings and concerns are valid, it is important to not lose sight of the bigger picture, nearly 200,000 people across the globe have died of COVID-19 since January 2020 and thousands more have had to go through a gruelling recovery process to overcome it. The quarantine is saving lives so please, stay home and if you must go out, stay safe.
My heart goes out to all those who have lost loved ones to this virus; I hope you find comfort through this very difficult time. ❤️
P.S. F**k clapping for NHS staff! What NHS staff need is for the government to: be more transparent, provide them with the necessary protective equipment and increase their salaries expeditiously. Clap that!