Coronavirus entry 2: Showing appreciation

You'll have to excuse this post if it's a bit rambly, but I'm feeling rather emotional right now. This evening a nationwide acknowledgment took place where people were invited to stand in their gardens, on their front porch or simply in their home and in unity, clap their hands as a sign of showing support to all of the care workers currently working all hours of the day to help deal with the Coronavirus pandemic.

Since my last post four days ago, the whole of the United Kingdom have gone into lockdown for a minimum of 3 weeks, and everyone, apart from those identified as key workers have to stay in their own homes in an attempt to reduce the number of people who are being diagnosed with, and dying from, this disease. 

Key workers are those in Health and Social Care, Education and Childcare, Public Services, Government, Food Services, Public Safety and National Security, Transport, Utilities, Communication and Financial Service.

I, along with so many other people, are having to adjust to working from home and staying inside away from friends and family, whilst there are still so many people out there putting their lives at risk to help others. Whilst it's been a strange few days getting used to the idea of literally being on my own for the next few weeks, the support people are showing one another is phenomenal. 

Facebook support groups have been set up, organisations are offering free access to their exercise and mental health apps, the use of video messaging and live chat has soared, but most of all, people are just being a lot more kinder to one another and appreciative of those who can help during this time. Yes, the demand for food supplies are still great, but everyone is pulling together to try and do what they can.

The only exceptions we have for leaving our homes are to go to the shops to buy essential items, to pick up prescriptions, and for exercise, such as going for a walk, run or bike ride. With all of these, staying a strict distance of 2 metres from other people must be enforced. Going out to see friends or family, or attending social events have been forbidden.

So while this pandemic is still erupting around us, and whilst households are dealing with a new kind of chaos, somewhere in the middle, an idea was put together to show our appreciation for those who have given up their time to make sure we are looked after. At 8pm this evening, people stood outside and clapped. And what an incredible thing it was. I stood in my garden clapping and all around me I could hear others doing the same, as well as banging pots and pans together, cheering, whistling and screaming. Someone was even beeping their car horn and I could hear the odd firework going off too. 

What we are dealing with right now is something we only ever thought would happen in movies, and whilst the nation has been in mass panic, what happened this evening is a reminder of the love and support we all have for people in this situation. Tonight we joined together in solidarity and it was wonderfully emotional and I really hope we can continue to show support like this and work together to do our bit to bring an end to this situation.