With the UK now on lockdown for a minimum of 3 weeks due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, all non-essential shops are now closed (hairdressers, electrical shops, clothing shops, tattooists etc.) with only food shops, petrol stations and pharmacies among some of the key businesses still open. Online shopping will still be available, although you may find this vastly reduced and/or longer delivery times.
For a minimum of the next three weeks, when restrictions may or may not be relaxed and could possibly have more put in place, we all have to stay at home except going out for basic food shopping and medicine, going out once a day for exercise, looking after a vulnerable person and travel to/from work, but only if absolutely necessary (and there is no good reason why you cannot work from home). Gatherings up more than two people (people not in your household) is now banned, you cannot go and visit friends and relatives. Families that share care of children under 18 will still be allowed to do so, but this must be done as little as possible (as quoted by Michael Gove on BBC News, 24/03/2020). These measures will be enforced by the police with the use of dispersal orders and fines.
This is the best way to stop the virus spreading, along with washing your hands more for 20 seconds plus and staying at least 2 metres (6 feet) away from others. Some will think it has come too late, some will think it is too much. As a country we were given advice to stay at home, not go out unless we had too and not to attend large gatherings – this was ignored by some. The small minority of people chose to ignore this advice, gathering in larger numbers and some places seeing their highest visitor numbers ever. This forced the government to enter lockdown. Whatever you think of the current government, this has to be the correct course of action. A few weeks loss of freedom to help save lives, protect health workers and ease the strain on the NHS has to worth the cost.
Now that we are all home, some of us will be continuing to work, some of us will be home schooling the children and some will take the time to catch up on jobs around the house, or possibly just take the time to relax.
If you are working from home, I have been reviewing products that will make working from home much more pleasant and easier, with items such a laptop standing desk, desk lights to give the power of daylight on your desk and secure internet routers. Click here to read those reviews.
If you are home schooling the children, they will need structure and rules, but they also need things to help further their education and I have been reviewing some educational items to make home learning fun, such as literacy board games, science kits and electronics sets. Click here to read those reviews.
For those with others in the household, spending some quality time together is important. Getting around the table and playing some board games is an excellent way to achieve this. To read my board and tabletop games reviews, click here.
Lastly, some may decide that whilst they are at home, they can start on their Spring Cleaning. Not something we like or want to do, but if we are going to do it, do it well and as easily and possible. I have been trying out some cleaning tools to make it easier, including the world’s smallest stick vacuum cleaner (it can fit in a drawer) and you can click here to read my Spring Cleaning feature and reviews.
Whatever it is that you decide to do in this time of forced isolation, make sure you take the time to keep in touch with friends and relatives by phone or video calls, get some exercise but most of all, stay safe. If you do have to go out for shopping, to see a doctor or visit a pharmacy please make sure that you stay 2 metres away from other people and wash your hands for at least 20 seconds as soon as you can. If you do have any hand sanitiser, use it when you can’t wash your hands. We are all in this together and by working together as a country we can beat this virus sooner.
There is lots of information going around about Coronavirus (COVID-19), with a lot of it false. For the most reliable information:
Click here for all the latest Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice from the UK Government
Click here for all the latest Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice from the NHS
However you choose to spend your time during these unprecedented times, make sure that you Stay at Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives and follow any social distancing guidance.
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