Corona Virus - Boris Johnson’s urge for isolation

By Edyth Leach

*statistics correct at time of writing - 26th March 2020*

As you may already be aware, Boris Johnson’s latest press conference saw the introduction of a compulsory lockdown across the UK. For many, this will be a relief, away from potential threats to an individual's health and the ability to stay at home. But for others, this lockdown has threatened their wellbeing. Not being able to leave the house unless it is essential, one walk a day, and no meeting in large groups. The number that classifies “large” being two. Imagine not being able to continue in your everyday lives because of the lockdown measures that have been put into place.

Yes, my opinion of Boris Johnson has changed. Yes, I thought he was a good for nothing candidate for the prime minister of our country. But now all I can do is praise him. Day after day he speaks out to the nation, trying to gain our trust and restore our hope that everything is going to be okay. Day after day he carries the weight of our problems on his shoulders. Does he moan? No. Does he complain that all the responsibility is on his shoulders? No. It is his responsibility to get the message across to us about washing our hands and keeping ourselves safe against this virus. If he doesn’t, who will?

414 deaths and 7,973 cases in England. 22 deaths and 719 cases in Scotland. 22 deaths and 628 deaths in Wales. 7 deaths and 209 cases in Northern Ireland. For everyone saying that this was never going to reach the UK, I bet you’re kicking yourselves now. This has gotten too close to home and it needs to be contained now. COVID-19 needs to be gotten rid of asap. This is no longer a joke.

But at the same time, this is no excuse to clean out shops. To deny people their right to the basic necessities. Those working for the NHS, or those people who are physically unable to make their own way to the shops are being denied this right. Shops are being wiped clean, for things like bread, meat, tinned foods and toilet paper, weirdly enough. The reality is though, toilet paper will solve nothing. This virus causes damage to your respiratory systems, nothing that can be solved by bulk-buying toilet paper. Shops can’t keep up with this everlasting demand for the necessities. These necessities that should be available to everyone regardless of the circumstances. But shops having to limit the amount of items that can be bought at once really shows the pettiness of this situation. It shows how selfish people can really be. Those people that need the necessities, as long as everyone else, are being denied this.

Just think for a second, those people need to eat too.