Cancellations and Shut Downs

 

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

With only two sessions left of the art class I signed up for back in January, I was really looking forward to the mixed media introduction scheduled for Friday morning. Inevitably it is not to be, as the anticipated e-mail confirming postponement dropped into my inbox this morning.

Then this afternoon there was confirmation that the gym and spa I am a member of were closing their doors from this evening. Meanwhile, the youngest is lamenting the cancellation of Glastonbury in June, "There's nothing left to look forward too," she wailed on What'sApp.

Serious times, require serious measures. With the statistics suggesting that we are just 2 weeks behind Italy and following a very similar trajectory, it is clear that things are going to get much worse unless people start following the advice on social distancing given by the Government. 

I saw an interesting infographic yesterday that explained quite clearly that the average person infects 2.5 people within 5 days and if those 2.5 people do likewise there are 406 people infected within 30 days. (I haven't checked the maths, so accept no responsibility for the calculation). It then suggested that by cutting exposure to  others by half, at the end of 30 days only 15 others will be infected and, if it is cut by half again to 75%, then only 2.5 people would be infected and spreading it at the end of the 30 day period. Possibly it's a more powerful antidote than all the handwashing. On a side note, are anyone else's hands beginning to look a trifle wrinkled?

The message hasn't got through yet though, which is obviously why today the Prime Minister, in his daily briefing, did not rule out the prospect of more draconian steps, whilst announcing the closures of schools.

I had to attend a meeting for a charity that I am a trustee of this afternooon. We applied hand sanitiser and kept our distance, as we discussed how best to protect the elderly persons dependent upon us. I am one of the youngest on the board of trustees, so was conscious that most of my colleagues have been asked to isolate themselves by Friday. Of course, they are very active, fit individuals and consequently don't appear to accept that the advice that has been given applies to them, considering it more appropriate for the beneficiaries in our care than themselves. It was a frank discussion, when I had my twopenneth! 

Then I received a text message confirming that the Charity Shop I have been helping in is to close with effect from tomorrow evening, despite the fact that the majority of the volunteers (most over 70) wanted to keep it open for as long as possible. If ever there was a case of  an edict from on high saving others from themselves! 

It surely has to be only a matter of days before some form of compulsory lockdown is introduced. If that is what is happening elsewhere in Europe then I can't see how any measures taken here so far are going to avoid it, especially if people don't see any necessity to modify their interactions with others. As the youngest, facing the prospect of a grim hole-up in central London, complained: If only everyone would comply, the consequences might not be so severe.