Lockdown or Loosedown?

O'Shea's webcam Barry Island

The above image was taken the Sunday after Christmas when Wales was supposed to be a couple of days into its latest and more severe national lockdown (now along with the rest of the UK). However, the evidence of many is that the current restrictions are far from tight, and certainly in my experience with adherence levels nowhere near those we experienced in the first lockdown back in March 2020.

With the current surge on Covid cases across the UK, the constantly repeated 'stay at home' message seems to be flying tight over the head of many.

Perhaps its down to fatigue. As a nation, the UK has endured almost 10 months of differing levels of restriction. Confusingly different messages depending on which parts of the county you live in. Statements from the Prime Minister that Christmas would be 'near normal'. People ARE fed up, but we have to hang in there.

The brilliant news of several vaccines being approved and starting roll out is cause for optimism and hope. But it's going to take time. Todays news in Wales at least, is saying that the plan is to have offered/given all adults a vaccine by the autumn (though whether that's the start or end of autumn isn't clear), but who's arguing about three months here or there?

But that means we are still going to have to live with restrictions of some degree until then at least, and let's not fool ourselves - the Governments ability to deliver on it's promises and timelines hasn't been great these last few months.

So whilst there is light at the end of the tunnel, we're stuck with the restrictions for now. People need to listen and abide by them. But there are things happening that perhaps contribute to the idea that things aren't quite as bad as they are being reported.

Elite sport is one. In the first lockdown pretty much all sport stopped. Now we've got football wall to wall every day, international rugby is around the corner and so on. Yes, they're (supposedly at least) in contained, controlled "bubbles" and are being regularly tested, but it's evident that this isn't wholly working with many players contracting Covid, in some cases enough to have matches called off through lack of players or putting out makeshift teams as Derby did in the FA Cup this weekend. Whilst there are still no crowds (save a short period for some clubs just before Christmas), watching the players you'd be hard pushed to think there's still a global pandemic. And watching scenes from Crosby at the weekend of Tottenham's visit to Marine FC in the FA Cup, with people lining the streets, there was definitely no 'stay at home' going on there. Worse, there have been several reports of footballers breaching guidance to varying degrees. I'm not just picking on Crosby, and I'm not just picking on football - I'm a fan and season ticket holder myself and would be desperate to get back to watching Cardiff City (well perhaps not so much at the moment the way they're playing). No, my general point is that there's enough "stuff" going on to make people think there's near normality in some areas, which may then be impacting their own behaviours and bending the restriction guidance. It certainly gives ammunition to the 'covid deniers'.

I don't like the restrictions. I'm fed up of them, but if it helps keep the NHS from being overwhelmed (although I think they're pretty close to it now), I'll do my bit. I wish others would too.