Breaking the Covid-19 circuit with a second lockdown
With Covid-19 numbers rising, the UK’s news has been dominated by the “circuit-breaker” lockdown which has now come into force for England.
Scotland and Wales have already adopted their own firebreak lockdown rules to limit new cases and there were widespread calls for Westminster to follow suit to protect the English population from the virus.
The idea of this type of lockdown is a short, sharp quarantine in order to limit the spread of the virus. It returns the country to a similar place it found itself in during March, when the first national lockdown began.
The current lockdown in England will last until December 2 and sees pubs, shops and restaurants closed, a ban on households mixing with others, along with a complete shutdown of “non-essential” businesses. However, this time schools, colleges and universities will stay open.
In the case of Wales, 4,127 new cases were recorded from October 9–15, forcing First Minister Mark Drakeford to implement firebreak rules from October 23 until the November 9.
The two-week lockdown in Wales has seen households banned from mixing, restaurants and bars closed, and masks mandatory at all times. Some school year groups returned after half term but others continued their learning from home.
As in England, Welsh students have been hit particularly hard by these new rules. Sports Coaching student Owain Withers, from South Wales, said he believed students like himself are being “fed to the wolves” by the new measures.
Under the regulations, universities can continue in-person teaching; students have been asked to stay at their term-time address rather than return home and told not to mix outside of their household. Thousands of Covid-19 cases have been reported at universities across the country.
Owain went on to say how the new rules are “in the country’s best interest but could be executed better”.
Over the border, Rachel, a student at the University of Portsmouth, said she also feared that not closing universities and schools could see a high number of cases continue among the student population.
She said: “Although I’m going to be missing at least a large chunk of my final year here and teaching isn’t the same after coronavirus, we need to put the safety of the students and those involved at the university before anything.”
She called for universities to move teaching online to protect students and staff and to help quell any chance of added infections for the student population.
While the firebreak lockdown has its benefits in terms of stemming the spread of coronavirus, it will hit businesses hard. A report by simplybusiness.com showed the pandemic had cost the average small business in the UK over £11,000.
One such person affected by the lockdown is co-owner of Multisport Health and Wellbeing, Sian Doherty, whose business specialises in providing sport and fitness for disabled adults.
Restrictions on gatherings in individual settings and limited interactions between households has been a considerable challenge. Sian said: “If it wasn’t for the fact that we were greatly supported by our situation before the closures, we may have been grasping to stay alive as a business.”
She said the two weeks during which they must close could be “incredibly tough” for the clients, with many relying on the service in what is a difficult time for most — especially the vulnerable. Sian said the service would continue with sessions via Zoom, keeping users active in lockdown.
However, many support the idea of a firebreak lockdown. Student radiographer Rachel Purchase, who works at the Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath, said the rise in case numbers had caused panic and staff were “constantly monitoring the figures”.
She added: “A second lockdown needs to take place here to protect those on the frontline — although I feel as if we have been too late on it.”
