I’m having a problem. Not unusual for me but this problem is not going to go away anytime soon! On the 19th July, ‘freedom day’, we moved to stage four in this COVID nightmare and the country’s legal position on masks and social distancing changed. The public were given the choice on how they wanted to live their lives!
However, as with all people, there are those who care and show concern for the welfare of others and there are those selfish, single minded individuals who don’t give a damn! COVID is not going away despite the fantastic vaccination program! There are still too many who aren’t fully vaccinated. About three million adults haven’t even had their first jab! Some abstain on religious grounds, some don’t feel as if there has been adequate testing, some have listened to ridiculous ‘anti-vaxxer’ hype and a lot have just been too lazy to make the effort.
I wonder if these ‘adults’ ever take a step back and look at the wider picture? Thinking about those other than themselves would be even better! Surely some of them have older relatives and family members or friends who have to be particularly careful? The vaccination can help to prevent death and serious illness but there is still a chance someone can get very unwell! And the vaccine doesn’t work for everyone!
We’re getting work done on our fireplace and in the sitting room. I have lost count of the times plasterers and decorators have come to give quotes and stood at the door without their masks! They proudly tell me that they are ‘double jabbed’! I ask if they are aware that they can still transmit the virus and get the ‘glazed doughnut’ look! I also mention that I might not be ‘double jabbed’ so, without their protective mask, they could give me COVID and I could die! A bit dramatic, I know, but I feel really annoyed with their ignorant behaviour! Even if I am fully vaccinated ( I am) I explain, not everyone’s body creates antibodies. About twenty percent don’t! And then I insist that they fetch their mask from the car if they want to quote for the job!
So many people also don’t understand the science behind wearing a mask! It won’t necessarily prevent the wearer from getting COVID but it significantly prevents the wearer from passing the virus on. Someone told me that they don’t wear a mask to a local ‘upmarket’ supermarket because a better type of person shops there! When they go to the others in the town they definitely wear their mask!
I could not control my ‘out loud voice’. I heard the words tumbling out before I could take stock and plan what I wanted to say! I heard ‘selfish’ a few times followed by ‘thoughtless’ and ‘naive’! The ‘upmarket’ supermarket is usually full of older people, the majority wearing their masks. These are the people we should be protecting by wearing ours!
Oh well, it takes all types! For some unknown reason we have not experienced the huge surge in COVID cases as predicted. Enough of us are remaining sensible and choosing to be careful rather than pretend the pandemic has gone away! Long may this last! Let’s also hope that those who haven’t been vaccinated see the light and get their jabs. This will also prevent new variants from rearing their ugly heads and causing another nightmare lockdown.
To all of those who are double vaccinated and wear their masks in public places, I thank you. You are the majority and that gives me renewed faith in the innate goodness of human nature. 👠
Jenny Burrell 