The Deathly Virus

Has the world gone mad? People are fighting in supermarkets over toilet roll; visiting friends and family is forbidden; rubber gloves and face masks are fashion accessories. Its a nightmare. The dystopian behaviour described is a result of the Coronavirus. In December 2019, news about the mysterious virus began to surface. At this point, I understood that the outbreak originated in a "wet market" in Wuhan, China. As I wasn't aware of the severity of the disease, I continued as though nothing was wrong. China is thousands of miles away; It won't affect the UK, right? Oh, how foolish of me. After Christmas break, I noticed posters around my university asking people if they've travelled to Asia recently, informing everyone about the signs of the virus and telling them who to contact. It starts in the lungs and causes the flu or chest infection like symptoms: a cough, high temperature and breathing difficulties. However, the virus becomes deathly as it destructs the immune system that can lead to long-term lung damage or death. The university announcements, along with the mass of media coverage, made this situation very real. As I travelled to university via public transport, I was worried about my health and contracting the virus. I didn't want to catch anything and pass it on to my vulnerable family members. A few days ago my work shut its doors to customers and staff. My university closed its campus and stopped teaching. Then I got an email, from Harrison Stringfellow, to postpone my placement until further notice. It all happened so fast. I felt lost. Yesterday, Boris Johnson has announced that the UK will go into lockdown. I can not socialise with anyone outside my home; I can only leave once a day for exercise and essential excursions such as buying supplies. These measures are put in place to prevent a significant increase in the spread of the virus. I plan to abide by these rules to ensure my safety and the safety of the vulnerable members of society. Staying at home hasn't been easy. I miss my family and friends. I'm anxious about uni work and my lack of work experience. Its been physically and mentally exhausting. However, I need to stop thinking about the negative impact this is having and understand how this could be an opportunity for personal growth. I have never had this much free time before. I can finish wallpapering my room, organise my clothing and finally clean my makeup brushes. All are tasks I avoid. I might read, I haven't read a full book since my English A-levels. Although the current situation isn't ideal, I can use this period to work on myself. I hope everyone is staying safe and keeping busy.