When the first wave of COVID struck little Northern Ireland in March and the country entered full lockdown, it was a surreal experience. We huddled around our television sets and watched the story unfold as cases, hospitalisations and deaths rose. It impacted massively upon our lives and lifestyles as schools and offices closed, the economy and the country grinding to a halt. The silence was eerie.
Yet, at the same time, it was like we were watching a disaster movie on Netflix. I followed the news religiously, watched the daily government briefings without fail, and could rhyme off daily statistics as easily as my own date of birth. It was real, but it wasn’t. I didn’t personally know anyone who had coronavirus and daily infection rates did not rise above 200. When the lockdown relaxations began everyone thought that was that, it was over. How wrong we were.
We were encouraged by our government to ‘eat out to help out,’ told to get back out there and start living our lives again. People became complacent, arrogant and the figures started to creep back up again. The creep became a jog until now it is a full on gallop. Northern Ireland is currently averaging over 1000 cases a day, hospitalisations are on the rise and our intensive care beds are filling up. We are teetering on the brink again.
Today, the U.K. government is holding an emergency meeting and it is expected we will know our fate later in the day. It’s a sad state of affairs but my next post to you could come from a very different looking Northern Ireland. I hope you are all staying safe and keeping well. Please continue to wash your hands, maintain social distancing and wear a mask where necessary. Your actions could save lives. This is not a movie. It’s real life.
Black Thoughts 
My thoughts are with you and your family, Stephen.
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Thank you very much, Sean.
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Stay safe. I think all of Europe and the USA are seeing a big gallop.
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Thank you. It appears to be so.
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Hugs & love ❤️
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Thank you 😊
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Be safe. Be sensible. Tell your loved ones how much they mean. So sorry this is your reality, not a Netflix disaster movie x
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Thank you very much for your kind words 🙂
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Same movie script, here. 😦
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Worrying times indeed 😐
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You are so correct. People need to stop being complacent and be more aware and careful. Only way to save lives. Stay safe everyone.
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Thank you. Wise words 😊
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May the Lord help us all. I am not sure if the world can mentally, economically or spiritually handle another lockdown. It has been devastating so far. I cannot even imagine what the results will be if another lockdown occurs. I have heard so many conflicting stats that I have no idea who or what to believe. Stay safe-my prayers are with you and your family.
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Thank you very much, Jenny. Hope you are keeping safe and well 🙏🏻
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I just heard that today in my state that COVID cases are on the rise. I am not sure what to make of all this. I take the necessary precautions, though. I hope it helps. Prayers for us all worldwide.
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Thank you. What state is it?
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North Carolina. Some other states are also seeing an increase. What concerns me is the inconsistencies of data. Anyway, I just pray for health for everyone. Stay safe.
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That’s all we can do, Jenny. Keep in touch 🙂
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Let’s all keep in touch. We need community now more than ever. This world is on a really strange path. I’m not sure what it all means. Please take care.
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Wow. It’s good to hear perspective from another country. It saddens me daily that the USA is not taking this at all seriously. Conspiracy abounds as people try to make this all political. We recently had a few days that spiked over 60,000 cases when we had been averaging closer to 40K. I’m not sure what caused that. But I saw a video that a friend posted on FB the other day. She was at a college football game. Thousands of people in the stands. I saw not one mask.
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That’s worrying. I was watching an NFL game on Sunday and fans weren’t allowed in unless they wore a mask.
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Yeah, at least the pro sports organizations are trying to enforce safety. We are currently on vacation, and have been in two different states that are like night and day. In Oklahoma, there is apparently no mandate. Hardly anyone is wearing masks (basically, those of us from out of state, I imagine). But in Arkansas, we saw masks requirements posted.
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Stay safe my friend. My state of Missouri is a hot spot. As for me,…I’m getting tested today. We need to stop being complacent. Unfortunately, I’m seeing it daily.
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Have you symptoms? Thinking of you 🙏🏻
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Oy. Not a movie. Real life. Prayers for you and your family and friends and all of Northern Ireland! Please continue to take all possible precautions.
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Thank you very much. You too 🙏🏻
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I know what you mean. I miss talking with my friends without having to text or video calling them. I had to reschedule vacations and other events do to this virus.
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Hopefully better times ahead.
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Kia kaha, and thank you for the reminded that our world is a different place. One where care and kindness are still needed, and always will be.
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You’re welcome. Thank you 😊
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