THE more time I spend attempting to puzzle out this coronavirus and how it all came about, the more I tend to conclude that it is quite mysterious in fact. We inhabit a place called Earth, that much we know (or do we?!). There have been quite a few rumours about the virus’ origin in China, but I have also spoken to people who say this is not the case and actually nobody knows where it originated.

But there is no doubt that we are (most of us on this planet) living with life-restricting rules issued by national governments which are very much limiting what we can do and how we can live, especially socially.

I for one have never felt so suffocated by everything and have not left my immediate local area for over two weeks now, not even for exercise. I intentionally restrict myself to walking around the local roads and certainly don’t catch buses anywhere.

Make no mistake though, modern technology (including the internet) has most definitely come to the rescue and as a result most people are now connected to family, friends and the outside world by telephone or something like Skype (a video conferencing tool which is now surely installed on most computers). If you have a smartphone, you have the use of What’s App which also enables virtual face-to-face communication.

However I have noted that many people are still without these basic communications tools, either because they cannot afford it or do not wish to embrace it. So they must feel a good deal more isolated at this moment. This must surely damage their mental wellbeing, as by nature we are to a greater or lesser extent sociable human beings.
Fortunately, aside from food shops or supermarkets which remain open of course, the world of shopping hasn’t disappeared as many might surmise, but has been for the most part transferred to the World-Wide Web (ie, online shopping). So the High Street may have suffered no end because of this, but the economy is still very active on-line, especially nowadays.

Ever since the start of the first lockdown in March last year, I am aware that I have never spent so much time at home and making use of modern technology for communication, entertainment and shopping.

So the current situation is most certainly not the end of the world, even though it may get many people down a lot. What’s more there is mention of things becoming a bit better by Easter time, once this lockdown has had its effect. And that will bring many a bit of much-needed joy and happiness.

ROBIN EDMONDS
Dorset Road, Somerford