Is it necessary to have more covid restrictions?
What happens in a few days, sometimes even a single day can change the course of a whole lifetime. This quote is one of my favourites as it enforces the message that every action has an equal opposite reaction. We learn from the moment that we are able to communicate that actions have consequences and ultimately, this is what we, as humans, are governed by. This is why it is fundamental that our government makes the right decisions in acting in such a way that does not affect our future for the worse. Right here in January 2022 we stand in the most precarious position at the summit of the Covid-19 pandemic. More covid restrictions are needed. In fact, they are quintessential if we want to sustain our health system and continue to receive the benefits of free healthcare. Let’s endure short term challenges to reap long-term gains Although it may seem like a lot to ask at present, I know that perhaps experiencing another lockdown, a brief circuit breaker or tighter covid restrictions will serve us in the future.
Firstly, having little to no covid restrictions will invariably affect the NHS for the worse. The winter months, as we know, are already a source of intensity. Before the pandemic, seasonal flu disrupted the usual flow of the system, with more patients being admitted and inevitably, more deaths occurring. Add on a global pandemic and I think its safe to say that the pressure was ramped up. Like I said, every action has an equal opposite reaction. With vast amounts of new patients needing treatment, hospitals had to somehow accommodate for more. Staff endured a learning curve and suffered the hits of a national emergency. Overtime racked up and individuals felt the mental and physical effects of being a key worker in such a trying time. It was, without a doubt, draining to be working in this environment and it would only take one mistake from fatigue to add detriment to somebody’s life. If we went into lockdown, we could spare the NHS from such a heated working environment. We have the power to keep the number of cases down and therefore maintain lower numbers of patients in hospitals, also limiting the amount of staff cases. It seems obvious to me that we should be active in preventing such a tumultuous strain on our health system.
This is not just covid, however. Having no ITU capacity means a complication in labour, sepsis or an allergic reaction could be the difference between life and death. Look at it this way: covid has acted as a catalyst for disaster. The direct consequences have obviously caused upheaval with the number of deaths adding up to be an unimaginable amount. But the domino effect that covid has caused has had dire consequences. Lack of facilities seems to be the overarching point here. It is because of covid that the NHS has to account for higher numbers of everything, priorities are being made and patients facing other illnesses seem to be slipping through the net. Those closely affected by this can see first-hand the challenges both the NHS and consequently their family are facing. It is inevitable that if we continue on this slippery slope of strain, the public’s trust in the NHS will simply dissolve. But the fact is it is not the staff’s fault, but rather the fault of the government by not preventing the variant from spreading. Cases rise. The NHS cannot cope. More people die. And we start to think, what could we have done differently? In this debate could lie our answer
Moreover, this stigma surrounding the NHS and the accusatory finger of blame being pointed in its direction, is leading to people leave their professions to escape the never-ending turmoil of disuption. In loosening covid restrictions, the government has succeeded in shrinking the already drowning number of staff members. It is with caution that we need to reassess our current situation because if we are not careful the healthcare system will crumble, leaving the nation in a state of hardship, that would be extremely difficult to recover from. Lockdown would allow the NHS to breathe and give each and every one of its patients sufficient care to limit their time spent in the hospitals.
Furthermore, as we know, lockdown provides ample time, however it is used. Whilst limiting face-to-face contact and exposure, this time spent at home can give the government a chance to encourage and campaign for the public to get vaccinated. Vaccinations are the path out of the chaos we were plunged into at the beginning of 2020. You can choose to protect yourself and your community by getting jabbed, limiting both your chances of catching covid and reducing pressure on the NHS. Entering a stage of lockdown would keep everyone safe and provide the time to prepare everyone to live with the virus. This short period of time surely seems minute compared to a lifetime of freedom. To me there seems an obvious solution.
What happens in a few days, sometimes even a single day, can change the course of a lifetime. I mentioned this at the beginning of answering this question because it illustrates that the path we take now concerning covid restrictions will affect our future. The long-term benefits outweigh the slight pause on everyday life. Not only would this allow time for people to get vaccinated, but would prevent NHS staff from being stripped from treating severe illnesses to treat covid. I know it may appear that we are running in circles, but the key difference between now and two years ago is that we have a vaccination programme being rolled out. We can make this final push if together we appreciate the NHS and listen to the pleas of progress. Right now we have the capacity to protect ourselves from the egregious whirlwind that has been the pandemic. The government has the opportunity here to make two wrongs a right. Our previous lockdowns have evidently been a success as cases plummeted from limited contact. As winter reaches its height, we should tighten covid measures hence releasing the NHS from pressure, get vaccinated and by summer we can well and truly be moving forward out of this period of austerity. This should be the true testimony to if humans are inherently selfish. If the answer to this is no, then indeed, it is necessary to have more Covid restrictions.
