First off, I know what you are thinking. Why in the world did she put this beautiful picture as her cover photo when she is about to talk about the coronavirus. I took this picture of University Church of St. Mary the Virgin when the tree outside was in full blossom. One of positive things in the midst this pandemic is the incredible beauty that Spring has brought to England. So, I promise, this blog will not be all bad.
There are so many things I could say about what is happening here. The UK has been in full lockdown for almost a month now. People are only allowed out of their houses if they are key-workers (people in the NHS, government, etc.), shopping for necessary items, and exercise once a day. These restrictions are monitored by the police force, and people have been fined (even arrested) when they are not followed. Thankfully, people are not panic buying anymore, so there is no longer any shortages of food or household items.
However, the virus itself is very serious here. Over 900 people die a day in the UK, and the government expects the numbers to continue to rise over the next few weeks. About 500 people here in Oxfordshire have contracted the virus. And, several key members in the government also had it, including Prince Charles and Prime Minister Boris Johnson, though they are both now recovered. Most Oxford students have returned home, so the city is like a ghost-town. Everything is closed except for grocery stores. There is hardly anyone on the streets, maybe a couple cars. The city is still beautiful, but it now seems sad.
How is this affecting me? Thankfully, I have not been in contact with anyone who has shown symptoms of coronavirus. I am self-isolating like the rest of the country. In so doing, my piano lessons have switched online which has worked rather well. I am still able to practice at home. Also, since most of my own piano students are online now, I did not have to change anything there either. I try to take a walk every afternoon which is the highlight of each day. Like I said, Spring is absolutely beautiful here and a great source of joy and hope in the midst of the lockdown. I will include some of the pictures I have taken down below.
The hardest part for me is not being able to see my friends in person. We still keep in touch through Facetime which is nice, but it is not the same. Several of my friends and I had planned on travelling around England, Scotland, and Ireland throughout the Spring. Indeed, our first trip was supposed to be in the same week the UK called the lockdown. We also had tickets to see a Broadway show in London. But, now all that has been cancelled.
The government has no idea how long the lockdown will last, but there is talk about it lasting until June. However, there are some bright sides to this as well. Over these last few weeks, I have seen people come together (not physically) in a new way. People are more keen on helping each other out. I personally have volunteered through my church as a runner for a local assistance-living place if they need people to get groceries or necessary items for the elderly. Also, once a week, the government calls for everyone to come outside (on their porches only) and clap for the NHS to show support for everything they are doing. The first week it happened, everyone on our block came out and cheered for the NHS. It was incredibly moving.
British thing I learned:
"Loo roll" is toilet paper.
Thanks for the update, Hannah! Stay safe.