Opinion

Allison Morris: I will be leaving some aspects of pre-lockdown life in the past

Allison Morris
Allison Morris Allison Morris

I'm going to admit that around the middle of last week I started to struggle with the lockdown.

And compared to most I have it easy, so I feel for those of you who are alone, isolated, who are worried about money, or work, or who struggle with the mental health implications of such a huge upheaval.

Those in cramped accommodation and those with small children who don't understand why they are being kept away from friends, or teenagers who are difficult to keep at home.

We all know, or should know, by now why the restrictions are in place to stop the spread of Covid-19.

Some of them are fairly easy to deal with, some not so much.

I'm a sociable person, I love the human interaction that comes with my job, meeting new people, hearing interesting stories about fascinating lives.

I hope that we can get that very important human interaction back.

The social distancing in shops and public spaces, I imagine is something that will become part of our future normality.

Learning to live without so much travel, only making journeys when necessary, should be something that all we think about more carefully.

The reduced traffic on our roads, the slower pace of life, the quality time spent with our immediate families, the long walks, have all been positives of this crisis.

Consideration of the vulnerable in society and the community response by so many organisations to the pandemic have heartened me greatly.

The amateur football teams, the GAA and social clubs, the churches, the Orange Order, the cross community groups and all the individuals using their time and resources to source supplies for those in need, shows real social responsibility and community spirit.

The stories of loss have been harrowing, the absence of funerals and mourning rituals, such a big part of our lives and who we are, have had a huge impact on so many people.

The closure of graveyards remains an unexplainable and cruel restriction for those grieving.

And then there are the inspiring stories of recovery.

Solicitor Niall Murphy has spoken with great emotion and passion about his experience in a coma on ventilation after suffering from a severe strain of coronavirus.

Having only time to text his wife before he was taken away by doctors for treatment, a stark reminder of how quickly this virus progresses.

What was really moving about his story of slow recovery was the professionalism of NHS staff, working on the frontline, some with cheap and inadequate PPE, but never failing in their vocation to save lives.

Several months ago, at the start of this pandemic, speaking on BBC's Sunday Politics, I said 'if you aren't angry you should be', and I stand by that, we should all demand better from a both Westminster and Stormont, both during and after this crisis.

Our frontline health workers should never again need to stand on a picket line demanding safe staffing levels and pay parity.

Those politicians now telling us to 'protect the NHS' who previously tried to flog it off brick by brick to private companies, should never again be allowed to use healthcare as a commodity.

Our exit plan should involve placing ring of steel around the NHS.

In Northern Ireland the figures have so far been drastically lower than previously predicted.

While acknowledging that each person was someone's loved one we must be thankful that the original dire warning that 15,000 people could die has not materialised.

There is a long and slow road to recovery ahead, one that will involve hardship, emotional and financial, for so many.

I know how difficult this is, I'm finding it hard as I know many of you are also.

And while I look forward to getting my life back, there are some aspects of it I intend to leave in the past.

I never needed all those material possessions, none of us do, filling our lives and homes with objects means nothing if we don't have good health, both mentally and physically.

Your health really is your wealth.

Look out for each other and stay safe.