• Contact
  • About
DONATE
NEWSLETTER SIGN UP
  • Login
North East Bylines
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Brexit
    • Education
    • Environment
    • European News
    • Health
    • Politics
    • Science
    • UK News
    • World News
    Tyne Bridge

    Newcastle shortlisted for Eurovision 2023

    Fishing protest

    Dead crustaceans on North East coast: the next chapter

    NUFC foodbank

    Howay the lads and lasses: the new football foodbank season ‘22/23

    Darlington protestors

    Protestors greet Sunak and Truss at Tory Hustings in Darlington

    RMT Union banner

    When do strikes work? History shows the conditions need to be right

    Cartoon of Liz Truss with shopping trolley

    Tory leadership election: policy shopping is no way to treat people

    Border control at Dover

    The moral argument for open borders

    the quilt

    Join Hands for Ukraine at the Royal Albert Hall

    Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico, 08-06-2021 A man was shot to death in the streets of Juárez, the experts work at the crime scene.

    Mexico: new research shows the historic link between opening schools and falling murder rates

    Trending Tags

    • Ukraine
  • Culture
    • All
    • Animation
    • Books
    • Illustrations & More
    • Music
    • Performance
    • Poetry
    • Social Media
    • Theatre
    • TV & Radio
    Tyne Bridge

    Newcastle shortlisted for Eurovision 2023

    NUFC foodbank

    Howay the lads and lasses: the new football foodbank season ‘22/23

    Summer, Lower East Side. Weegee Ⓒ ICP (International Center of Photography)

    Classic Street Style: Weegee, Doisneau, Forsyth: three cities, three photographers, three decades

    Promo image

    Cutthroat Island: preparing to terrify landlubbers!

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food & Drink
    • Health & Fitness
    Master Chef of Great Britain

    Master Chef of Great Britain at Lumley

    Prezzo

    Discovering the new summer menu at Prezzo

    Chef and son

    MasterChef’s’ Posh Street Food chef’s own summer of entertainment

    Scottish highlands

    The beauty of the Scottish Highlands

    Kleo Tabuku

    Top chef to open Newcastle restaurant, Lovage

    Pop up park

    Pop up to the park in Sunderland

    The Blackbird Inn, Ponteland

    The Blackbird Inn flies high with its new summer menu

    gymnast

    Culture of fear in British gymnastics uncovered by the Whyte Review

    Kennedy and Rhind

    Kennedy and Rhind: more time to enjoy a North East favourite

    Trending Tags

    • Business
      • All
      • Economy
      • Rural
      • Technology
      • Trade
      • Voluntary Sector
      Fishing protest

      Dead crustaceans on North East coast: the next chapter

      Scottish highlands

      The beauty of the Scottish Highlands

      loo

      A room with a loo

      Newcastle quayside

      Newcastle named as one of the best cities for graduates

      Brexit economics

      New research shows the economic effect of Brexit

      Wetherspoons pub

      Wetherspoons sparkle: has it gone flat?

      Leon Fussell rehearsing

      Unsung Heroes at Queen’s Hall, Hexham

      Houchen and spade

      Vampire daylight: a week in the life of Ben Houchen, Tees Valley Mayor

      Keir Starmer

      Open letter to Sir Keir Starmer

      Trending Tags

      • Region
        • All
        • Co. Durham
        • North East
        • Northumberland
        • Teesside
        • Tyneside
        • Wearside
        Tyne Bridge

        Newcastle shortlisted for Eurovision 2023

        Wildfire at Witherwack

        “Busier than Bonfire Night” as wildfire rages for over 20 hours

        Fishing protest

        Dead crustaceans on North East coast: the next chapter

        NUFC foodbank

        Howay the lads and lasses: the new football foodbank season ‘22/23

        Summer, Lower East Side. Weegee Ⓒ ICP (International Center of Photography)

        Classic Street Style: Weegee, Doisneau, Forsyth: three cities, three photographers, three decades

        Darlington protestors

        Protestors greet Sunak and Truss at Tory Hustings in Darlington

        Promo image

        Cutthroat Island: preparing to terrify landlubbers!

        DCFO Peter Heath

        Fire chiefs urge public to behave responsibly amid hot weather warnings

        Pride flag

        Northern Pride: Newcastle proves it’s loud, proud and still fighting

        Trending Tags

        • Opinion
          Titanic coming out of Southampton

          The 110th anniversary of the Titanic’s departure

          There is an England

          There is an England

          Prime Minister Boris Johnson signs the Withdrawal Agreement with the European Union"

          The parody of disinformation: Boris Johnson on Ukraine and Brexit

          Boris Johnson’s comments on Ukraine and Brexit are an insult

          TV Agency staff jumping in the air

          The TV Agency celebrates 10th anniversary with global success

          North East of County Dublin

          North East of England and North East of County Dublin: Compare and contrast

          North Sea oil rig

          Copping out of COP: Ukraine, fossil fuels and nuclear fusion

          Placard with Boris Johnson as a clown

          Dictators, media and mobility: erosion of identity, sustenance and safety

          close up on a child's eye

          Racism and misogyny where there should have been safeguarding and security

        AUDIO
        No Result
        View All Result
        • Home
        • News
          • All
          • Brexit
          • Education
          • Environment
          • European News
          • Health
          • Politics
          • Science
          • UK News
          • World News
          Tyne Bridge

          Newcastle shortlisted for Eurovision 2023

          Fishing protest

          Dead crustaceans on North East coast: the next chapter

          NUFC foodbank

          Howay the lads and lasses: the new football foodbank season ‘22/23

          Darlington protestors

          Protestors greet Sunak and Truss at Tory Hustings in Darlington

          RMT Union banner

          When do strikes work? History shows the conditions need to be right

          Cartoon of Liz Truss with shopping trolley

          Tory leadership election: policy shopping is no way to treat people

          Border control at Dover

          The moral argument for open borders

          the quilt

          Join Hands for Ukraine at the Royal Albert Hall

          Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico, 08-06-2021 A man was shot to death in the streets of Juárez, the experts work at the crime scene.

          Mexico: new research shows the historic link between opening schools and falling murder rates

          Trending Tags

          • Ukraine
        • Culture
          • All
          • Animation
          • Books
          • Illustrations & More
          • Music
          • Performance
          • Poetry
          • Social Media
          • Theatre
          • TV & Radio
          Tyne Bridge

          Newcastle shortlisted for Eurovision 2023

          NUFC foodbank

          Howay the lads and lasses: the new football foodbank season ‘22/23

          Summer, Lower East Side. Weegee Ⓒ ICP (International Center of Photography)

          Classic Street Style: Weegee, Doisneau, Forsyth: three cities, three photographers, three decades

          Promo image

          Cutthroat Island: preparing to terrify landlubbers!

        • Lifestyle
          • All
          • Fashion
          • Food & Drink
          • Health & Fitness
          Master Chef of Great Britain

          Master Chef of Great Britain at Lumley

          Prezzo

          Discovering the new summer menu at Prezzo

          Chef and son

          MasterChef’s’ Posh Street Food chef’s own summer of entertainment

          Scottish highlands

          The beauty of the Scottish Highlands

          Kleo Tabuku

          Top chef to open Newcastle restaurant, Lovage

          Pop up park

          Pop up to the park in Sunderland

          The Blackbird Inn, Ponteland

          The Blackbird Inn flies high with its new summer menu

          gymnast

          Culture of fear in British gymnastics uncovered by the Whyte Review

          Kennedy and Rhind

          Kennedy and Rhind: more time to enjoy a North East favourite

          Trending Tags

          • Business
            • All
            • Economy
            • Rural
            • Technology
            • Trade
            • Voluntary Sector
            Fishing protest

            Dead crustaceans on North East coast: the next chapter

            Scottish highlands

            The beauty of the Scottish Highlands

            loo

            A room with a loo

            Newcastle quayside

            Newcastle named as one of the best cities for graduates

            Brexit economics

            New research shows the economic effect of Brexit

            Wetherspoons pub

            Wetherspoons sparkle: has it gone flat?

            Leon Fussell rehearsing

            Unsung Heroes at Queen’s Hall, Hexham

            Houchen and spade

            Vampire daylight: a week in the life of Ben Houchen, Tees Valley Mayor

            Keir Starmer

            Open letter to Sir Keir Starmer

            Trending Tags

            • Region
              • All
              • Co. Durham
              • North East
              • Northumberland
              • Teesside
              • Tyneside
              • Wearside
              Tyne Bridge

              Newcastle shortlisted for Eurovision 2023

              Wildfire at Witherwack

              “Busier than Bonfire Night” as wildfire rages for over 20 hours

              Fishing protest

              Dead crustaceans on North East coast: the next chapter

              NUFC foodbank

              Howay the lads and lasses: the new football foodbank season ‘22/23

              Summer, Lower East Side. Weegee Ⓒ ICP (International Center of Photography)

              Classic Street Style: Weegee, Doisneau, Forsyth: three cities, three photographers, three decades

              Darlington protestors

              Protestors greet Sunak and Truss at Tory Hustings in Darlington

              Promo image

              Cutthroat Island: preparing to terrify landlubbers!

              DCFO Peter Heath

              Fire chiefs urge public to behave responsibly amid hot weather warnings

              Pride flag

              Northern Pride: Newcastle proves it’s loud, proud and still fighting

              Trending Tags

              • Opinion
                Titanic coming out of Southampton

                The 110th anniversary of the Titanic’s departure

                There is an England

                There is an England

                Prime Minister Boris Johnson signs the Withdrawal Agreement with the European Union"

                The parody of disinformation: Boris Johnson on Ukraine and Brexit

                Boris Johnson’s comments on Ukraine and Brexit are an insult

                TV Agency staff jumping in the air

                The TV Agency celebrates 10th anniversary with global success

                North East of County Dublin

                North East of England and North East of County Dublin: Compare and contrast

                North Sea oil rig

                Copping out of COP: Ukraine, fossil fuels and nuclear fusion

                Placard with Boris Johnson as a clown

                Dictators, media and mobility: erosion of identity, sustenance and safety

                close up on a child's eye

                Racism and misogyny where there should have been safeguarding and security

              No Result
              View All Result
              North East Bylines
              No Result
              View All Result
              Home News Health

              Will Government inaction bring us more lockdowns?

              The UK government still says that it is not time for their 'Plan B'. Meanwhile for many people 'Freedom Day' felt like 'Anxiety Day'.

              Abbie RutherfordbyAbbie Rutherford
              25-10-2021 06:07
              in Health, Politics, UK
              photo of coffee shop

              Photo by Norma Mortenson from Pexels

              Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
              ADVERTISEMENT

              Over the past few weeks, the UK has seen soaring numbers of Covid-19 infections and an increase in hospital admissions and deaths. Our current numbers of daily infections are higher than that of France, Germany, Italy and Spain combined. Despite warnings from scientific advisors and the NHS, the government are not intending to implement plan B – making mask wearing, more home working and vaccine passports mandatory – as Rishi Sunak stated on Sunday morning’s Andrew Marr Show that:

              “At the moment, the data does not suggest that we should be immediately moving to plan B.”

              All Covid-19 restrictions were removed in England on 19 July 2021; however, in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland some safeguards, such as wearing face coverings in crowded indoor spaces, remain in place. Sunak told Marr that in England:

              “The government guidance is for people to make decisions based on what they think is appropriate based on the circumstances they are in.”

              The Office for National Statistics has reported a decline in mask-wearing, and that the number of Britons still practising social distancing has dropped from 85% in April to just 40%. This reluctance by the government to introduce minor restrictions under the premise of retaining freedom has had the opposite effect for some members of society, and can result in the need for the self-implementation of harsher restrictions than those that would be in place under plan B.

              As someone with a long-term health condition and loved ones in the clinically vulnerable groups, the current situation is being viewed with increasing alarm.

              There is absolutely no doubt that the pandemic and lockdowns have had an impact on the mental well-being of a huge proportion of society – only last week it was reported in The Guardian that referrals for first suspected episodes of psychosis have risen by 29% between April 2019 and April 2021 – and the ending of restrictions and the success of the vaccine rollout led to a collective sigh of relief.

              I think it is fair to say that no one wishes for a return to the harsh lockdown we experienced in 2020, but the lack of simple, widespread precautions during the current rise in cases means that for some there is no alternative but to curtail their lifestyle, leading to a segregated society in which some are left unable to fully engage in life.

              As someone with a chronic health issue, the risk of death if I contracted Covid-19 has, in all probability, been significantly reduced via the vaccination. My concern is now more about the impact Covid-19 would have on my condition – the question I have to keep asking myself is: would I ever fully recover?

              After vaccination, I gained more confidence to partake in some everyday activities while there was still a mask mandate in place, as it felt that the vaccination in combination with people covering their faces and keeping their distance would reduce my chances of catching the virus. While I still wouldn’t eat out at indoor venues or go to the pub, it felt as though some aspects of my life were starting to return. I felt that I had more choices. I began to feel hopeful.

              This hope quickly disappeared when the so-called ‘freedom day’ was announced, and the government dropped all restrictions on 19 July 2021.

              Layla Moran, the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Coronavirus, said during an evidence session on 13 July 2021:

              “The government’s reckless approach risks creating a lost generation of children with long covid, while condemning vulnerable people to months of isolation.”

              The question of whether or not I would ever fully recover became something I had to start asking myself more and more as a result of the lifting of all restrictions. Once again, I find myself having to stay more within the confines of my home and those small aspects of normality that I had come to enjoy are slipping away. Those choices that I felt I had started to diminish. For those who are immunocompromised the current situation must be extremely nerve-wracking.

              For those people who are vulnerable to Covid-19 this inability to completely take part in society goes beyond leisure activities such as trips to the pub, cinema and meals out, and begins to have a direct impact on activities that are essential to living and are considered fairly mundane, for example, going to the shops and using public transport.

              Already I am considering how safe it will be to travel on the bus in order to receive my flu vaccination. When the risk of contracting Covid­-19 becomes as high as it currently is, anxiety levels rise and choices become more and more limited. While we can take measures to try and protect ourselves, it becomes increasingly difficult to manage these measures when others don’t also take precautions.

              In no way am I blaming the public for this. The government’s messaging and behaviour gives the impression that the pandemic is over. As Adam Finn, professor of paediatrics at Bristol University and member of the government’s Joint committee on Vaccinations and Immunisation, told the Trevor Phillips on Sunday show:

              “I do think we need to see a very different kind of message coming from the government now that there is a serious problem, and we all need to contribute to reducing transmission, so that we can get through the winter and the NHS can stay afloat and absolutely we can avoid lockdowns, and the disasters that those bring.”

              This apparent lack of interest in protecting the vulnerable members of our country appears, to me at least, to go against the government’s ‘levelling up’ agenda because it marginalises a large section of our society. For many, ‘freedom day’ was ‘anxiety day’ and this anxiety is only set to rise further along with our Covid case rates as the government refuses to enact plan B.

              So, while not having to wear face coverings for some is considered to be a freedom, for others this freedom is an illusion and results in further restrictions. The implementation of simple measures such as mask-wearing would ensure that people with vulnerabilities felt safer out in their community and more able to participate in life.

              ADVERTISEMENT
              Previous Post

              Covid mismanagement and Brexit contribute to the NHS crisis

              Next Post

              Supporting refugees in the North East: launch of ANEW

              Abbie Rutherford

              Abbie Rutherford

              Related Posts

              Fishing protest
              Business

              Dead crustaceans on North East coast: the next chapter

              byJulia Mazza
              August 11, 2022
              NUFC foodbank
              Culture

              Howay the lads and lasses: the new football foodbank season ‘22/23

              byBill Corcoran
              August 10, 2022
              Darlington protestors
              North East

              Protestors greet Sunak and Truss at Tory Hustings in Darlington

              byYvonne Wancke
              August 10, 2022
              RMT Union banner
              Politics

              When do strikes work? History shows the conditions need to be right

              byChristopher Massey
              August 9, 2022
              Cartoon of Liz Truss with shopping trolley
              Opinion

              Tory leadership election: policy shopping is no way to treat people

              byPeter Benson
              August 4, 2022
              Next Post
              a photo of a sign saying refugees welcome

              Supporting refugees in the North East: launch of ANEW

              Want to support us?

              Can you help North East Bylines to grow and become more sustainable with a regular donation, no matter how small?  

              DONATE

              Sign up to our newsletter

              If you would like to receive the North East Bylines regular newsletter, straight talking direct to your inbox, click the button below.

              NEWSLETTER

              LATEST

              Tyne Bridge

              Newcastle shortlisted for Eurovision 2023

              August 12, 2022
              Wildfire at Witherwack

              “Busier than Bonfire Night” as wildfire rages for over 20 hours

              August 11, 2022
              Fishing protest

              Dead crustaceans on North East coast: the next chapter

              August 11, 2022
              NUFC foodbank

              Howay the lads and lasses: the new football foodbank season ‘22/23

              August 10, 2022
              Summer, Lower East Side. Weegee Ⓒ ICP (International Center of Photography)

              Classic Street Style: Weegee, Doisneau, Forsyth: three cities, three photographers, three decades

              August 10, 2022
              Darlington protestors

              Protestors greet Sunak and Truss at Tory Hustings in Darlington

              August 10, 2022

              MOST READ

              Tyne Bridge

              Newcastle shortlisted for Eurovision 2023

              August 12, 2022
              Wildfire at Witherwack

              “Busier than Bonfire Night” as wildfire rages for over 20 hours

              August 11, 2022
              Fishing protest

              Dead crustaceans on North East coast: the next chapter

              August 11, 2022
              NUFC foodbank

              Howay the lads and lasses: the new football foodbank season ‘22/23

              August 10, 2022

              BROWSE BY TAGS

              Audio Beach Brexit Business castle leazes climate activism Co. Durham cost of living crisis Culture defra democracy ducklings Economy Education Environment fire and rescue firefighter Food & Drink food poverty Health Health & Care Home Affairs just stop oil Lifestyle Local Lockdown Northumberland Peace Performance Politics pride month refugee rescue Science Social Media Teesside TV & Radio Tynemouth Tyneside Ukraine volunteer Wearside

              We are a not-for-profit citizen journalism publication. Our aim is to publish well-written, fact-based articles and opinion pieces on subjects that are of interest to people in the North East and beyond.

              North East Bylines is a trading brand of Bylines Network Limited, which is a sister organisation to Byline Times.

              Learn more about us

              No Result
              View All Result
              • Contact
              • About
              • Letters
              • Donate
              • Privacy
              • Bylines network
              • Shop

              © 2022 North East Bylines. Citizen Journalism | Local & Internationalist

              No Result
              View All Result
              • Home
              • News
                • Brexit
                • Education
                • Environment
                • UK News
                • Transport
                • World News
              • Politics
              • Opinion
              • Lifestyle
                • Culture
                • Music
                • Poetry
              • Business
                • Economy
                • Technology
                • Trade
              • Donate
              • Newsletter sign up
              • Boriiis Cartoons
              • Authors
              • Audio

              © 2022 North East Bylines. Citizen Journalism | Local & Internationalist

              Welcome Back!

              Login to your account below

              Forgotten Password?

              Retrieve your password

              Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

              Log In