Just recently, Boris Johnson announced the full removal of all preventative laws for the spread of Covid-19. Replacing it is the new ‘living with Covid’ guidance, which, as the name suggests, does not contain many actions that need to take place once someone tests positive for the virus. In fact, there are next to no restrictions anymore- masks are no longer required to be worn on public transport, the legal requirement to self- isolate when positive has been removed and is now only a guidance, and routine contact tracing has ended, meaning close contacts of those who test positive will no longer be required to take tests daily or to self- isolate. But what does this mean for those most vulnerable? After all, they could be out in public not knowing if the person standing right next to them on a crowded bus could be carrying the virus.
It is generally agreed that the vulnerable people are almost seen as ‘collateral damage’ by the government as they strive to get back to normal. This leaves those deemed clinically vulnerable almost feeling marginalised- as if their lives did not matter. Despite the Prime Minister saying we are past the peak of Omicron, and despite stats backing this up, it still does not mean we are completely free from Covid- 828 people in Richmond alone have tested positive from the 22nd-28th of February.
Of course, there are still things clinically vulnerable people, and of course all people, can do to prevent catching the virus. Firstly, you should carry on wearing masks and keep washing your hands at every possible chance- this won’t eliminate all risk, but will minimize it. Also, evidence suggests that the completion of your primary course of Covid-19 vaccines (2-3 doses) provides effective protection against hospitalisation. Again, this does not negate all possibilities of catching or falling seriously ill to the virus, but does instead greatly increase the chance of surviving the virus with no long term effects.
