People have been handed the responsibility of protecting people from a virus that they may or may not have. They have been told that if they, without any malice or intention, infect another person while going about their everyday life they are personally responsible for that. And in order to prevent it from happening, they have to deny themselves a job, a social life, the potential to travel and meet new people
Utter bollox. The responsibility is a collective one - that we shouldn't all dismiss the virus and think 'fuck it' meaning hundreds of thousands of us get sick over a relatively short period of time. That's what we're trying to avoid. That if the NHS isn't over-whelmed, some routine and urgent appointments can continue as normal. That if the NHS isn't over-whelmed, emergency response still continues. That if the NHS isn't over-whelmed, people in the 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s with huge amounts of living left to do get the treatment they need to continue their lives. A collective responsibility to recognise if we all get sick together, essential services won't be able to continue - whether that's ambulance driving, community policing, drivers who move food from A to B and supermarket workers who make sure it gets out on the shelves, people working in water/sewage works, electricity and gas providers etc. etc. etc.
If you want us to continue to ignore the rules, then you are seeking a very difficult time for all of us where you will fear getting unwell, you will be fearful of stepping out of your front door due to higher levels of crime, rubbish not being collected for weeks on end, and you will struggle to meet your family's basic food needs. Hyper-inflation will likely follow along with some kind of marshall law and the deployment of the armed forces onto the streets.
Of course, it is absolutely dreadful that people are struggling with their mental health, that routine health appointments are not happening and schools closed. But the alternative is something very, very different and far more worrying. I am no fan of this Government at all, but I can see what they are attempting to do is just to delay the inevitable spread of the virus whilst keeping as much of the economy and daily life going as they possible can. Just saying 'fuck it, make your own decisions' ignores the bigger and far worse picture that will affect us all.
I am utterly fatigued by what is going on. I am lonely and desperate for better interaction with friends. But at what cost? It's not about whether I get sick or make them sick, it is that far bigger picture that the Government has tried hard not to mention (although the speech last week mentioned putting the army on the streets, albeit fleetingly). So I use zoom to have a drink with friends and family, have my shopping delivered and stay in during my freetime and I trust that the majority are doing the same. If you can't do that, then you need to accept that you will ensure that this period of difficulty will last longer than it needs to for everyone.