Back to square one? No
5 January 2021
While the exact timing and haste of Boris Johnson’s announcement of a third national lockdown were surprising – it was given at 8pm yesterday, the first day back at work in England after the New Year holiday – its content was less so.
In his New Year message, days earlier, the Prime Minister had already stated that “we have a hard struggle still ahead of us for weeks and months, because we face a new variant of the disease that requires a new vigilance”.
A review of coronavirus restrictions in England had been planned for later this week but, like his counterpart Nicola Sturgeon in the Scottish Parliament hours earlier, Boris Johnson decided that the alarmingly rapid spread of the new variant necessitated urgent and significant measures. Wales and Northern Ireland were already under tighter restrictions.
The country now finds itself in a state of national lockdown similar to the one last March. People are instructed to stay at home, only venturing out for essential purposes or if they cannot work from home. And this could last until mid-February at the earliest, said the Prime Minister.
So are we no further forward after so many months of sacrifice, as some despairing voices on national and social media are suggesting?
No. Because this time it’s different. And as this blog has maintained, it’s important to keep cool and focused.
First, the rollout has begun of man-made vaccines – developed in astonishingly quick time – to combat the virus. This is the light at the end of the tunnel which we must keep in view.
Secondly, unlike last March, we now know what we must do. We are (or certainly should be!) familiar with wearing masks, keeping a minimum 2m distance from others, and regular hand-washing.
Also, essential workers in construction and the wider supply chain where in-person attendance is essential, including manufacturers, merchants, trades people and the hirers who support them, can continue to work if they are able to do so in a safe manner.
People are now used to working from home where possible and keeping in touch via the internet. And hirers have procedures in place to minimise risks, such as systems for pre-arranged collections and contactless deliveries. These were completely new challenges during the first lockdown.
Above all, the shared challenge of controlling and eradicating the virus has engendered a sense of togetherness, co-operation and understanding, and people look out for one another.
It is a sad fact that certain sectors like hospitality and catering will remain hard-hit, but the tool and equipment hire industry is in a better place than many, which is unusual in turbulent times.
Despite the inevitable difficulties and hardships, it's important to maintain self-discipline, determination and positive thinking.
And those qualities are amongst the hallmarks of hire.
Photo: F1 Digitals/Pixabay
