There has been so much light at the far end of the tunnel for the last while, that it must be bathed in gates of paradise-style rays of illumination at this stage, given all the hope and patience that we have endured since the spring. One would have thought that after the Government announcement on Tuesday evening, that there would be universal welcome for it all, but instead, the reaction has been tempered. The world has been scarred by all of this and it will take time to get used again to full venues, to full trains and buses. There is.
Now, the onus has been placed on our own behaviour to keep ourselves and others safe. This will bring great moments of liberty, but also great responsibility as we are handed the keys to a healthy future. We welcome the re-opening of increased capacity venues and what that brings to our lives, through art, culture, education or worship.
However, as we enter the colder months of the year, there will undoubtedly be reticence to expose oneself to the ills of winter, but yet, there is still a need for society to crank back as much as it can on the scale of normality.
In all of this, let us not forget all of those who have endured unimaginable loss and severe illness as a result of the pandemic that has dominated our lives for the past few years. When this new normal kicks in over the coming weeks and months, there will still be empty seats in many households that will act as a constant reminder of this terrible time. Remember too, that while we celebrate the re-opening of society, the presence of the virus and its various variants still poses a frightening threat to those who suffer from respiratory illnesses and other immune-compromised ailments.
This winter and the coming spring will give us a sense of the shape of our world, in terms of work practises, gatherings, and hygiene. It will be an enlightening period.
For many businesses, the coming weeks and months will see them stripped of the supports that enabled them to operate and to give employment to staff, to support families, to keep communities alive. It is important that we maintain our support of these enterprises so that they are rewarded for the vivacity they brought to our lives at the lowest moments.
The sudden ending of restrictions came about very quickly in the end. It was as if someone in Government just said ‘feck it, we can’t be doing with this anymore.’ They caught a lot of people by surprise. Mostly in a good way and mainly because of the efficient vaccination programme.
In the coming months, we will illustrate what we have learned in the past few years. Now it is time to keep those promises in return for a re-opening of life as we knew it.
