Recently, this blog has focused less on Covid-19 and more about life in the new norms of living through a pandemic. A pandemic that has been here for some time and while there is hope with the vaccination programme, it is not over yet.

However, as Monday dawns July 19 2021 has become known in England as ‘Freedom day’. For today the remaining coronavirus restrictions have been eased. No limits on how many people meet or attend events, nightclubs reopen, no longer table-service only, 1 metre plus guidance removed except in hospitals and passport control, face coverings are recommended in some spaces but not required by law. Guidance recommending against travel to amber list counties removed. With under 18s and fully vaccinated adults no longer have to self-isolate after visiting amber list countries, excluding France. Listed like this it sounds great, like our road map back to normality is almost complete. But as Covid cases continue to surge caution is being encouraged. Face masks are recommended when in enclosed spaces, the public urged to limit duration of social contact and meet outdoors when possible. There is no rush to get back to the office, with employers encouraged to stagger the office return over the summer. And so, for me not a lot has changed this week.

And yet with what is being coined as the ‘pingdemic’ my trip to the shops mirrors somewhat the start of the pandemic. Only this time it is not panic buying that has left shortages across the shelves. This time it is those pinged by the NHS Test & Trace app, people having to self-isolate and so cannot work.  Earlier this month the number of people being alerted by the NHS app to self-isolate rose rapidly alongside infection rates, reaching 600,000 (according to the BBC) last week. This has left many businesses struggling as staff members isolate including food manufacturers, lorry drivers, distribution centres and supermarket staff. From fresh fruit and veg to frozen fish there are shortages across the shop. However, as of Jul 22 2021 some key sectors are exempt from self- isolation, in particular in the food and supply industry to try to avoid further shortages in the shops. Using daily tests as an alternative to stop the spread of the virus. But as the week ends it appears the measures might be a little too late as many shelves still remain empty on our weekend shop. However, the shopping done and some planned meals changed, the impact on my life is small. Safety still remains my first priority.