We are where we want to be

On Tuesday, for the first time in 694 days, we were able to go about our daily business without any Covid regulations governing our actions. Health Minister, Robin Swann announced on Monday evening that Covid restrictions across the North would cease to be legislation come February 15. Subsequently, Tuesday’s dawn brought the day we have all been dreaming about for the best part of two years.

When the country went in to lockdown on Monday, March 23, 2020, none of us had any idea of the challenges which lay ahead.

As we said goodbye to our work colleagues, closed the doors on our elderly parents without so much as even a hug, and prepared to cut ourselves off from the world… could any of us have imagined we would be living in this unnatural existence for so long?

There’s no denying the last two years have brought immense difficulties for each and every one of us. Many local business have been badly hit due to restrictions impacting on their customers, our children faced home-schooling for extended periods of time, and we all had to get used to mask wearing and copious amounts of hand-washing. It has been a challenge, but we are where we want to be right now.

For many, the last two years have unfortunately brought the loss of loved ones or ill-health. On March 23, 2020, three people in the North had lost their lives to the disease, now the Covid official death-toll here stands at over 3,000. And but for our actions in abiding by the restrictions, that number would have been higher.

Our lockdowns – for the most part – have been successful, each one has managed to curb the infection numbers and flatten the curve.

And now we have made it this far. We have come through two years we could never have believed possible. The onus is now on all of us to negotiate these final steps out of the dreadful pandemic as sensibly and as safely as possible.