230320

2020

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When the UK was put into lockdown on the 23rd of March 2020, the way we live daily changed. We now have to stay 2 meters away from each other at all times, we are only allowed out of our houses once a day for exercise, and only essential workers; people working in hospitals, supermarkets, and those keeping the day to day basic aspects of our lives running, are allowed to go out and continue their jobs, while the rest of us stay isolated at home. With Northern Ireland 5 to 9 days behind the rest of the UK in Covid-19 cases and deaths, the presence of the illness is still looming and will be for a long time. Living with 4 essential workers, the stresses of staying clean, healthy and safe are always present and prominent. I wondered how they felt putting themselves in danger when going out to work every day. Were they not scared? Although not working in hospitals they still came in to contact with a lot of people daily, and with the increasing number of people laxing with the quarantine they are more at risk now than ever. Essential workers are expected to keep providing for the public, with some not having the correct or appropriate personal protective equipment to keep them guarded against the illness, many getting sick themselves and passing from no fault of their own.