MIKE HILL: We will push through, we simply have to

For those of us who have been wearing them for some time on public transport or for those already wearing them, it won’t seem so strange.

But for many people it will be strange, a shock to the system, another sign of the ‘New Normal’.

A word of caution. Some people will be exempted from wearing face coverings on medical grounds; they may have asthma or COPD problems, for example.

Without real clarity or guidelines, it’s hard to anticipate how it will pan out for them too, so please avoid being quick to judge.

Because of the lockdown and the fact that schools and nurseries have been closed to all children and students, other than for those of key workers, it’s also strange to think that the long summer school holidays have just begun.

Usually this means working parents relying on grandparents to look after the kids and a whole host of scenarios that are either not permitted or are difficult to navigate under social distancing and ‘family bubble’ rules.

Childminding and early years providers are on the brink of collapse; kids’ clubs can’t meet, youth provision is out of the window, kinship carers are struggling, dance studios can’t reopen nor can the boxing clubs etc.

Yet this is also the week in which the Government has made it clear that getting back to the physical work environment should now be encouraged; even though they make it plain that the onus is on the employer to make the final decision and thus take the responsibility (and of course the subsequent liability).

The summer holidays are going to be difficult for a whole host of reasons.

There will be no summer fêtes, carnivals, community events or festivals to go to; but we will push through, we simply have to.

For those who are in genuine need the safety nets will always be there, like the Holiday Hunger Scheme which, thankfully, the Council has been able to continue on with despite the burgeoning cost of continuing to tackle COVID 19.