March 2025, marks five years since a date etched in the memory of many in the UK. It was the day the nation entered a nationwide lockdown, a response to the rapidly spreading novel coronavirus that had emerged from Wuhan, China, just months before. March 23rd, 2020.
Looking back, the initial weeks and months feel like a blur of uncertainty. Early 2020 saw news reports trickling in, followed by public health campaigns urging us to wash our hands and cover our mouths then wash our hands again. Then, the numbers began to climb, culminating in that unprecedented announcement that fundamentally altered our daily lives. It turns out that “those numbers” were not correct as practically anything was being recorded as Covid in the early days as there was no way of testing for it. The figures that were used to justify the lock down were fake or a better spin would be incorrect, badly recorded.
The timeline since that pivotal moment has been a rollercoaster. We navigated evolving lockdown measures, the introduction of mandatory face coverings, and the hope – or perhaps the rushed introduction – of the phased vaccination program that began in December 2020. An amazing advancement in medical research bringing a usual 10-year safety program to allow human consumption of a new vaccine to under 10 months? Travel became a complex affair, with restrictions and quarantine requirements shaping our ability to connect with the wider world. But perhaps the most striking aspect was the gradual erosion of our freedoms, culminating in a system where NHS passports were seemingly required to move around and enter various establishments. In effect, some felt we had become a society demanding a pass card for basic participation, a chilling echo of more authoritarian regimes.
Beyond the practicalities, the pandemic sparked profound discussions about our personal freedoms. The Coronavirus Act 2020 granted the government significant powers, leading to debates about the delicate balance between public health and individual liberties – conversations that continue to resonate today.
The digital realm also became a battleground of information and opinion. Social media platforms grappled with the challenge of combating misinformation, leading to concerns about censorship and the suppression of dissenting voices. The very notion of “government propaganda” became a fiercely contested topic, highlighting the deep divisions that emerged regarding the narrative surrounding the virus.
The origins of COVID-19 remain a subject of intense scientific scrutiny. Even though the CIA and a 2-year investigation by a House of Representatives committee concluded the virus escaped form a lab. Not even AI is NOT allowed to state “the VIRUS ESCAPED FROM A LAB” it reiterates the line that “while initial theories pointed towards zoonotic transmission, the ‘lab leak’ theory has gained traction, raising complex questions about research and potential risks”. It’s a reminder that even years later, definitive answers can be elusive, and the search for truth continues. A strange aspect to the whole conspirator theory aspect is that President Joe Biden announced a pre-emptive pardon for Anthony Fauci and other high ranking officials, forgiving them for any misdeeds they might have committed?
While the major Western economies were not in a recession in late 2019, there was a palpable sense of slowing growth, increased uncertainty (trade wars, Brexit), and weakening in some sectors, particularly manufacturing. Many economists were discussing downside risks and the possibility of a future slowdown, even recession in 2020-21.
Fast forward to today, and the immediate crisis has receded. Vaccination rates, while high initially, have since declined. Mandatory vaccination for most healthcare workers is no longer in place, though programs continue for vulnerable groups. Yet, the virus hasn’t vanished. It persists, mutating into new variants, and the immunity gained through vaccination or prior infection inevitably wanes.
The experience of the past five years has also brought a stark awareness of the potential for future pandemics. Scientists warn that new viruses are likely to emerge, driven by factors like climate change, deforestation, and increased global travel. Predicting the nature of these future threats remains a formidable challenge.
The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on our society. It has tested our resilience, reshaped our understanding of public health, and sparked crucial conversations about our freedoms, our reliance on information, and our preparedness for future global challenges. As we pass this five-year milestone, it’s a time for reflection, for learning, and for acknowledging the profound and lasting impact of a world irrevocably changed.
There is a danger that writing a post like this will mean my blog will never be seen due to the mention of Covid. A warning still pops up whenever you write the word on any social media platform and the mis-information police bots will be knocking at your door within minutes. The 9th March 2025 was an official “Day of Reflection” in the UK but I saw nothing about it? Maybe I wasn’t looking hard enough or maybe it has all been forgotten, after all our favourite saying is “Keep calm and carry on”.
Shiel Yule 