Let's stop being so British about #Covid19

We own a dog. He is a lurcher called Cash. We got him from the Dog's Trust (fantastic charity but that's a different article) in January this year. We walk him twice a day in a large nature reserve which backs onto our garden. So far, so what does this have to do with being British and Covid-19? Let me tell you. Over the weekend and again this morning, I have had to stop people coming over - some with children - and pet the dog. People are astonished that I am being so "unfriendly". [Dog owners are particularly friendly bunch]. When I mention that my family and I are taking the social distancing advice very seriously with both my husband and I working from home for well over a week and the children not going to birthday parties or having play dates there is genuine confusion on peoples' faces.

There is a reason for this. Our government has not provided decisive and clear advice which is universally understood AND more importantly implemented. Until they do we will continue to see scenes like those shown on the news this weekend. Many people in Britain treated last week and this weekend like extra holidays - they went on day trips to the seaside; they booked holidays in the Lake District; they went to the hairdressers, nightclubs and restaurants. I understand it.

The United Kingdom, unlike our European neighbours, has taken a different approach to #social distancing. At 5pm every day there is a press briefing where our Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet along with healthcare professionals take questions. Thus far there have been far to many conditionals. "We may" "Possibly" "Perhaps" "Would suggest" . We need clear, concise directions. We need our government to do just that: to govern. In my view we should all be acting as if we all had the virus. That would surely help flatten the curve?

I understand that the government may have (political) reasons for not instituting a lock-down like our French cousins. Our social security systems are different. "Chommage technique" does not exist as a concept in the UK. But it should. Telling pubs and restaurants to keep open but people not to go as the Prime Minister did last week was a cop-out. More needs to be done to ensure that people - many thousands and thousands (perhaps even millions) - are looked after during this economic downturn. Grants need to made readily available to businesses (and those who are self-employed) to keep people employed. At the time of writing a lot of retail chains were not closed. Although some have started to implement partial closures. My guess is more will come.

We need to stop being so British with our politeness and "keep calm and carry on" approach. We need to keep our distance from each other. In the absence of positive government from our political leaders we need to act as responsible human beings and stay at home. For all our well-being. Let's flatten the curve and come out of this as more connected than ever in our solidarity and understanding that what we do to one we do to all.