Lockdown

So now the UK is in lockdown. In an address to the nation at 8.30 p.m. this evening the Prime Minister Boris Johnson has instructed everyone to stay at home apart from work, shopping for essentials, and one outing per day for exercise. There is to be no socialising except for those in the immediate household, no groups outside of more than two (and those must be in the same family). This will be enforced by the police when necessary.
From what I have seen on the news of crowds socialising in parks, I agree that the country needs these stronger measures. When James and I were out for a short walk for exercise yesterday, we noticed half a dozen young people strolling along and chatting, and a few elderly people chatting together outside the newsagent. I’m assuming that the people within these groups were not from the same household, and yet they won’t have felt that they were doing anything dangerous. As I wrote yesterday, I don’t blame anyone for this; this whole coronavirus situation is so hard to believe. However the new rules make it clearer what is safe, which has to be a good thing, although I think it’s all going to be very strange and restrictive.
I’m not a medical or indeed a scientific person but luckily we have Jamie to keep us right. I had a lovely chat with him on the phone this morning and he was telling us that the situation in New Zealand is very similar to here, although they are a bit behind us; their numbers of people with the virus are still lower. I’m concerned that he is working directly with patients in the hospital because he has asthma. But he has absolutely no intention of not going to work. I’m so proud of him but also worried about him.