Dystopian Views!

After suffering from an infected tooth for four days, I eventually managed to get through to a Dentist this morning on the phone. Relieved, I thought I would finally be able to get some antibiotics to help calm the infection down. Sadly that wasn't to be the case, from the Dentist at least. The Coronavirus has shut down every aspect of British life, and the NHS is only geared up for the influx of COVID-19 patients, not someone like me who has a major toothache. They advised me to contact my GP surgery and hopefully due to the crisis engulfing the country, they would be able to prescribe something to help ease the horrendous pain I am in, against normal practice.

Eventually I spoke to my Doctor, who was amazing as usual. He understood what was happening and prescribed a course of antibiotics. This isn't usual of course, only a Dentist can write a prescription for tooth infections, but because of the emergency situation in the country he agreed to do so and thank God he did. Britain's concentration on fighting COVID-19 is admirable, but should other peoples medical needs really be put at risk in the short term? How many lives will be lost because of the Governments current strategy?

I was also able to ask him about me lack of taste and smell. Once again he told me it was likely to be Coronavirus, but I should carry on as normal, since it was not one of the more usual symptoms. He told me to keep a close eye on my condition and contact if anything changes. He ended by saying it was unlikely to get any worse, since it would have done so by now and described the symptoms as asymptomatic. Personally I am not so sure and know this illness can change suddenly at any time!

The Doctor sent my script to Boots the Chemist in the city and I took a five-minute stroll, across the dual carriageway and into the centre and what a walk it was!

The roads were silent, a rather dystopian view greeted me along the way. There wasn't a soul or car in sight, people were finally listening to Government advice and staying at home during this pandemic. The usually bustling city of Portsmouth was at a standstill. Closed shops, cordoned off roads and shuttered up windows and doors were everywhere, like nothing I have ever seen before; not even on Christmas Day. There wasn't the familiar sound of traffic, children playing in the street or smells from the normally polluted air. All I could hear was birdsong in the distance and the rumble of an empty bus drive past; this was a disturbing picture of life in Britain in 2020, a year none of us will forget!

Collecting my medication was a bit of an annoyance with most entrances to the pharmacy blocked off and a queuing procedure in place, encouraging strict social distancing measures. All the staff were wearing masks and eager to quickly filter you through the shop and out the other side as fast as possible. Luckily there were very few people about, and I was glad to hurry home, away from the great outdoors.

It will take many months if not years for Britain to return to normal and our usual ways of conducting ourselves in public will likely change forever. The saddest part of this dreadful pandemic is all the faces I no longer see, waving and passing the time of day. My hope for the future is just survival during this awful time and the ability to finally rebuild our lives in a better, happier more altruistic way, caring for those who need it most and looking after the vulnerable in a way we always should have done. We are all victims today but tomorrow the sun will shine again!

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