6th July
The much-previewed government declaration that all COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted on 19th July has finally been made, followed closely by the equally loudly trumpeted bursting of the school bubble system. From 19th July, we will all be free to make our own decisions on whether to keep apart from other people or to wear a face-covering in public enclosed spaces. Apparently, our common-sense will protect us (especially if we have been fully vaccinated) from the deadly virus (and, presumably, from our fellow-humans who choose not to take those precautions that would protect us from their possibly virus-laden breath).
For churches, there will be difficult decisions about whether or not to ask/require congregation members to wear facemasks to services and whether or not to have congregational singing (with or without masks). (We’ve already had arguments about choral singing.) Will we choose to record people’s contact details (or ask them to check in using the NHS COVID App) for test-and-trace purposes, or stop bothering?
It’s going to be much harder for everyone from now on. If I get on a bus, will I be attacked by fellow-passengers for wearing a mask … or for not wearing one? If I’m on the bus and non-mask-wearing passengers some up to me and surround me, what will happen if I ask them to move away? Will I even be able to get off the bus to get away from them? I feel very sorry for public transport staff and shop workers, who already often face violence from members of the public, and who will now have even more difficult decisions to make for the safety of themselves and other customers.