Keep Calm and Carry On!

The famous British 'stiff upper lip' may be unfashionable and even mocked in the world of woke but the wobbly lip simply doesn't serve us!

I am shocked that the 'nuclear option' of potential economic ruin is even being considered re putting Britain on lockdown over what is, essentially, a particularly nasty dose of flu. And sadly every flu epidemic brings deaths.

Here are my emergency measures if I ruled the country:

Personal Safety Measures

·        Boost immune system with plenty of sleep, good hygiene, nutritious food and vitamin C and don’t let yourself get run down or dehydrated

·        Don’t kiss babies, toddlers or the very elderly or sick on the face.

·        Don’t kiss pets

·        Wash hands with soap each time you go indoors/feed your pet/change a nappy/prepare food etc.
Clean your mobile phones, remote controls and keyboards daily

·        No public handshaking, hugging or kissing. Reserve intimacy for intimates.

·        Carry a packet of tissues around at all times (coughs and sneezes spread diseases) and don’t spit in public.

·        Don’t buy uncovered food or share food and wash all fruit and vegetables before using.

·        Extra measure: Face masks are not known for efficacy but wearing latex gloves can be more beneficial. The Queen has a habit of wearing normal gloves (replaced every day) to reduce her own exposure to germs. They are not just an accessory to her outfits. And she is apparently hardly ever sick.
     Invest in a thermometer and check your temperature every day. If it's above normal, self isolate.

·        Keep calm and carry on! Business as usual.

Public Safety Measures

·        Invest in temperature scanners at airports, train stations, shopping centres and venues to pick up anyone with a high temperature who might need further testing.

·        Bring back public ban on spitting or coughing/sneezing without handkerchief (as used to exist to prevent spread of TB) and chewing gum deposits as well. Extend to sports pitches and activities.

·        Isolate only those who need isolating. Keep everything else open for business as usual

·        Reopen any closed wards or nursing homes as emergency isolation centres and offer incentives to NHS staff to come out of retirement to staff them.

·        No buffets or food sharing

·        No uncovered food in cafes, restaurants or shops

·        Cleanse public building and public transport door handles daily and businesses need to cleanse shop trolley and basket handles

·        Keep calm and carry on! Business as usual.

   A pandemic of panic helps no one and the stress of being triggered into a heightened or
   prolonged state of anxiety is enough to bring many people’s immune systems down and
   render them vulnerable to infections.