Fear of the second wave of Coronavirus

The fear of the second wave of the coronavirus is laying heavily upon us as the reproduction rate gets closer to 1. The Coronavirus, brought the UK to an abrupt halt on the 23^rd March 2020.The strict lockdown started to ease upon the fulfilment of the five rules, which were:

“Confidence that the NHS can provide sufficient care across the UK.”
“A consistent fall in the daily death rate.”
“Evidence that the reproduction rate of infection is falling to manageable levels.”
“Confidence that PPE meets consistent demand.”
“Any adjustments must not risk a second peak.”

Since then the UK has been in a phased return to a “new-normal”. This started with anyone who cannot work from home, to start returning to work. This included construction workers. It then got stretched to non-essential retailers followed closely by restaurants, gyms, pubs and only now bowling alleys and indoor swimming pools are beginning to open.

PPE has now been given to hospitals and care homes, which include disposable gloves, disposable aprons, a fluid repellent surgical mask and eye protection. Medaco are offering a monthly delivery solution to care homes and hospitals. This was one of the initial worries from the government.

What does the Coronavirus cases and deaths look like today?

The deaths of Coronavirus are recorded by anyone who had been diagnosed with Covid 19 and died within 28 days. Previous testing was not done, using this method and it can be said that previous deaths may not have been caused by Covid-19, making it unclear.

The number of daily cases of Covid-19 in the UK has risen by 1089 and the line is steadily rising, and the number of deaths is gradually falling. In Scotland, there has been no deaths today.

The government has now introduced a new National Institute for Health Protection, which will focus on infectious diseases in the UK, Ireland, and Scotland. The main purpose is to combine the Public Health England with the NHS Test and Trace. Matt Hancock describes it as the place where all infectious diseases and pandemics will be controlled, “with a single command structure”.

The NIHP will look at health inequalities and ways to fix it. This can mean people with mental health issues and the effect that Covid-19 has had on them. This will not be the only issue but should be high priority. People over 80 and with underlying health conditions, continue to remain the most at risk.

What has the government put in place to prevent a second lockdown and stop the fear of the second wave of Coronavirus?

The government are taking several measures to prevent the second lockdown and the rise of the Coronavirus. One of these, is to discourage the spread of the virus, by social distancing (2m, unless difficult) then 1m. The next one is by wearing masks in shops and enclosed spaces. This helps due to the infectious molecules, not spreading from one person to another. The final, more drastic measure is by doing local lockdowns. Leicester was the first and amenities are gradually starting to reopen again.

One of the most worrying issues for the government is the issue of children going back to school. By children not going back to school, not only will its detriment the children themselves in achieving grades, social skills, and physical exercise. It will also incur the government, extra costs in the long term. The government has therefore pushed a sustainable message , so that all children will be able to return to education.

What are the mental health illness issues, caused the fear of the second wave of Coronavirus?

Several mental health issues can arise by due to being locked down. A study was carried out by the Centre for Longitudinal studies and published on July 7^th.

Key findings from the study (simplified)

Most common among 19-year olds, followed by 30-year olds then the older generation.
Most likely to be women, though a small marginal difference between male and female.
Common mental health conditions include loneliness, depression, and anxiety.

The lockdown may have caused these conditions, due to the fear of getting the disease, loneliness, isolation, relationship difficulties, friendship issues, family disputes and family illness and many other reasons.

What can you do if you feel anxiety and depression, due to the lockdown?

Depression is a disease, that you alone cannot treat. It is recommended that you see a doctor and/or arrange a consultation with a counsellor. However, there are home treatments that can be put in place to help aid your recovery. These are:

Eat a healthy diet- This can help you feel better by releasing serotonin into the body, which is a natural happiness hormone.
Try to reduce coffee intake. The coffee will give you an immediate boost, but it will only last for a small period and you will go back to your depressive state, quickly.
Increase intake of green tea. Green tea contains caffeine like coffee, but has an additional chemical L-theanine, which prevent the crash, that you would normally get after drinking coffee.
Use meditation, to re-centre yourself. Meditation can help calm you and relax you when you mind feels highly intense with dangerous with sad thoughts.
Write a gratitude journal – Every evening, sit down and write down what you are grateful for, and appreciate what you have, rather than what you do not.
Exercise can help you get over depression as it releases endorphins, which can help boost your mood. Exercise that combines the outdoors or a social aspect, can help the mind and body feel more comforted.
Get enough sleep- If you are unable to get enough sleep at night, your mood can change, and you can feel lethargic and down and be more inclined to eat sugary and caffeinated foods. Staying away from digital and television before bed can help relax you.
Chamomile tea is said to relax you and calm you down – with sufferers with anxiety, this can help ease some of the symptoms.

What should I do if I urgently need to speak to someone?

Various helplines are available for people to talk to including:

Mind – Can help you with various helplines and support. Please use this helpline to gain guidance and support.

Samaritans – Please call 116 123, if you need someone to talk to about any issues that you may be having.

If you feel suicidal or are having a major mental health crisis, call 999 and someone will assist you.

If you feel that you would like counselling, please call Ann-Marie for a Free Telephone Consultation to discuss the best way forward on 07775 918572.