What is Covid-19 Lockdown?
The UK and the rest of the world, are currently living through times, which at least in living memory are completely unprecedented. This is due to the Covid-19 virus and the measure we have having to undertake to combat it.
For those that have been living on the moon, Covid-19 is a virus, which is similar to a strong flu, however, it attacks the upper respiratory track and can leads to pneumonia which makes those who are elderly or with compromised immune systems highly vulnerable.
Covid-19, unlike flu, is very easily spread through airborne particles from cough and sneezes and has spread rapidly across Italy, France and Spain since been initially reported in China in late 2019/early 2020. Although, Covid-19 is deadly, many people who contact track it, especially, if they are younger and fitter can appear asymptomatic, this has again contributed to the rapid spread of the Covid-19 virus.
In March 2020, the virus case and fatalities started to increase in the UK, rather quickly, and the government started to ask people to limit their time outside the home – especially those who are classed as vulnerable. People were also asked to self-isolate for period of time up to 14 days if the displayed any symptoms of Covid-19. Finally, on the evening of the 23rd March the UK Prime Minister ask that people do stay home as much as possible, that non-essential businesses e.g. pubs, restaurants, hairdressers close for the foreseeable future and that we are a county should limit or time outside the house to shopping for essential items i.e foods, medicine etc. and to taking daily exercise.
And the that’s where we are today 6th May 2020 still under what is commonly called the Covid-19 Lockdown.
Why am I Chasing Rainbows?
So, why am talking about a brief history of Covid-19 in the UK on Pete Walker Photography’s blog?
Well the lockdown has affected Pete Walker Photography quite significantly. Firstly, myself and my wife should be here in Leeds; we should be in Asia on an extended honeymoon. However, the situation in in Asia first cancelled our flights and then the UK situation cancelled our rearranged flights.
Secondly, we are living with my Dad, he is classed vulnerable has he undergoing treatment for chronic leukaemia, so my wife and I are sticking to the letter of the lockdown principles. Limiting super market to once and we and only going out for exercise. Being careful to avoid being home anything nasty.
Therefore, my photographic plans of developing my underwater photography skills were sunk – sorry about the pun.
After an initial period of inactivity due to not knowing what to do in this situation, sitting around the house watching too much TV. Not going out for days on end, wondering where days were disappeared to and generally feeling miserable watching the news 3 times a day, I pushed myself to get on walks.
The walks have been excellent for my mental health, as well as my physical and only just to catch on un-played episodes of the excellent Kermode and Mayo Podcast. I haven’t lived in my hometown for 22 years therefore I have been walking in areas close to my childhood home that I have not been to in close to 30 years. Finding places I had forgotten about retracing footsteps of journeys too school.
The mind started to turn over of the possibilities – perhaps repeating the Square Mile project I did a while back in Hong Kong. Then I started to notice the rainbows in people windows. Mainly drawn my school kids, who are now being homeschooled due to Covid-19 The rainbows are to show support to the Doctors, Nurses and other care workers in the NHS (National Health Service) and other Keyworks in the UK; who are doing a fantastic job in the difficult time and who we are helping to protect by staying at home.
I knew about the rainbows from breakfast television and other news sources, but because I had not been out of the house, I had not really seen them. I found myself extending why walks further following the trails. I was Chasing Rainbows.
The seed project was born…
Keeping within the the local area during my normal daily walks document Rainbows – to chase the Rainbows of the Covid-19 lockdown.
