“The CV no one wants to see”

Future employers all want to see your CV. However, there’s one CV no one wants to see. It stands for coronavirus. Who had heard of it until early this year?

Certainly not me. It’s entered our world with explosive-like qualities, well and truly taken it over. Now it’s growing like triffids on our shores. The masks and gowns are donned with increasing frequency and the Prime Minister’s even seen fit to make a statement live on TV.

Did this happen with all its predecessors? Tthe SARS virus, monkey virus, avian flu, swine flu? Not that I can remember.

Public awareness campaigns abound, flights have been cancelled, likewise sporting events, conferences and people in implicated venues are stranded abroad. Several are quarantined. We all know the story.

We all know the rules about self-isolation and prevention too. Keep well under lock and key if you’ve any symptoms or known contact with implicated people or places. You won’t be made welcome at your GP’s surgery. Dial 111. Bag and bin used tissues. No snot-rag trails left all over the place, please! Oh, and wash your hands for as long as it takes to sing happy birthday, and so forth.

No public transport, avoid events or places or supermarkets if you’re aged over 60 or have health problems already, we’re being told.

I have numerous health problems and mum is aged 87. Both of us are frail. We don’t want to come face to face with St Peter just yet! We rely on carers who are constantly in and out of people’s houses. Some of their clients, so I’m told, have their heating on to a whopping degree where germs are sure to have a field day.

The carers have to keep going, have not been allocated time off when they feel unwell. “Oh, woman up, we’re short-staffed, we’ve no one else to cover your call,” some have been told.

However, reassuringly they have been issued with guidelines about the dreaded CV, even though people are going to go on needing their services whatever the circumstances.

Another problem is that without testing, how does anyone tell the difference between CV and other forms of colds, flu or viruses? How many have had it already and not known?

So, what can we do other than do our best to be extra vigilant and extra careful without getting too paranoid?

Buckle up everyone, we’re in for a bumpy ride. My thoughts go out to you all, especially the vulnerable.