MD Hooper

Sheep socially distancing . (Matt Hooper Photography, Southerness, Dumfries and Galloway June 2019) I am sure you are all aware of the saying that some people are like sheep, because they all behave in the same way or all behave as they are told, and cannot or will not act independently. The Covid-19/Coronavirus Crisis has revealed several sides to the character of the British society. There are the kind and helpful, with many hundreds of community groups established with several thousand volunteers helping their local community get through the crisis. Over 600,000 people registered to volunteer in support of the NHS, an unprecedented effort to support an unprecedented campaign, to defeat an unprecedented public health crisis. There are the understanding, accepting and the determined among us. We know it is an unprecedented situation and we do not diminish the significance of this disease and its danger to life. We are immensely frustrated, some of us are very upset with th...

Right now the world is in crisis. Deaths from Covid-19/Coronavirus have now passed 25,000 deaths in over 200 countries around the globe. There are now well over 500,000 cases worldwide and the pandemic is accelerating, with no end in sight any time soon. Over half of the world's population is under some degree of a restriction as of present, with the UK now under restrictions for 7 days since the closure of restaurants, bars, clubs, pubs and cafe's last week, and under lockdown since Monday evening. Our routine has been thrown up in the air and dropped from a great height. Every human being needs some degree of routine, and much of that does revolve around contact with other human beings. This has been taken away under these restrictions, in order to combat the spread of the disease. However, human beings are very adaptable, and under lockdown we have all found new ways to create routine in these difficult times. The Government are allowing you to leave your ho...

On Thursday night much of the nation stood at their doors and windows to take part in a nationwide applause for our NHS staff, something which is well deserved and a small, but welcome show of appreciation for the doctors, nurses, paramedics and support staff within our National Health Service. I have first hand experience of the skill and wonderful work of the NHS with my Mum, Dad, brother, myself and Anne over the last number of years, and it is a true disgrace the way they are treated by this government, but that is for another day. If anything positive has come out of this crisis we are in it is hygiene, as I discussed yesterday, and recognition for sectors of the economy which for far too long have been mocked and belittled. My mum is a supermarket worker , my girlfriend is a cleaner and my dad used to be a delivery driver and without these three this country would be on its knees right now. The way sections of society have behaved in this crisis has been ut...

If there is anything positive to come out of this disastrous worldwide pandemic it is the potential for human beings to change. Change their travel behaviour. Change their attitudes to the environment. Change their attitude towards each other. Change their attitude towards people working in all types of job. Change their hygiene habits. This virus can be defeated, largely, by the responsible behaviour of people. For many years there has been a huge food hygiene campaign, especially within the hospitality industry. But what about a public hygiene campaign, urging people to do the correct thing and educating them about the benefits for them and the wider society? Since this began in the UK, some 3 weeks ago I have been doing the following: Wash my hands: When I get up After I have been to the toilet Before I have breakfast After I have breakfast Before I go out After I come back in Before dinner After dinner Before and after I have been to the toilet Before I go to ...

Today, sadly but understandably, my operation was postponed due to the Covid-19/Coronavirus outbreak. It will be rearranged but for much later in the year. Another negative of this is that it now confines me to at least three weeks without seeing anyone I know, as under the rules of the Government lockdown I am unable to see Victoria, or travel into St Andrews to see my friends. All of this is though very much understandable, and as we love each other we will still be there for each other once this is all over, and are keeping in touch via the telephone. I am also keeping in touch with my family via phone and Facebook messenger. Today has been another stark day for the UK regarding Covid-19/Coronavirus.  A further 87 people have died and there are now a minimum of 8,077 confirmed positive cases of the disease. This means 5% of those with the illness have died, 10% of those tested have contracted the disease and this could potentially lead to some 8million cases and 400,000 d...

Monday 23rd March, 2020 is another date which will never be forgotten in my life. Effectively the day our way of life was shut down by the Government in response to the Covid-19 Coronavirus crisis. At 8.30pm Prime Minister, Boris Johnson made the following statement: Good Evening, The coronavirus is the biggest threat this country has faced for decades – and this country is not alone. All over the world we are seeing the devastating impact of this invisible killer. And so tonight I want to update you on the latest steps we are taking to fight the disease and what you can do to help. And I want to begin by reminding you why the UK has been taking the approach that we have. Without a huge national effort to halt the growth of this virus, there will come a moment when no health service in the world could possibly cope; because there won’t be enough ventilators, enough intensive care beds, enough doctors and nurses. And as we have seen elsewhere, in other countries that...