COVID-19 LOCKDOWN
If you’re reading this, you will definitely know a little bit about COVID-19 – after all, it’s the reason you’re at home instead of at school! But here’s some more information on the virus and its impact.
The spread of coronavirus
Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that affect animals and occasionally move from animals to humans. COVID-19 is believed to have started in Wuhan, China at a local meat market known to sell wild animal meat. We still don’t know for sure which animal sparked the outbreak.
Scientists are working hard to discover exactly how COVID-19 spreads and believe it works like other viruses, spread through water droplets in coughs and sneezes. For many, including children, this virus isn’t any more dangerous than a cold or maybe the flu. But for others, like the elderly or people with long-term health conditions, getting ill can be more serious. That’s why the UK has been in lockdown and people all over the world are trying their best to avoid spreading the virus.
What happens next?
There’s a lot of work going into finding a vaccine to protect people from the virus and scientists are hoping to have one ready for trials by the end of 2020. In the meanwhile, you will have noticed a lot of changes in day-to-day living. Your school may have moved online, you might not be able to see grandparents or other close relatives face-to-face, and maybe your parents are working from home. These changes won’t be around forever, but they are important steps towards slowing the spread of coronavirus.
So to recap, what are the ways the lockdown has affected people?
In plays, these personal conflicts are ones that characters are a part of.
- Communities have come together to offer support and company in a fearful time, singing from balconies and applauding for hospital staff.
- Schools shut, which affected three main groups of people: students (like you), teachers/staff, and parents/guardians. Imagine the different emotions that a person in each of these roles might feel, particularly about something like learning from home, that affects them all in different ways.
- Shops, restaurants, clubs – the things that normally bring people to town were also forced to close temporarily. In a lot of cases however, without making any money, small and big businesses have struggled and wondered if they’ll afford to re-open.
- So, we’re inside. Social events – like meeting up with friends and family – have moved online. Some people might be going digital for the first time, at least in a big way, in order to stay connected.
Do you think any of these situations would make an interesting scene?
Imagine how a certain type of character – an anti-social person, for example – could react to one of these situations.
You can write your play about anything connected to the theme, even in a small way. It doesn’t have to be a disaster story.
Many acts of kindness have been seen across the world. There are some in the links below.
Videos:
Boris Announces Lockdown:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlJIwTd9fqI
Quarantined Italians sing from their balconies:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q734VN0N7hw
Clap for Carers, across the UK:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5EpwAUwLkk
Animals appearing in cities during lockdown: