As I write this, I never thought I would be so pleased to see the back of a year as I am 2020.
At the same time, I have never felt so apprehensive about what the next 12 months holds for our families, our communities and the whole of the UK.
We have seen restrictions on who we can spend time with and how we can celebrate the festive season, and many families are facing up to the loss of loved ones and the future without them.
“The legacy of the pandemic will be with us for years to come, both the actual disease and its social impact”
Some people have been living with such restrictions for many, many months. Some people in care homes have not had a visitor since March 2020!
People have seen their businesses go to the wall. We have seen job losses; many more are in the pipeline and record numbers of families are having to call on food banks.
We have seen a massive outpouring of support for the NHS and keyworkers but, sadly, we haven’t seen the same admiration and outpouring of support for others in public service – many of them equally on the frontline as those who work in intensive care.
On the other hand, I have a sense of hope that 2021 will see the tide turn in our fight against COVID-19.
We will see confidence rise as the vaccination programme rolls out, and a partial return to our post-COVID lives.
We need to continue to be vigilant, because the battle is not over.
The legacy of the pandemic will be with us for years to come, both the actual disease and its social impact.
Happy new year!