BBC Young Reporter @ LCS

Covid-19 has spread like wildfire around the globe. We are currently in lockdown and everything is shut down, however, there are a few exceptions which are still open: universities, pharmacies and food shops (we can’t survive without food shops). But hopefully restrictions will be easing soon and life can start to get back to normality.

Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less

Marie Curie

This desire to get back to normal should make you more determined to prevent the spread of the virus. This is why it is vital for everyone to be sticking to the guidelines which are: wearing masks in shops, not hanging out with friends and keeping 2-meter distance with everybody. If we always stick to these rules, we can defeat this virus once and for all.

It is said that Covid-19 not only affects physical health but also affects your mental health too, so make sure you take care of yourself and those around you, by talking about how you feel and seeking support when needed.

If any of the following symptoms, you think you may have, don’t stand there, go get a test done, that way you’re not putting anyone in jeopardy.

• A new continuous cough – this means coughing to a great extent for more than an hour or have more than 3 or 4 coughing episodes in 24 hours. If you usually get a cough and this time it is worse than usual, get a test so you don’t put yourself or anyone else at risk
• A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – This means you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different than usual
• An elevated temperature – This means you feel extremely hot when touching your back or chest

Vaccinations are underway across the nation.

COVID-19 Vaccine

There are different types of vaccines that have been produced. Each one that has been improved is better than the last. The names of some vaccines that have been produced so far are:

• The Pfizer vaccine
• The Novavax jab
• Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine
• Janssen’s Covid-19 vaccine
• AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine

There are 4 different priority groups for the vaccine. This means that there are 4 different groups who are first in-line for the vaccine. These priority groups are

• Group 1 – Residents in a care home (frontline health) and the staff working in care homes/social care  workers
• Group 2 – All those who are 80 years old
• Group 3 – All those who are 75 years old and over
• Group 4 - All those who are 70 years old and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals (this does not include people under the age of 16)

Wear Masks, Stay indoors, Stay safe