Coronavirus has affected and gripped the entire world, almost suddenly. And now as we struggle in the midst of one of the deadliest flus in the last 10 years, we take a look at the devastation it leaves in its wake.

Today we received the news that our own prime minister has fallen prey to the virus. Boris Johnson, 55, confirmed a few hours ago that he had tested positive, as well as the Health Secretary Matt Hancock. It seems that Boris’ days of proclaiming the virus is not a National Emergency are over, and this is how he is repaid for his, unwillingness to shut schools and non-essential shops before the cases are over 10,000. Similarly yesterday, it was found that Prince Charles, himself had developed the symptoms for this virus and was now in isolation. As these key members of our society go into isolation, we are left to ponder as to who will be looking after our country now.

Shopping sprees, a huge rage in the last two weeks, successfully made sure that the country’s hardest workers and most vulnerable are left starving. This frankly disgusting behaviour, even at the constant reminders of shop managers that they have enough for everyone, has caused shop’s to set times for different groups of people: Asda prioritising NHS workers between 8am and 9am, and Tesco the elderly and vulnerable from 9am to 10am. This shows acting out of necessity, looking to help everyone, but this wouldn’t have been needed to be done had everyone looked out for others and bought only what they need. Just after the above mentioned times finish, the public masses come in: squabbling over toilet paper, frozen food, sanitary products, tins… It’s almost like the shops are going to close for months and we’re never going to see food again.

Boris Johnson’s plea for Britain to stay at home (#stayhomesaveslives) has constantly been ignored by selfish and arrogant people. Similar to Australia on the Bondi Beach, people seem to trying to get in their last ‘essential’ relaxing time before they never go to the parks again. This is absolutely inconsiderate behaviour and, especially combining with the tightly squashed-in living and working conditions of London, has contributed to the ever-increasing number of deaths from coronavirus, yesterday peaking at 578 with over 11,000 cases. The refusal for people to stay at home stems from: ‘I’m young, I’m not in danger’, ‘I need to relax with my friends and family’, ‘I need to visit my elderly parents on Mother’s Day – although they’re most at risk’.

Our government’s refusal to act and people’s refusal to comply, stands in stark contrast with China and Hong Kong. The immediately-conducted lockdown ordered by Xi Jinping and his government, has seen China’s – especially Wuhan’s, the original epicentre of the coronavirus, - death tolls decrease significantly, and in some places eradicated completely, with people being allowed to go out and about on their normal lives again. As Boris Johnson goes into isolation, these are the questions that are brought to mind. How did China manage and we, as a democratic nation (where everyone respects each other), have only managed to make matters worse. The answer is all around us: from people refusing to acknowledge the facts; from being defiant against a world pandemic, and yet we as a nation think that we are better than other countries?

For now, all we can do is sit and wait as Britain’s peak hits in two to four weeks. Young people with their restless minds should perhaps take into consideration their elderly neighbours, living in complete isolation: others cannot imagine what they are going through. Now more than ever, as we all stay at home, it has never been a more important time to stand together – even if that has to be through a phone screen. No one can urge the necessity to look out for others by staying away from them and, as we sit on our sofas, we will wait for this all to pass over – to wake up - for all this to be a distant dream. #stayhomesaveslives