Britons Help Neighbors Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Jane Werrell
By Jane Werrell
March 23, 2020UK
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The UK has joined other European nations in enacting a lockdown that will be enforced by law, banning all gatherings of over two people to try to stem the spread of COVID-19, the disease the CCP virus causes. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that Britons can only leave their homes for “very limited purposes.”

The British public will now only be allowed to leave home for essential shopping for food, and for a single period of exercise a day, such as walking, cycling, or running. People can also travel to and from work.

All stores will be shut, except for grocery stores. The measures, which will last for three weeks, are effective immediately.

Amid such drastic changes, many Britons are finding hope in acts of kindness.

Some people started to set up informal local networks to help those in isolation with their shopping, picking up their prescriptions, or with whatever support they need.

“People are really desperate and worried. But still, people in that position are thinking of others. So it’s really quite amazing,” said Emma Woodhouse of COVID-19 Mutual Aid UK, a network of volunteers helping their local neighbors.

Others have been slipping notes through their neighbors’ doors.

“The leaflet that says, hi, I’m your neighbor and if you need any essentials, give me a call, ” said Rachel Pleasant who helped to set up the Altrincham Aid Group, which has quickly grown to almost 3,000 members.

“It just really saddens me to see the things going on in the media,” she said. “I just thought if we can focus a bit of that energy to being kind to our communities, then it would make this time so much easier for people.”

As millions of people face isolation, these groups serve as a reminder to people that they are not alone.

NTD refers to the novel coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Party’s coverup and mismanagement of the outbreak allowed the virus to spread across China and become a global pandemic.

Epoch Times reporter Simon Veazey contributed to this report.

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