Wessex Scene Pandemic Issue by Wessex Scene

PANDEMIC

EDIT OR Linnea Lagerstedt editor@wessexscene.co.uk DEPUTY EDITO R Macey McDermott deputy-editor@wessexscene.co.uk H EAD O F DESI GN Benjamin Smyth design@wessexscene.co.uk H EAD O F I MAGERY Mary Frances Rose image@wessexscene.co.uk ONLINE & MARKETING MANAGER & HEAD OF EVENTS AND OUTREACH Luke Boulton publicity@wessexscene.co.uk events@wessexscene.co.uk S UB-EDITO RS

Alice MacArthur

Rebecca Williams

Farida Yusuf

FE AT URES EDITO R Katie Byng-Hall features@wessexscene.co.uk OPINI O N EDI TO R Tom Collyer opinion@wessexscene.co.uk POLITICS EDITO R Sam Pearson politics@wessexscene.co.uk SCIENCE & TECH EDITOR Lisa Stimson science@wessexscene.co.uk LIFE S TYL E EDI TO R Megan Gaen lifestyle@wessex scene . c o . uk T RAVEL EDI TO R Laura Prost travel@wessexscene.co.uk SPOR TS EDITO R Kai Chappel sport@wessexscene.co.uk PAUS E EDITO R Emily Dennis pause@wessexscene.co.uk

NEW S & INVESTIGA TIO N S

Welcoming a new generation... Hi everyone and welcome to another year of Wessex Scene! Whether you are a returning student or a Fresher, we wish you the best of luck for the upcoming year! Freshers may not be what we’re used to this year but there’s still a lot in store and it remains an exciting time at university. Normally, our first issue of the year is centered around your freshers week experience, but during the current circumstances we thought a new approach was necessary. So, ahead of you are 36 pages filled with insightful pieces on pandemics old and new. When we began planning this magazine, we quickly realized that we wanted to highlight the voices of the UoS students that have been impacted by the pandemic. So, I (virtually) sat down with two healthcare students from Southampton who graduated early and have first hand experience working to combat the virus. You can read what they have to say on page 8. You can also read about the devastating effects this pandemic has had on our collective mental health (p. 21), as well as how homophobia heavily influenced the ways in which the world viewed the AIDS pandemic (p. 6, p.19). On the brighter side of the spectrum, we cover the opportunities lockdown has provided, and share a laugh at satirical accounts of Bojo’s response. So no matter what your pandemic experience has been like, I hope you can find something that resonates with you. I want to thank my predecessor Charlotte Colombo, my amazing team and everyone who’s contributed to this magazine, as well as you, the reader, for taking the time out of your day to see what we’ve created. This is a tough time for everyone, so please remember to take care of yourself and stay safe. Adversity always has and always will lend itself to extremes, and while it can bring out the best in people, it also often brings out the worst. This year has reminded us all once again that we live in a fundamentally unjust world. Covid-19 has brought out a rise of xenophobia, the disproportionate deaths of Black people and a recession that’s put even more people below the poverty line. The world needs changing and we are long past lip service and hashtags. We must act and we must do so now. Therefore, I am dedicated to using Wessex Scene as a force of social change this year, and I hope you will come along on the journey with us. Your Editor,

LINNEA LAGERSTEDT Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this magazine belong to each author alone - Wessex Scene is a neutral publication which aims to publish views from across the student body. To respond with an opposing opinion, please contact opinion@ wessexscene.co.uk or join our Opinion Writers’ Group.

news/investigations@wessexscene.co.uk

FRONT COVER IMAGE BY BENJAMIN SMYTH Brodie Brown

Alishia Markwell

Ruby Wood

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FEATURES OPINION

04 MY EXPERIENCE WITH MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT DURING LOCKDOWN 06 HOW HOMOPHOBIA SHAPED GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THE AIDS PANDEMIC 08 IN CONVERSATION WITH UOS HEALTHCARE STUDENTS 11 A BRIGHTER SIDE TO LOCKDOWN: GROWING CLOSER TO THE ONES YOU LOVE

THIS PANDEMIC IS THE LEAST OF OUR WORRIES

WHY WAS SOUTH KOREA SO SUCCESSFUL IN DEALING WITH THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC?

WARTIME INNOVATION AND ITS COUSIN, THE PANDEMIC.

POLITICS SCIENCE & TECH 20

OXFORD COVID-19 VACCINE TRIAL SHOWN TO PRODUCE A STRONG IMMUNE RESPONSE

WHY THE DIVERGING MENTAL SIDE EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE PHYSICAL

WHAT’S IN A NAME? THE PROBLEM WITH NAMING DISEASES.

SPORTS 26 HAS COVID-19 CHANGED THE WAY WE WATCH SPORT?

CORONAVIRUS PARANOIA SPARKS IGNORANT XENOPHOBIA AGAINST ASIAN PEOPLE

PAST PANDEMICS: THE BLACK DEATH AND MEDIEVAL POLITICS

WHAT HAS COVID TOLD US ABOUT THE WHO?

THE GAY PLAGUE: THE HOMOPHOBIA OF THE AIDS CRISIS

LIFESTYLE HOW SOCIAL MEDIA HAS HELPED AND HINDERED DURING LOCKDOWN

WHAT LOCKDOWN TAUGHT ME

RECIPES FROM LOCKDOWN

TRAVEL UK STAYCATION HOTSPOTS 29

PAUSE 32

RARE CASES OF ‘STUPID’ POPPING UP ACROSS THE GLOBE SPARK PANDEMIC CONCERNS THE TOP GOVERNMENT MASK-OFF MOMENTS THAT LEFT MIDDLE AGED WHITE MEN SHOCKED

W ESSEX SCE NE . CO . UK @ WES S EXS CENE WESSEX SCENE

A PERSONAL ACCOUNT OF 30 INTERCONTINENTAL TRAVEL DURING A PANDEMIC THE COVID-19 GENERATION: 31 THE NEW OUTLOOK OF A NEW GENERATION

F B . C OM / W S C E N E @OF F IC IAL W E S S E X S C E N E 3

FEATURES

M Y E X P E R I E N C E W I T H M E N TA L H E A LT H T R E AT M E N T D U R I N G L O C K D O W N

oronavirus has had a greater impact than simply on those infected, and for many people, their mental health has been hit hard. I have suffered from anxiety and depression for about three years. Usually, I function quite well, but when I have bad days it can have a profound impact on my ability to do even the smallest things. Like for many people, the pandemic and lockdown has made this a lot harder. In mid-March this year, it was suddenly announced that the end of term was going to be brought forward by a week. As naïve and self-centred as it sounds, this whole Covid-19 thing was suddenly something real in my life, not just a poster in Hartley saying to wash our hands more. It wasn’t something happening somewhere else to other people. It was real. Then, on March 23rd, those of us left in our student house huddled together to watch Boris Johnson address the nation, announcing the start of lockdown. I remember feeling scared and uncertain. We had no idea how long it would last for, or how effective it might be. But there was a strong sense that things would not be normal again for a very long time, if ever.

The assessment was really hard on me. I cried a lot. There were things they asked that I couldn’t answer so I panicked and froze. But they were patient with me and sympathetic. I was worried about feeling judged or pitied, but I wasn’t. It was a relief more than anything, despite how difficult it was getting through it at first. I was referred for six weeks of CBT, done through weekly 30-minute phone calls. I didn’t like how short the sessions were, but slowly we started making progress. The physical symptoms are still there and probably always will be, but I was taught how to manage my thoughts and given strategies to make them less overwhelming. I am better equipped to deal with them now, and the bad days aren’t quite so bad anymore. I know that not everyone is lucky enough to have a positive experience with the system, and there are a lot of people with similar problems or worse who are scared to get help, or don’t know how. I’m grateful to have people around me who support me and pushed me to do this. This pandemic has been hard on everyone, so if you are struggling then you’re not alone. There is help out there.

The first time I went food shopping during lockdown was terrifying. I remember feeling incredibly self-conscious as I desperately tried to avoid other people who were less fussed about keeping their distance. I couldn’t breathe and I felt like I was going to have a panic attack right in the middle of Tesco. Things got even harder when uni resumed online. I love what I study, and I so desperately wanted to throw myself into it, but I just didn’t have the concentration or energy. Keeping up with all the work I had to do was exhausting and the mental drain was making me physically sick. I wasn’t looking after myself and often I would just lie on my bed and stare at the ceiling feeling nothing. So I really needed help. I referred myself to a counselling service with an online form and an assessment was set up. Everything was done over phone calls or online, because in person meetings were, for obvious reasons, not possible. Opening up to a stranger about all the ways in which I was struggling over the phone was not easy.

WORDS BY REBECCA WILLIAMS IMAGE BY FRANCES ROSE

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HOW HOMOPHOBIA SHAPED GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THE AIDS PA N D E M I C

ccording to the World Health Organisation, 33 million people have died of HIV/AIDS globally since the first cases were detected nearly 40 years ago.

When HIV/AIDS first became a concern of the British general public in the 1980s, as opposed to just those suffering from it, there was a great deal of misinformation and fear surrounding the condition. Although individuals of all sexualities and genders can suffer from HIV and AIDS, at the time, a large proportion of people who had the virus were gay or bisexual men, or intravenous drug users. In an effort to raise awareness of the impacts of HIV/ AIDS and to help slow the spread of the pandemic, the government introduced a campaign. At the time, most people who had contracted the disease had done so by having unprotected sex with an HIV-positive person. Thus, it made sense that a substantial part of the campaign should centre on encouraging safe sex, including the use of condoms and monogamy. Unfortunately, the Conservative government at the time, led by Margaret Thatcher, had some issues with discussing the sex lives of all British adults, particularly non-heterosexual men. It is no surprise that Thatcher discouraged a national campaign which aimed to discuss safe sex for gay and bi men when one considers that Section 28 was introduced in the late 80s, banning the ‘promotion’ of homosexuality in schools. Thatcher was against the idea of mentioning anal sex in the campaigns, and things had to be changed to meet her requirements. The government’s inability to create a campaign that effectively targeted the groups most at risk of the disease was caused by the refusal of those in power to discuss things that they considered taboo, namely the sex lives of gay and bisexual men. As such, much of this education was left to smaller charities (like the Terrence Higgins Trust),

largely run by members of the LGBTQ community, whose reach and funding was certainly not as great as what the government was capable of. Aside from the discussion surrounding safe sex, the government also introduced a number of advertisements regarding the virus which can only be described as frankly, quite frightening. In 1986, the government introduced the ‘Don’t Aid AIDS’ campaign. What is often remembered as the biggest part of the campaign is a particular TV advert which depicted a very large black grave with the word AIDS etched into it, followed by the slogan ‘Don’t die of ignorance’. The advert’s aim was clearly to ignite fear in people (especially sexually active young gay and bi men and intravenous drug users), as opposed to offering a genuine education on how to prevent the spread of AIDS and assist those already suffering from it. Ultimately, the British government’s response to the AIDS pandemic was clouded by its prejudiced attitudes towards gay people. It is of course extremely important to remember that HIV and AIDS does not just affect homosexuals, and that there are many people across the globe of all genders and sexualities who have the condition, but this didn’t stop the pandemic causing a spike in homophobia in Britain at the time. As of 2019, WHO reported that 38 million people are living with HIV worldwide. Thankfully, today many of those who have the disease live long and happy lives with the assistance of medication, and there have been many breakthroughs in terms of both the treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS. However, some countries across the globe do not have the same access to these treatments, and neither cases nor deaths will reduce or disappear until accessibility improves.

WORDS BY MACEY MCDERMOTT IMAGE BY FRANCES ROSE

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IN CONVERSATION WITH UOS HEALTHCARE STUDENTS Disclaimer: This article has been shortened for editorial purposes, visit our website for the full interview.

n August Wessex Scene spoke to Nursing graduate Lydia Foreman and Medicine graduate Vikash Dodhia to discuss their experiences working in healthcare during the Coronavirus Pandemic. How did the pandemic affect your course of study? LF: I was meant to be in uni doing lectures and our dissertation in April but with the university closing we were told there would be a possibility we’d get pulled into work early. We could choose if we wanted to opt in and I managed to go back to a team I had my fourth placement with, community team. We started in April and that classes as my last placement and I’m being paid for it. First two weeks I was with someone and you go back and regroup with the team for handover, but you’re very much on your own. I’ve had a few days with the senior nurses but it’s been really good and my confidence has developed, but it’s been a strange way to go into it. If you chose to not work during the pandemic you weren’t guaranteed to qualify on time so if we didn’t t do it this way it might not have been safe for us to start placement until September. VD: Our finals are in January, so we’d pretty much sat all of our exams. In Medicine we finish our final year with two modules called the elective and assistantship. Elective is when you spend time away from the hospital you usually spend your placement in, so a lot of people go and experience medicine in another country but that didn’t work out. After that we have assistantship, which is shadowing an F1 for four weeks. There wasn’t a lot of communication and everything was changing quickly, so we were sitting there wondering and waiting. It was quite frustrating because we’d passed our finals, the next

WORDS BY LINNEA LAGERSTEDT IMAGE BY EDWARD OLDFIELD two modules you don’t learn any knowledge, so we were pretty much as useful as we were going to be in August. With everyone else working really hard you feel like you could be useful, which was frustrating. I initially took a job as a doctor’s assistant for two weeks and then they set up the interim programme. They made a role called interim foundation doctor which is essentially working as a doctor but without the on call commitment. Considering how quickly you were thrown into work, do you feel you were properly prepared? LF: It was difficult but going back to a team I was familiar with helped. Being in my final year I feel like I’ve been ready to qualify and have been in a position where I’ve been able to go into a job. At first it was hard with information as the government was constantly changing their mind on what they wanted and it was a quick decision, but most of us have been understanding because nobody knows what’s happening. VD: Whenever you start working it’s scary but in terms of what I missed from University I don’t think I was any less prepared. The module I missed was essentially what I was now being paid to do which was nice. Emotionally, I’d say no, but partly that’s because nobody had experienced Covid medicine and that was quite different and draining. It wasn’t the same as seeing normal sick people because it got bad quickly. Did you have access to sufficient PPE? LF: Since I’ve started we’ve always had masks but there’s been a massive demand. I haven’t been gowning up every time I see patients but for patients

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“ It’s been nice for the public to recognise what the NHS is doing it’s just a shame it’s taken something this big to get that support.” Lydia Foreman, Nursing Graduate that are suspected to have Covid we had more protection. I always felt safe working and I had training adapted to the circumstances on what you do in terms of resuscitation and PPE, which was helpful. VD: Yes. We had minimal contact with the patients because the consultants were good and they’d go in and dictate the plan so you only had to go in if they were sick to review them. That way we minimised contact. There were people in every other bed and there was enough PPE. The thing that was a odd was WESSEX SCENE

that the rules kept changing. One day we’d be told we needed a certain mask and then the next we were told actually you don’t need a mask that good. How do you feel about campaigns like clap for carers? LF: It’s been nice for the public to recognise what the NHS is doing it’s just a shame it’s taken something this big to get that support. That support’s always been there but it’s been a reminder what a big impact the services have. Our team really liked it. 9

VD: I felt it was more directed to others as I’d just started working, they were the ones doing the hard work. I get it from the public, but I think the government jumped on it a bit too much to distract from hospitals being massively underfunded. A lot of the issues we’ve come into now is because hospitals have been shrinking and there’s fewer bed spaces. At my hospital it wasn’t Covid that was the issue but it was what was happening to the rest of the medicine. There were too many patients and everyone was a lot sicker because they’d been avoiding coming into hospital. I think the clap for carers was a nice gesture, but it doesn’t make up for the funding of the system. Have you been offered any mental health support during these times? LF: They did a wellbeing check on us and we’ve had regular meetings with senior members of staff and the support in our team’s been really good. We’ve also tried to give as much support as we can to patients, making them aware of the services that are available. VD: My colleagues and the nurses were really supportive and I felt really comfortable in that sense but I went into it thinking that we’re just doing a day job, filling a gap. The other doctors were working a lot harder. With Covid there were a lot more doctors working nights and weekends, which meant that there were shortages during the day that we filled in. I never felt I was in a position where I felt bad for myself because those guys were working every other weekend, nights every few weeks. I wouldn’t say there was much formal stuff but I didn’t feel undersupported. Beyond the NHS, has the university offered you any support? LF: We get emails from the year lead and the placement team to check how we’re getting on and they’ve attached documents about referring us to the support services at the university as well. VD: They sent a lot of words of encouragement but in terms of emotional support there wasn’t much.

The welfare part of the faculty of Medicine has always been really overworked and I don’t think that’s through anyone’s fault I think unfortunately that’s just politics of how many staff they’re allowed to hire for those roles. With the government loosening lockdown restrictions, how do you think this will affect the country and the health care system? Do you think it’s positive or negative? LF: I think it’s positive because it has been a few months now, but it’s only possible as long as people are being sensible. We don’t want to see a big rise again because people are just going back to how things were before. VD: Lockdown had to end at some point the whole point of lockdown was to flatten the curve and people seemed to think it was actually just to stop anyone getting Covid. But if we do have a second peak we can’t afford to turn hospitals back to what they were with like half-Covid half non-Covid. If we were to stop elective medicine again it would get to a point where it was almost too late to recover from. What do you wish the general public understood more about the pandemic and healthcare? LF: For those with vulnerable family members keep looking out for them and being sensible. It’s really difficult but if we follow the advice we’ve been given we can get through the pandemic and get back to some sort of normality and reunite with our family members again. VD: I’ve seen a lot of posts from doctors being like you don’t understand what’s going on but I’m sure the public do. What I’d say is if people want to break lockdown I think they need to really understand how nasty the disease can be especially if you’re from at risk groups. I was shocked at some of the people I saw ill. They’re fighting fit people, they weren’t the type of people you would expect to see that sick, and it’s not just that it’s everything that comes with it. Covid is a pretty nasty disease.

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A BRIGHTER SIDE TO LOCKDOWN: GROWING CLOSER TO THE ONES YOU LOVE

hen thinking about the lockdown that the UK entered into at the beginning of this year, most of the thoughts which immediately come to mind are likely to be negative. However, this time of uncertainty gave many people the opportunity to grow closer to one another. For me, getting to spend a lot more time with my family allowed us to develop a bond that had been absent in recent years. The UK lockdown implemented by Boris Johnson in March 2020 meant that I got to spend almost four months back in my family home, thus getting the quality time with my family that I had been missing since being away at university. I am by no means suggesting that I don’t enjoy living in Southampton with my friends, but there is something reassuring and comforting about being with your family during a crisis. And there has been no crisis bigger in this country that I have experienced first-hand than the Coronavirus pandemic. We were forced to stay inside and not go to work, inevitably leading to boredom as most sources of outdoor fun with others were prohibited as well. However, this meant that my family and I were made to grow closer, which was definitely needed. It’s quite easy to take your loved ones for granted, and the lockdown situation was a big reality check for me about the importance of a good family relationship. Being blessed by nice weather throughout the four months spent back with my family could only mean one thing. Barbeques. And lots of them. They may not be great for your waistline, but they are certainly delicious. Complemented by a variety of different games, including

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Top Trumps and our own version ‘heads up’, the high volume of barbeques were also guaranteed to be high in quality. The heads up game usually brought about the most laughs, mainly due to the inside jokes which always tickled each other’s funny bones. Moments spent laughing along with your family, especially in a time of apprehension, are incredibly important, and these snippets of happiness played a big part in my ability to stay calm through the worst of the pandemic. Another activity that came to life during my time at home in the period of lockdown was a good old-fashioned pub quiz. I stumbled upon a Facebook page in the middle of March titled ‘The Virtual Pub Quiz’ which has since become a very popular Facebook and Youtube event. Each week on both a Thursday and a Saturday evening the family and I sat down, had a few snacks and engaged our brains in five rounds of tricky general knowledge questions. Our competitive nature made this twice-weekly event a fun but heated one (even if we did work as a team). Even though as a whole, the experience of lockdown and the COVID-19 situation has not been overly positive, there are still some brighter things to draw from this bizarre experience. Growing closer to my family and reestablishing a connection that had been lost over the past few years has been refreshing, and something that I had needed in my life without realising. It is just a shame that it took a global pandemic for it to happen.

WORDS BY CHARLOTTE BRENNAN IMAGE BY ZOË SHORT 11

OPINION

THIS PANDEMIC IS THE LEAST OF OUR WORRIES Disclaimer: The views expressed within this article are entirely the author’s own and are not attributable to Wessex Scene as a whole.

hile the coronavirus pandemic has certainly changed a lot of what people know to be ‘normal,’ other ongoing problems and the ghosts of history are a constant reminder that this is not the worst it’s going to get for us. The world and its population has been threatened with a great deal of pandemics over the course of history. Most people know of the Black Death: killing up to 200 million people worldwide during the 30 years it was most prevalent in the Middle Ages. It also resurfaced a number of times, making it a pretty horrific occurrence. While it would be nice to think that this part of history is not likely to repeat itself, based on how many countries and governments have been dealing with the pandemic, it’s quite possible the disease might spike up again even if we think it’s gone completely. And this isn’t just a second wave that would hit during the same year, but a recurrence that could pop up after many clear months. By that point, most things will have returned to a state of normality, so it would be quite effective at quickly wiping out even more of the population. But this pandemic has presented us with a lot more problems than a life-threatening disease. What it has successfully achieved is elongating the divide between different classes of people, ensuring that the richest are richer still, and that those who live far from luxury are swamped in poverty. While many people have gotten poorer during the pandemic, it has been thought that

between them, American billionaires have gained around $500B, which they’re unlikely to share with the lessfortunate. An even smaller amount of people with even more of the global wealth is a huge problem, not just for the people left out of the club, but also the environment that ultimately will suffer at the hands of the elite. The global disaster of climate change, which before Coronavirus was imminent due to pollution levels warming the entire Earth, has reportedly been lessening during the pandemic. With many people staying indoors and being unable to continue polluting activities including flying, many think that the pandemic will have benefited the environment. However, this is not the case. The disease itself is disastrous to wildlife, with the potential that Covid mutations could affect similar species to us such as mountain gorillas. The lockdown for countries rich with wildlife has been damaging in the sense that illegal poaching on both land and sea has begun again due to reduced ability to regulate the practice, endangering many species that are already existing only precariously. Similarly, reduced tourism to many poorer countries has meant that government budgets reserved for wildlife protection have had to be spent elsewhere, adding to the destruction of more habitats. However, it still gets worse. As though premature death and earth destruction isn’t enough to make the future seem scary, societal and political shifts are going to continue for much longer. It’s not glorious to imagine things so pessimistically, but what has become increasingly obvious is that the human race is just no good. This pandemic is truly the least of our worries, for our lifetime anyway.

WORDS BY EMILY DENNIS IMAGE BY SUPRIYA BHONSLE VIA MIXKIT (PUBLIC DOMAIN)

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WHY WAS SOUTH KOREA SO SUCCESSFUL IN DEALING WITH THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC? Disclaimer: The views expressed within this article are entirely the author’s own and are not attributable to Wessex Scene as a whole.

n March and April of 2020, when countries across Europe were in lockdowns of varying severity, their populations looked on with jealousy as the people of South Korea were living a life of nearnormality. At first glance you would think South Korea had somehow remained immune to the coronavirus, however this was not the case. South Korea was in fact one of the first countries to be hit with the virus in January, not long after China. However, what was to follow for South Korea’s population was not a lengthy lockdown, but instead an organised and successful track and trace system was put in place, which was used to control the spread of the virus. Of course, the country’s population had to abide by social distancing rules and businesses and events that couldn’t abide by these were shut down for a period of time. Also, it’s worth noting that there have been small outbreaks in the country over the summer months, but these have been successfully located and controlled. Mostly, the population were able to keep their death rates and cases very low due to their dedication to testing, and the successful isolation of positive cases. When the World Health Organisation explained that the best way to deal with the virus was to ‘test, test, test’ this is exactly what South Korea did. This in comparison to the UK, is where the test and trace system is not up to the standard it needs to be. According to a report in The Guardian, scientists have noted that the system is not working at a sufficient rate - it should find up to 80% of those who’ve been in contact with someone with the virus in order to keep the infection rate down, but this appears to not be happening. A further reason South Korea has managed to keep its death toll to a very low 302 is because it took the threat of Coronavirus seriously from the start. Whilst UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson first called for herd immunity, and there have been claims he missed numerous meetings regarding the virus at the start of the year, South Korea realised how substantial the death toll would be with an attitude like his. South Korea did not take this mindset, as many remembered the lives lost during the Sars outbreak in the country in the early 2000s. South Korea faced the

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pandemic with a clear and ordered approach, which is something lots of countries (most notably the UK and the US) lacked. Of course, government policy was, and remains to be, key in controlling COVID-19, but individual action is also very important. A key example of this is wearing a mask in instances where social distancing is not possible. In South Korea they have a better understanding of how important wearing a mask is in terms of slowing the spread of the virus. Thus, masks have been readily and cheaply available since the first cases of the virus in the country. South Korea is one of the places across the globe looked to with great admiration in terms of its dealings with the COVID-19 pandemic. What led to this success was an educated and organised government response, alongside the same response from the general population. This is something lots of countries failed to have, which has had disastrous implications, and resulted in the loss of many lives due to sheer stubbornness.

WORDS BY MACEY MCDERMOTT IMAGE BY PAUL BECKER VIA FLICKR 13

Wartime Innovation and it

Disclaimer: The views expressed within this article are entirely the authorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own and are not attributable to Wessex Scene as a whole.

ar is the cause of countless atrocities. However, it also gives way to huge advances in technology. The reality of lockdown has been compared by many to wartime Britain in the way our freedoms have had to be restricted, lives have been lost and overall, how life has been put on pause. But might there also be a parallel when it comes to technological advancement? I think so. While a tragedy, we should look at the pandemic as an opportunity for development, possibly creating a better future. If we use World War II as an example, huge leaps forward were made. The first production planes with pressurised cabins dropped bombs, and jet fighters eventually shot them from the sky. Later the same technology was used in passenger planes. Radar navigation was also

â&#x20AC;&#x153;While a tragedy, we should look at the pandemic as an opportunity for development, possibly creating a better future.â&#x20AC;? PANDEMIC

t’s Cousin, the Pandemic. developed to end lives from the sky. The same breakthrough in the accuracy of radar systems is what paved the way for the microwave oven. The impetus to begin mass distribution of penicillin (discovered in 1928) was for Allied troops in 1944. The first computer, using Boolean logic developed almost a century before, was used to decode German messages. The technology that flattened Hiroshima and Nagasaki led to the development of arguably the best source of power we have in the modern day. All these technologies have a bloody past. The lives lost were not worth the comfort we experience today, but it is done, and it is undeniable that war at least accelerated the coming of modern society and the technology that forms it. Among the tragedies of history that war dominates, instances of disease and natural disaster also stick out for the panic they caused as humanity came to terms with its lack of control. While war has—whether transferable from the science of killing or not—always seen effective technological growth, I think one look at a medieval plague doctor’s suit is enough to show you that pandemics haven’t always had such an effect. However, the COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in an increase in the development of medical and communications technology, let alone the economic experiments it has triggered. Aside from the obvious progress of developing a vaccine, other new methods have been devised to fight the spread of the disease. Scientists at Merck have been using AI for the early stages of testing and adjusting new drugs to combat the virus. Sewage testing to map the spread of the virus is a new and promising method, opening up possibilities for use in the future. As the pandemic continues and the dust gradually clears, it is easy to envisage that more new medicines and methods will have been discovered directly as a result of the pandemic.

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The real noticeable advancement already is in how we communicate. Now some may argue that the technology of Zoom and Microsoft Teams already existed before the entry of COVID-19, meaning the pandemic has not effected change in this area. However, like penicillin or jet engines, it is the widespread use of the new technology as an integral part of life that is the real transformation. The use of large-scale video calls and demand on Internet connectivity has accelerated 5G roll-out plans, made companies optimise their services, and seen a change in the way many people work that looks like it may be a lot more permanent than originally planned. The appearance and culture of office work may have changed permanently, hopefully for the better, possibly for the worse. Looking away from technology for a moment, COVID-19 has led to hardship that has triggered huge economic actions from governments with as yet unknown outcomes. Just as it can be argued that it took a world war to create cradle-to-grave welfare, I would also argue it has taken a pandemic to test the closest thing to Universal Basic Income the British government has ever attempted, in the form of the furlough scheme. Just like in war, desperate times call for desperate measures, and sometimes they work. While looking for silver linings is of no consolation to many people feeling the pain of prematurely lost loved ones, economic hardship and uncertain futures, I see it as still beneficial to look for some comfort in the positive innovations that may be hurried into existence or transferred across different fields and industries to make the post-COVID-19 world a better place. The virus has certainly churned up the battlefield, let’s hope a poppy will grow from it.

WORDS BY TOM COLLYER IMAGE BY FRANCES ROSE

POLITICS

CORONAVIRUS PARANOIA SPARKS IGNORANT XENOPHOBIA AGAINST ASIAN PEOPLE

WORDS BY KATIE BYNG-HALL IMAGE BY JESS HAWSOR VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

n the 12th of January 2020, China shared the genetic sequence of Covid-19 after they discovered that a number of clusters of pneumonia in the country were actually a new form of highly-infectious coronavirus. This was the start of one of the most severe global pandemics in living memory.

not go back to your country with your virus?.’ He went on to say, ‘sooner or later people will realise it is ridiculous to relate a pandemic virus to a certain group of people, like HIV towards the LGBT community in the 80s.’ This kind of misinformed xenophobia does seem distinctly out-dated for our modern society, and exposes a deep-rooted racial ignorance which needs to be eliminated.

The virus is concluded to have been passed to humans through contact with or consumption of animals like pangolins and bats which can carry coronavirus strains. The transferral to humans likely occurred at a ‘wet market’ in Wuhan, China. These markets, which trade live animals, are common in east Asia, leading to demonisation of Asian culture for being the origin of the virus.

The national head of police action against hate crime, Mark Hamilton, made a statement in response to the spike in intolerance, saying that ‘no one is responsible for the outbreak and everyone has a right to be protected from targeted abuse’.

What followed was a spike in xenophobia, sometimes aggressive, against people of Asian descent across the world. In the UK, more than 260 offences against Chinese people were recorded in the first three months of the year, nearly three times the average of the past two years, with undoubtedly many more being committed without report. Alarmingly, the problem seems to have been particularly prevalent among student populations. In early March, a Chinese PhD student at the University of Glasgow was assaulted and his clothes were ripped as three perpetrators shouted ‘coronavirus’. Around the same time, Jonathan Mok, a UCL law student from Singapore was punched multiple times on London’s Oxford Street, leaving him with significant facial injuries, after attackers told him ‘I don’t want your coronavirus’. Jeremy Wu, a student nurse working for the NHS during the pandemic, has said he’s faced abuse from patients and colleagues alike, with one co-worker telling him, ‘why 16

It’s a different story in the USA, as President Trump’s rhetoric seemingly encourages xenophobia by consistently referring to Covid-19 as the ‘Chinese virus’ more than twenty times in official addresses during March alone. When Trump faced accusations of racism concerning the term, he stated that ‘It’s not racist at all. No, it’s not at all. [Covid-19 is] from China. That’s why. It comes from China. I want to be accurate’, disregarding the possibility that his words could have a negative effect on how Asian Americans would be treated by his supporters. All forms of xenophobia, whether through commercial boycotting of Asian businesses, physical attacks, racial slurs, vicious comments or even cautionary looks in the street, can be hugely harmful to Asian minorities who hold no fault during the coronavirus pandemic, and can in fact deflect from effective prevention of the virus’ spread by placing an unfounded emphasis on racial origins. Indeed, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director-general, has said that ‘stigma, to be honest, is more dangerous than the virus itself ’.

PANDEMIC

PAST PANDEMICS: THE BLACK DEATH AND MEDIEVAL POLITICS

he Black Death, commonly referred to as the Plague, was a particularly vicious and deadly disease which ravaged the world for centuries. Originating in East Asia, the bacterium Yersinia Pestis was carried along the silk roads and on trade ships to Europe by the early 1340s. As the disease rampaged across Europe and millions died, this pandemic was the catalyst for major socio-economic and political change in the late Medieval era. The plague was one of the deadliest pandemics in human history. At its worst in 1347-1351, the disease wiped out up to 60% of Europe’s population. About 80% of those who contracted the virus died and it was very contagious. Possibly 50 million people died in this period alone, and it took some parts of Europe 200 years to recover to preplague population levels.

WORDS BY REBECCA WILLIAMS IMAGE BY EMMA WALTON The immediate effect was devastating. Entire families, estates and even whole towns were wiped out in their thousands. Wars were put on hold, as disease could decimate armies before the enemy had the opportunity. Fear was widespread. Medieval society had very little concept of science and such a pestilence could only be understood as the wrath of God. Fear created anger and an explosion of violence to find a scapegoat for the plague. Jewish communities were targeted, as were lepers, foreigners, beggars and others marginalised in society. Fear of God’s fury also renewed religious fervour and fanaticism, with groups such as Flagellants becoming increasingly popular, driven by those desperate to atone for their sins.

WESSEX SCENE

On top of being a staggering loss of human life, the toll taken on the population had long lasting repercussions. Medieval society and its economy was built on agricultural labour and the mutual obligations between the different strata of society. As 90% of the population lived in the countryside, and there were little to no opportunities of social elevation, it was a system which maintained itself.

‘About 80% of those who contracted the virus died and it was very contagious.’ Such a high death toll obviously had a massive impact on the labour force available to cultivate the land. Due to the nature of supply and demand, this naturally had an effect on the value of the workers that remained. Landowners were forced to raise wages or give other incentives to persuade their workers to stay, lest they go elsewhere in search of better paid work. This saw not only greater movement of peasants as they moved around to find more lucrative work, but a general rise in wages too, contributing greatly to the erosion of serfdom. With social change came political change. Social and economic improvements in the lower classes, due to a reduction in competition for land and work, gave them bargaining power in the political sphere. In England, this ignited underlying tensions between the peasant and landowning classes, culminating in the Peasants Revolt in 1381, a response to unpopular taxes. The growing agency of the peasantry saw them leading rebellions against the government for the first time, whereas most rebellions previously had only been conducted by dissenting nobles. This set the trend for a number of popular revolts throughout the next few centuries, including Jack Cade’s Rebellion in 1450, The Pilgrimage of Grace in 1536 and Kett’s Rebellion of 1549, to name but a few. Newfound agency and political consciousness had led to the desire for accountability, fair treatment and greater rights. Most of these rebellions achieved little, but they are important because of what they tried to do. They are also important because they emerged from the change brought about by the Black Death. The greater socio-economic changes brought about by a horrific loss of life changed Europe forever.

WHAT HAS COVID TOLD US ABOUT THE WHO?

he World Health Organisation (WHO) came into being in 1948. Founded on the principle that ‘The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being’, it is a symbol of international resolve to achieve universal healthcare for all. But, 72 years on, what kind of shape is it in, and how has it matched up to the challenge of COVID-19? The WHO has more than a few notches on its belt. It is a repository of expertise and good practice guidelines, disseminating essential hospital equipment lists, clinical practices and knowledge, information about diseases, and extensively funding and collating research. It provides aid in national and international medical emergencies, and technical assistance to aid the development of public health systems in member states. The eradication of smallpox, a disease that plagued humanity for 3000 years, claiming the lives of pharaohs, emperors and millions of others, was accomplished under the auspices of the WHO. Stocks of vaccines have been made available internationally, against anything from polio to meningitis. In the present day, 5 million children in Yemen have been vaccinated against measles and polio. 3.5 million have been vaccinated against Yellow Fever in Brazil. Ambulances have been supplied to Iraq and mental health services set up in Syria. They have supported war-ravaged South Sudan in its effort to construct community-based health services. There is plenty for the WHO to be proud of. Yet in recent years, the WHO has come under criticism. Its response to the Ebola outbreak was criticised for its lack of speed, with some experts even calling for the organisation to be dissolved, with one of the world’s most prestigious medical journals dubbing it ‘bruised and apologetic’. During the current pandemic, President Trump has begun the process of withdrawing the United States from the WHO, citing: • • 18

An apparent pro-China bias. Belated and inaccurate information about the virus at

•

the start of the outbreak. That the WHO discouraged the US from adopting travel restrictions.

The claim that information about the virus was inaccurate probably refers to the period in mid-January earlier this year, when the WHO was still unclear as to whether human-to-human transmission was possible. While unfortunate, it seems a trifle harsh to blame the WHO for not knowing everything about a virus which was just over a month old. Trump’s comments about WHO resistance to travel restrictions are blatantly false, and fit into the Trump administration’s overarching narrative of America being subject to, rather than empowered by, intergovernmental organisations. The charge of a pro-Beijing bias is more complicated. The WHO is not a power unto itself. It has expertise, responsibility and authority in matters of international health, but very little power to compel member countries. As such, a report by Business Insider claiming that the WHO’s flattery of China’s response to the virus was intended to persuade Beijing to hand over the genome of the virus, is hardly surprising. To do its job, it needs member states to co-operate willingly. But that can mean flattering dictators and authoritarian states, rather than fighting for the liberal world order of which many say it is a lynchpin. This is not a weakness exclusive to the WHO - most intergovernmental organisations, whether it’s the UN or the EU, often have to compromise their principles in order to carry out their role. What has Covid-19 taught us about the WHO? It is an international organisation like many others and faces many of the same problems. What to do about this is an open question.

WORDS BY SAM PEARSON IMAGE BY ETHAN THOMAS

PANDEMIC

THE GAY PLAGUE: THE HOMOPHOBIA OF THE AIDS CRISIS CW: Homophobia and the F-slur

uman Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is something we have all certainly heard about at some point in our lives, for many as early as during sex-ed in school. It is an infamous virus that has claimed 35 million lives. The rise of neoliberalism and the New Right, ushered in by Thatcher and Reagan in the 1980s, was surely a reactionary backlash in opposition to the radical politics of the previous decade - radical ideas that emerged from oppressed peoples, no longer voiceless and ignored. When AIDS became an epidemic, the consequences of this political shift were deadly. The so-called ‘silent majority’ - popularised by U.S. President Nixon in 1969 was an embodiment of a conservative populous holding its tongue against the supposedly immoral and wayward developments of the anti-war, Black Power, second wave feminism, gay rights, sexual revolution, and socialist/ labour movements.

WORDS BY KENNY FIELD IMAGE BY EDWARD OLDFIELD The response to the pandemic from both Reagan and Thatcher was centred on ‘personal responsibility’. The Republican and Conservative parties marched in step, allowing stigma to further alienate already marginalised communities of gay men and intravenous drug-users. This was demonstrated clearly by the sudden change in approach when AIDS was detected in haemophiliacs, surgical patients, and babies of infected mothers. Homosexuals and drug-users were deemed as ‘guilty’, whose unacceptable behaviours were to blame for their contraction of the disease, while the latter were seen as ‘innocent’, despite all AIDS sufferers contracting the same virus through no fault of their own. Policymakers began to focus on education, but while the U.S.’s approach centred abstinence from sex, especially anal sex, the UK promoted the importance of safe sex practices with the use of condoms. In 1987, the organisation AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power (ACT UP) was formed in New York City and eventually spread internationally, though not to the UK. The grassroots activists popularised the slogan ‘Silence=Death’ to combat the stigmas in society and challenge the inadequate and fatally slow response from the government. Key founder of the group, Larry Kramer, was a renowned American playwright who passed away this year, after living HIVpositive for over thirty years. In an essay, titled ‘1,112 and Counting’, he wrote: ‘How long does it take before you get angry and fight back?’ For this question, the words of James Baldwin are strikingly relevant: ‘I’m not going to live another 60 years, … You always told me that it’s going to take time. … It’s taken my father’s time, my mother’s time, my uncle’s time, my brothers’ and my sisters’ time, … How much time do you want for your progress?’

It is within this context that we must analyse the rampant homophobia of the period and the fight against it. In the United States, AIDS was first named ‘Gay Related Immune Deficiency’ (GRID) after a high prevalence in gay and bisexual men infected with the disease was noted. Homophobic attitudes were fostered, and phrases like ‘AIDS Kills Fags Dead’” and ‘AIDS cures fags’ became widespread. LGBTQ people met this not with passivity, but with community support, continuing the legacy of gay liberation.

WESSEX SCENE

And in the context of a life-shortening disease, these words ring harrowingly true. In the UK, it took over 30 long years for discriminating against someone’s HIV status to be made illegal. Perhaps Boris Johnson’s words at the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic mark a turning point, contradicting Thatcherism by remarking that ‘there is such a thing as society’. Though, with a virus that disproportionately affects poor and BAME communities, while various people are used as scapegoats by a government whose response has been criticised as disastrously irresponsible, we may be seeing history repeat itself. 19

SCIENCE & TECH

OXFORD COVID-19 VACCINE TRIAL SHOWN

TO PRODUCE A STRONG IMMUNE RESPONSE

publication in The Lancet by the University of Oxford reveals their Phase I/II COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial is producing a strong immune response.

This randomised controlled trial saw 1,077 healthy volunteers, aged 18-55, receive either the active ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine or a placebo MenACWY vaccine. ChAdOx1 is an adenovirus vector vaccine that causes the common cold in chimpanzees but is genetically altered so it cannot infect human cells. This vector is used in other vaccines, such as Ebola, so approval for its use in COVID-19 trials was quick. It has also been shown to generate a strong immune response after a single dose in other vaccines, so is suitable for a COVID-19 vaccine where accessibility must be widespread and costs kept to a minimum. The vector expresses the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein for the immune system to mount a response against. This provides protection if the coronavirus is encountered as the immune system recognises the spike protein as foreign and attacks it, preventing infection. A MenACWY placebo was chosen over an inert placebo so that the usual vaccine side effects, like chills, muscle aches and pain at the injection site, would be experienced by all volunteers so they would not know which vaccine they had received. This prevents creating a bias in the results. Ten of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine-receiving volunteers were given a booster dose 28 days after the first dose. ‘I’m pleased to have the opportunity to play a very small part in a trial that the whole world is watching.’ - Richard Fisher, Oxford vaccine trial volunteer. The results indicate no early safety concerns, other than normal vaccine reactions that were treated with paracetamol. The vaccine is shown to induce both innate and adaptive immune responses, which are key in preventing infection if the virus is contracted. The vaccine provokes a T cell response within 14 days; their role is to attack and kill infected cells and produce a memory response in case of a second exposure. An antibody response was seen within 28 days. Antibodies circulate in the bloodstream and neutralise the virus before it can infect cells. Those that received a booster dose were shown to produce a stronger immune response than volunteers with a single dose as their antibodies were more specific to the spike protein, having encountered it twice, so they could combat the virus quicker and more efficiently. 20

WORDS BY HOLLY GUTTERRIDGE IMAGE BY ETHAN THOMAS What happens next? Now that the vaccine is shown to be safe, its administration can be expanded. Elderly people have proven to be most vulnerable to COVID-19 so trialling the vaccine in elderly volunteers would be useful, as well as trialling it in under-18s. The University of Oxford, in collaboration with AstraZeneca, have received £84 million in Government funding to accelerate the vaccine’s development. The next step is a Phase III clinical trial as part of a global clinical programme. A trial recruiting 30,000 US volunteers, a paediatric study and trials in low- to middle-income countries, including Brazil and South Africa, are commencing. Should these trials prove successful, AstraZeneca are committed to supplying more than 2 billion doses in the next year to fulfil their promise of broad and equitable access to the vaccine.

PANDEMIC

WHY THE DIVERGING MENTAL SIDE EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE PHYSICAL

egardless of existing issues, the COVID-19 pandemic has created a significant deterioration in mental wellbeing across the country, as shown by several studies.

One study shows that 56% of respondents report pandemic-related stress which led to at least one negative mental health effect. This was 64% higher among frontline health workers. It is also important to recognize that within this mental health crisis, there is a wide range of issues that have arisen in response to different phases of the pandemic, meaning people could be experiencing opposing issues at the same time. At the core of it, the pandemic has led to increased anxiety over health, both for ourselves and other, more vulnerable people around us. Firstly, some who have been hospitalised for COVID-19 have exhibited post-ICU syndrome, a condition similar to PTSD, due to their treatment. This means a patient’s mental health could be impacted longterm even after infection. Beyond worrying about catching COVID-19, more people are also becoming worried about general infection and pathogens in the environment. Manifesting into a form of germophobia, it leads to constant anxiety and restlessness when, or if, they begin to leave their home. This can also escalate to when at home or meeting other people. When this is allowed to dictate someone’s life it becomes a concern, and this is something being seen more and more in recent days. Separate from medical reasons, the governmentenforced lockdown has also contributed to several different mental health issues. A survey showed that loneliness, not being able to go outside and not being able to see family have been the most common contributors to poorer mental health during the pandemic. The imposed isolation gives little room to distract from difficult times and the resulting boredom is contributing to mental health problems. Another factor is that due to the lockdown, many people have lost their jobs or missed out on important life events. Roughly 650,000 lost their jobs during the lockdown and this is predicted to escalate to millions in the fallout. From this alone, it is clear to see how the population’s mental health has worsened. Now that we’re leaving lockdown,we are beginning to see issues of going back to normal. WESSEX SCENE

It is thought to take three weeks to form a habit and now that we have to break this habit, it is bound to cause stress. For some, the thought of going back to norma’ is a daunting task that will take months to work towards. Whilst we may slowly be coming out of lockdown, there is still a question mark over the next few months and this uncertainty is, ironically, one of few consistencies throughout the pandemic. Change is a common source of anxiety and because of the unsettling nature of the pandemic, it is clear how people could struggle with this. We can hope for a vaccine or drug to reduce the physical effects but the resultant mental side effects will certainly be long-term and hard to treat. In the next few months, the importance of treating the mental effects will hopefully be recognised more but currently, 25% of people who tried to access NHS mental health services were unable to do so. It is obvious this is a problem that still needs solving. For further information or support, the charity MIND has a range of pages related to COVID-19 and the various mental health issues that may have come from the pandemic.

WORDS BY GEORGIA SMITH IMAGE BY KATIE GREENHAM

WHAT’S IN A NAME? THE PROBLEM WITH NAMING DISEASES WORDS BY REBECCA WILLIAMS IMAGE BY KATIE GREENHAM

Disclaimer: The views expressed within this article are entirely the author’s own and are not attributable to Wessex Scene as a whole.

he current pandemic goes by many names. Often known as Coronavirus or simply Corona after the virus family that it belongs to, the scientific name is COVID-19. However, by some people, and in America especially, the term ‘China virus’ or ‘Wuhan virus’ has become common parlance. Here are some of the reasons why naming a global pandemic after a single place is a bad idea and why we should instead stick to the scientific name. When a virus such as this has as many names as it does, resorting to calling it by its place of origin is not only lazy but ignorant. President Trump, known for intolerant and inflammatory rhetoric, has repeatedly and deliberately referred to COVID-19 as the ‘China virus’. This has both political and social consequences. Not only does this coincide with a series of incidents that are raising tensions between China and America, but it also scapegoats the people of China for living at the original source of the pandemic. It personifies the threat. This is particularly dangerous as Asian communities have seen a rise in xenophobic attacks and discrimination.By calling it the ‘China virus’, it has singled out people to be deemed responsible. However, this is nothing new. The World Health Organisation released guidelines for the naming of new diseases in 2015 , specifically to avoid naming people, places or animals. These recognised that ‘the use of names such as ‘swine flu’ and ‘Middle East Respiratory Syndrome’ has had unintended negative impacts by stigmatizing certain communities or economic sectors.’

COVID-19 was chosen as the official name of the pandemic to comply with these guidelines. It is an abbreviation of Corona (CO) Virus (VI) Disease (D) 2019 (-19). There are many different types of coronaviruses which have been linked to previous pandemics, such as SARS in 2002 and MERS in 2012. Coronaviruses get their name from their appearance – the pathogen appears to have a spiky crown (‘corona’ in Latin) when examined under a microscope. The current pandemic has prompted many comparisons with the 1918 pandemic, commonly referred to as the Spanish flu, which is yet another example of poor naming. It was called Spanish flu because the disease was underreported in Europe except for in Spanish newspapers, as Spain was not part of the First World War, and thus not subject to censorship. This led to the assumption that the disease originated in Spain, simply because they reported on it first. The Spanish believed that the virus had originated in France, and so they called it the ‘French virus’. In the post-war world, this hindered relations and created distrust and dissension at a time when Europe was riven by the devastation of both war and disease. Throwing out blame is also likely to have an unhelpful impact on relations when the world is in recovery post-COVID. The influenza virus behind it, H1N1 virus, has a viral legacy which can be linked to Swine flu, believed to be a fourth-generation descendant of the 1918 virus. Instead of calling them Spanish flu and Swine flu, it would be more helpful to use their scientific names to understand their virological progression throughout history. In the same way, it is better to understand COVID-19 as a progression of previous coronaviruses. International cooperation and communication are needed now more than ever, and all actions to blame anyone for the origin of the virus are unhelpful. There may be a long history of poorly named diseases, but calling the current pandemic the ‘China virus’ is purposefully ignorant and unnecessary.

PANDEMIC

LIFESTYLE

HOW SOCIAL MEDIA HAS HELPED AND HINDERED DURING LOCKDOWN

CW: Diet Culture

think it is safe to say that my relationship with social media is very complicated. Like everything in life, it is not perfect. It can be delightful, but also has a very detrimental side. Lockdown has especially increased the prominence of social media in our lives. It is a way to stay connected to our loved ones and the events of the world, but we cannot ignore its toxic nature. It would be naive of me to overlook how damaging social media can be, particularly over the course of lockdown. My mental health has not been the best over the past few months, and being ripped away from a sense of normality definitely took its toll on me. It took a while to adjust to this new way of living, and with the added weight of social media, it has been a nightmare. In particular, there has been a consistent promotion of weight loss products. As someone who has always been sensitive and conscious about this topic, it has been dreadful seeing diet shakes and pills being shoved in my face. It is despicable that brands are using this period of time to capitalise on peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s insecurities, without consideration for their

wellbeing. Even being on TikTok, a seemingly lighthearted platform, has exposed me to tips for quick weight loss. Why is this the case when our main priority should be surviving a global pandemic and practising self care? Why canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t we use lockdown to find peace in ourselves and our bodies, rather than being forced to compare ourselves to others? The consistent posts of outings and socialising has highlighted a divide between people at the moment: those who are happy to try and return to a sense of normality, and others who still feel safer staying indoors and only going out when necessary. I definitely fall into the latter category; even the need to go to work makes me anxious. Of course, I am pleased for people who feel comfortable going out and making use of services that are open again, however I cannot help feeling jealous and weary. Why do people feel it is right to ignore social distancing guidelines and then post about it online? Why do they get to selfishly enjoy themselves, whilst those who are still being cautious or are vulnerable are confined to their homes? But in that vein, I am glad to see who I want to associate myself with, and to see people for who they truly are. However, I cannot deny that I have found social media to be very educational recently, as well as being a very useful tool. It has been a way for us to stay connected to our loved ones, no matter how far away they may be. Social media has made lockdown more tolerable, and allowed us to communicate and feel part of a virtual community. Whether we are connecting over our favourite singers on Twitter, or sharing memes on TikTok, it has allowed us to escape the horrors of coronavirus. Aside from the trivial aspects, I do not think I am the only one to say that social media is a source of daily news. It has allowed for news to be more accessible, with threads on Twitter breaking down news stories and events around the world. Therefore, I think it is safe to say that social media has taught me a lot. The internet is a wondrous, complex place. Of course it can be wholesome, but it is sometimes difficult to ignore its toxic nature.

WORDS BY BRODIE BROWN IMAGE BY SOPHIE WILLIAMS

WESSEX SCENE

What lockdown taught me

ockdown is something that a lot of people weren’t prepared for, and I won’t pretend it hasn’t been hard. It has felt incredibly unnatural to be stuck inside, and I’m aware it’s led to struggles within relationships due to the distance between people. Partners, friends and grandparents were forcibly separated and communication became difficult. However, there have been positives to come out of lockdown in the lessons that it has taught me.

A focus on creativity is not a waste of time

Don’t stress the little things

In a time where entertainment has to come from home, these activities are so valuable for my mental health. I’ve even been reading for fun, something that felt wildly unfamiliar to me as an English student.

If COVID-19 has taught me anything, it’s that the little things in life are not worth stressing about, as there are always things bigger than you.

Over the years, it’s been instilled in me that activities like watching Netflix, drawing and colouring are extremely unproductive when it comes to being a university student. I have spent much of my two years at university believing that these were all time-wasters and felt guilty whenever I’d indulge in a bit of colour by numbers, but lockdown has taught me that these are actually beneficial.

My introversion is a blessing, not a curse That phone call where you stumbled over your words slightly? Not important. That bicker you had with your friend last week? Not important. It’s put all my little anxieties into perspective. Stressing about minuscule things, like arguments and embarrassing stutters, seem entirely irrelevant when something so big and so scary is on the minds of everyone in the world. So, from now on, I know not to stress about little mistakes I make day-to-day. My relationship with family is so important Despite how much I’ve sometimes felt frustrated at the lack of freedom when being stuck with my parents and brother, it’s made me realise how close we actually are. We’ve had political discussions, watched so many films, taught each other a lot and learned a lot together, and it’s brought me closer to them. Although I am excited to get back to university and live independently, I will continue to appreciate my time with my family and our close relationship more.

My relationship with my introversion has always been complicated, as it’s something which has sometimes impacted my social life negatively. Whether it be leaving socials early or not feeling like I had enough to talk about, I’ve always loved my own company and my own space, and what better time is there to be an introvert than in a nation-wide lockdown? I will no longer get frustrated at my introversion. Though I may not be the most talkative of the friendship group or the best host with visitors, I am so glad to be comfortable in my own company. Lockdown has taught me that introversion is something which I should be proud of, rather than ashamed of. Despite lockdown’s challenges, I’ll look back on it as something that’s taught me important life lessons that I’ll have in mind into the future.

WORDS BY GEORGIE HOLMES IMAGE BY BENJAMIN SMYTH

PANDEMIC

Recipes from Lockdown

Swamp the pasta in far too much melted butter, feel guilty about it, but enjoy nonetheless.

WORDS BY EMILY DENNIS IMAGE BY BENJAMIN SMYTH

would not count myself as a chef, more a person who enjoys throwing a whole bunch of things together and hoping for the best. I was not expecting a global pandemic to come around when it did and was thrilled to have the opportunity to finally hone some culinary skills. It’s safe to say, however, I perhaps am still not a great cook. I quarantined with my boyfriend so we would split up the cooking between ourselves and the local takeaway, while also attempting to work together at some points. While any potential diet was completely ignored, there were some glorious things that came out of that kitchen, and it would be a joy to share them with you. To make some delicious chicken and garlic mushroom pasta, put some chicken breasts in the oven until fully cooked. While they are in the oven, melt butter in a large pan and fry some garlic and mushrooms. Boil some pasta while this is all going on and wait for the chicken to be cooked. By the time it’s out the oven most things will be burnt, and the pasta will have exploded a bit, but nevertheless shred the chicken and chuck it into the pan to get it rolling in all the juices. Season with salt and pepper. WESSEX SCENE

To make well posh steak and chips, pop over to ALDI and pick up an absolute bargain £4 ribeye steak each. Season both sides with salt and pepper and leave to rest for a few hours in a cupboard and definitely away from the flies. Prepare the potatoes by cutting into chip-like shapes and drizzling with oil. Put them in the oven for 30 minutes on a medium heat and rotate every so often. Once the steak has rested, put a pan on the highest setting with a little bit of oil. Once the oil begins smoking, place the steaks in the pan to sear both sides. Throw in a knob of butter, two cloves of garlic and some rosemary and baste the steak by rolling it over and using a spoon to dress it in butter. Cook until desired (you can use the thumb trick to see if your steak is cooked well enough). If you are able to multitask, throw some mushrooms and garlic into a pan as you’re beginning the steaks. Pull the chips from the oven and serve, with or without any vegetation. To make exp-loaded fries, prepare your chips and drizzle with oil and paprika. Put them in the oven for 30 minutes or so at 180oC, preferably in a ceramic dish. Meanwhile, fry some onion and peppers and add the beef mince once browned. Add a premade spice mix (or mix yourself using more paprika and cayenne pepper) and leave to cook through. Once the chips have begun to crisp, load them with the beef mix and put back in the oven, topping with cheese. Leave for ten minutes and unload a real sweet package. Best served in the oven dish, piping hot, using spoons and requiring lots of hsfahsshhfash while eating. These recipes are very simple and perhaps not the most exciting or health-focused, but when times get scary, it’s nice to know there’s a whole other world of comfort only a kitchen away.

SPORTS

HAS COVID-19 CHANGED THE

WORDS BY KAI CHAPPELL IMAGE BY SOPHIE WILLIAMS

o one could’ve imagined that the first debate in sport post-lockdown would be: crowd noise on or crowd noise off?

I left Fratton Park, home of Portsmouth FC, on 10th March after the mighty Fleetwood’s 2-2 draw with Pompey with a sore throat thanks to my screaming from the stands for 90 minutes. Very quickly in the days that followed, it became clear that that night would be my last time cheering my team on from the stands for the indefinite future. At the time of writing, it is unclear whether fans will be allowed back into stadia in the autumn. With the COVID situation changing on a daily basis, the Prime Minister delayed pilots to allow fans back into sporting events,

starting with Goodwood missing out on having fans in the major event in the horse racing calendar on August 1st. However, it has become clear that we are changing the way we watch sports in response to this. Whilst fans have understandably been pining to get back into their favourite stadium, teams have found ways to engage their fans during lockdown, and the aftermath of it. As football returned to TV, there were a whole host of ways that fans could watch sport. The first tweets on social media were focused on the big debate of crowd noise: do you want to hear fake crowds (which admittedly after the first few matches, sounded almost impeccable and really, if you couldn’t see the lack of fans, it would sound no

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E WAY WE WATCH SPORT? different to a regular match) or do you want the natural stadium noise (where you get to hear fights between Frank Lampard and Jurgen Klopp)? A tough decision had to be made but it was exactly that - a decision. COVID-19 allowed people to change the way they enjoyed sport. If you like crowd noise, you can have it. If you like hearing the more authentic sounds from the pitch-side, you can have them. If you perhaps hadn’t paid for streaming services before, then several companies offered free-to-air sport, thanks to agreements with the Government. People had so many options to watch sport many more than ever before - that the way we watch sport is changing. There were occasions during which fans were there virtually, too. Across the world, several clubs allowed for fans to be ‘in the stadium’ on massive screens, via Zoom. The impact this had on the players was unclear (perhaps there is more pressure when you are playing in front of 10 fans on huge screens), but it allowed clubs to ensure fans remained engaged and again, provided an experience never before seen in the sporting world. How long does this last? That is unclear. The FA Community Shield, regularly regarded as the annual curtain-raiser for English football, was offered by the FA to the Government as a potential trial for how to make sporting events COVID-secure whilst allowing fans into stadia once again. The match, which at the time of writing is scheduled for 29th August and will have seen Arsenal take on Liverpool, was expected to have a capacity of around 20%, with 20,000 fans reportedly expected to be filling Wembley Stadium with social distancing and other protective measures. However, after the Prime Minister’s plea to ‘squeeze the break pedal’ on re-opening society post-COVID, this was cast into doubt and, at the time of writing, looked more unlikely than likely. It will be a long time before we see a full stadium again. With fears of a second wave around Europe and uncertainty still ever-present regarding the virus’ ability to resurface in the winter, many clubs across many sports will have to prepare for what could be a significant amount of time before they can fill the stands again.

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“The cost of the pandemic is huge - we are yet to see the long-term damage that it has had to the economy and how long smaller teams can survive for in any sport” These various ways of watching sport, then, are becoming more and more important. Sporting clubs and governing bodies will have to find ways to monetise watching sport again without relying on gate receipts. The cost of the pandemic is huge - we are yet to see the long-term damage that it has had to the economy and how long smaller teams can survive for in any sport - and without fans entering stadia soon, teams and organisations which rely on ticket revenue as a main source of income could find themselves as further casualties of the economic fallout of 2020. Many suggestions have been in place, with watch parties via Zoom, limited and socially distant crowds, or affordable audio and/or visual streaming software to ensure as many people can access their club’s matches in the coming months. The seriousness of losing ticket revenue for clubs can’t be underestimated. Reports suggest that the sports industry lost $3bn from fan revenue in May alone. For the fan, there is the loss of the match-day experience, but that seems to be a distant memory given the context of the pandemic. For now, it remains clear that we will be continuing the debate over crowd noise well into the autumn.

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TRAVEL

UK STAYCATION HOTSPOTS WORDS BY MEGAN GAEN IMAGE BY FRANCES ROSE Parliament and Big Ben. There is also a vast number of art galleries, museums and parks to visit, many of which are free to enter. Plus, thanks to the public transport systems within the city, it is very easy to get around and explore, just make sure to remain up to date on government guidelines regarding unessential travel. Furthermore, if you do use public transport in England, remember to wear your face covering, to follow social distancing measures, and to use contactless payment if possible. Coastal Retreats

ollowing the global impact of COVID-19, international travel has taken a step back at the moment. After seeing the effect of the virus globally, with many nations imposing differing degrees of lockdown restrictions, some people are feeling nervous about flying abroad. Others, who would like to travel, are struggling to find a holiday due to lack of flights, inability to buy insurance or quarantine measures. So, many Brits have decided to pack up their cars and holiday in the UK instead. Millions of tourists visit the UK every year, so now residents here are discovering these tourist hotspots for themselves. From city escapes to coastal trips and everything else in between, there is plenty to discover on this island. City Breaks When thinking of cities to visit in the UK, London is the first place that would spring to mind. As the capital city, it is a very popular destination among national and international tourists and was the third most visited city in the world in 2019, according to Business Insider. This city hosts a large variety of cultural, historical and political landmarks, such as Buckingham Palace, the Houses of

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Many people when they go on summer holidays want to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life and head to the tranquility of the coast or beach resorts. The UK offers this in swathes! It is an island nation after all. One of the most iconic destinations for a seaside getaway would be Cornwall. The Cornish coasts offer some of the best beaches, most iconic landmarks, and the greatest surfing in the UK. You could visit the famous Land’s End or surf on the Atlantic Coast. If you don’t fancy spending every day of your holiday in the water, the seaside towns in Cornwall, such as St Ives or Padstow, offer you a taste of life by the sea, which you can enjoy with traditional fish and chips. Mountain Treks The variety of landscapes in the UK means that adventure is never too far away, and if walking or hiking is your thing, there’s plenty of spots to enjoy. You could head to Wales and hike the Brecon Beacons or climb one of the UK’s three peaks, Mount Snowdon. If you want to stay in England, you could visit the Peak or Lake District and enjoy their various walking and cycling routes. So not only will you be having a holiday, but you will also be staying healthy by getting out and about in the fresh air, which is definitely needed after months of being indoors. So, if your feeling of wanderlust has been growing during lockdown, why not take a break from Netflix, banana bread, or working from home, and head out to discover what the UK has to offer? There’s so much to see and do, and it’s all on your doorstep. Go on a staycation!

A PERSONAL ACCOUNT OF INTERCONTINENTAL TRAVEL DURING A PANDEMIC

WORDS BY RICCARDO MARROCCHIO IMAGE BY ETHAN THOMAS

fter experiencing the pros and cons of international travel during the COVID pandemic, flying from the US back to my home in Italy, here are some tips and suggestions based on my experience to help you get through each stage of flying abroad with the lowest risk of infection.

longer need to give the security agent your boarding pass, rather you will now need to scan your boarding pass and passport yourself. You can expect to be boarded in a group of 3 to 10 people, starting from the last row to minimise contact.

Preparing for the trip

Cleaning has increased both on flights and at airports, so you can be assured that your seat will have been disinfected from the previous flight before you board. With this being said, it can be wise to remain wary of high touch areas. The face mask you prepared with you must now remain on for the duration of the flight, only being taken off for eating and drinking. For peace of mind, cabins use HighEfficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters which capture 99% of airborne microbes, further reducing the risk of infection and allowing you to feel safe throughout your flight. In terms of seating, the best places are those at the windows, allowing for the furthest distance possible between you and those that are traversing the aisles.

With clothing always playing a crucial role on the comfortability of long and short haul flights, this has now taken on new heightened importance given the nature of coronavirus. Whilst many people will still prefer to remain wrapped up in their favourite onesie, a face mask should now also be a part of the attire to help reduce the chances of infection. In order to keep physical contact down, it can be a great idea to download airline companion apps, allowing you to minimise the number of times you need to hand over paper documents or touch airport screens to check-in. On top of this, bringing your own food and drink can also put you ahead of everyone else, with only a select number of airlines offering onboard meals. Just make sure this is in a sealed clear plastic bag so security inspectors will not need to open your bags for closer inspection. At the Airport A silver lining of travelling during the pandemic is that limitations on flights have provided ample room in airports for social distancing to take place. Where possible, make sure to use hand sanitiser stations and follow floor markings that clearly highlight the acceptable distance between those queuing to get on flights or use restrooms, etc. To reduce contact with other individuals, you no

Onboard

Should I fly at all? With all the measures being taken both by airlines and governments, I personally felt safe flying during the pandemic with social distancing being maintained and enforced efficiently. It should be kept in mind though that middle seats on aircraft are now being filled once more, and so there is a marked increase in the chance of infection. With this being said, when compared with those places we visit on a day to day basis, airports possess a far lower chance of infection than supermarkets, pubs, and socialising areas.

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THE COVID-19 GENERATION: THE NEW OUTLOOK OF A NEW GENERATION

oronavirus has changed the nature of travel and our generation alike, but are these changes long-lasting or temporary? There is no doubt that we are all being affected by the pandemic in some way, whether it be through healthcare and financial status, or shifting perspectives on travelling and how we react to similar events in the future. Although each demographic has suffered differently from the pandemic, students’ concerns may arise from the inability to use their free time to travel as they had initially planned. Whilst the aviation industry is vital for global travel, the industry has been in decline since March, resulting in delays and cancellations to many of our summer vacations abroad, whilst airline capacity was down 88%. Whilst the pandemic has had a prolonged effect on travel, this has also opened up and accelerated the development of particular ideas regarding the future of holiday making. According to Brandon Presser’s article The Airport of the Future Will Have No Check-In or Security Lines, coronavirus has introduced people to a world without never-ending queues and dated security measures, and revitalised the push towards a reformed system at airports. The pandemic has catalysed innovation both at airports and in the aviation industry as a whole.

plans, avoid spontaneous travel decisions, and put more attention towards travel insurance. Moreover, our daily routines were broken down and our summer plans were drastically changed. OECD predicts a 60% decline in international tourism in 2020, which could rise to 80% if readjustments are postponed until December. But, can it be claimed that Gen Z might have experienced a severe loss of time for travelling, in turn bringing a whole new outlook on what it means to travel? Have we learnt to appreciate the variety of places we can normally visit and the freedom that comes with it? It’s about that one place, that isn’t remembered through photos and social media posts, but through the long-lasting impact it leaves on you as an individual. The first and last place you wish to travel to, with the first and last people whom you travelled with. Our future experiences of travel may be nothing like the dated methods of the past. Whilst the aviation industry was the first to suffer, it will be left to the youth to carry the long-lasting burden of COVID-19. Adjustments have been made to adapt to the crisis tourism is facing, but due to the pandemic, people are feeling nostalgic about the way things used to be when travelling abroad, with each new trip in this new world becoming a balance of both excitement and apprehension.

The pandemic, which started impacting Europe in midMarch, was a time for graduates to make their graduation and summer getaway plans. Catching the younger generation off guard, the pandemic closed doors and forced us to readjust our regular activities whilst dousing any hopes of upcoming overseas adventures. This can be seen in the rise of staycations as a post-COVID-19 tourism trend, and the spread of ‘glamping’. The Coronavirus has made road trips, separated lodging, and staying outdoors the new trends of 2020 whilst the world, in general, is still a long way from being normal. This is something that has in turn forced us to leave our comfort zones, being more patient and pushing the boundaries of our imagination when it comes to travel. We were forced to postpone our international travel

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WORDS BY LAURA PROST IMAGE BY DARCIE MISSEN

PAUSE

Rare Cas

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es of ‘Stupid’ Popping Up Across The Globe Spark Pandemic Concerns

cientists warn that new strains of Stupid are more contagious than first thought, with ‘a pandemic likely,’ doctors report.

The first cases were reported in March when the Government stated that people should not panic buy, and the complete opposite occurred. These actions are in no shape a rational response to a crisis unless it is one that will mean that supplies will be limited. COVID-19 has never proved to put local supermarkets at risk of closing, only extra precautions were necessary. Plus, it was announced on the news everyday that there was no need to panic buy. Yet, waves of people infected with Stupid rushed to the supermarkets. First, the toilet paper aisle. As we all know, this is more important than food in terms of survival. Even the Andrex was taken, leaving the shelves bare of any options. The young people would take the toilet paper in fear that their elders would snatch it. The older people stocking up in fear of the youths. It was mutually assured destruction, leaving those who couldn’t get to the supermarkets

using cheap ‘poop emoji’ toilet paper or kitchen roll. These cases of Stupid proved fierce, as the infections meant that not only was toilet paper taken, but also pasta, baking supplies, hand sanitiser, and puzzles. The cases of Stupid meant that rational thinking was clouded by panic and stupidity. The Stupid has even spread to government figures. Dominic Cummings was involved in setting up lockdown rules, yet didn’t understand them himself. This level of stupidity can only be caused by infection. Cummings drove to Durham in search of childcare, despite this being strictly prohibited under his own lockdown rules. When questioned, he was flustered, but still stood strong saying that his move was not breaking lockdown measures, despite it being clear that he did. Cummings even drove when he couldn’t really see, which is a Specsavers advert in the making. To be both stupid enough to ignore his own words and to drive with bad eyesight shows just how awful a pandemic of Stupidity could become. Scientists have hypothesised that our own Prime Minster, Boris Johnson, is also suffering from Stupid. Symptoms have been shown in his blind support of Cummings, followed by his inability to allow kids in poverty money to fund meals; a move that was reversed by Marcus Rashford. In addition to this, Johnson thought that to prevent a pandemic, washing your hands alone would solve the problem. ‘Happy birthday two times and say goodbye to Nan’ was his motto. A pandemic of Stupidity is dangerously prominent in our government and this is something that is spreading anxiety. No cure has been found yet. Johnson has attempted to cure it with excessive clapping but little has changed. People now are refusing to wear a mask in support of their human rights, despite the clear scientific evidence that it will prevent the spread of COVID-19 and therefore save lives. People are continuing to argue with shop workers about how masks are an infringement on freedom whilst infections grow and the risk of an increasing lockdown become higher. The Stupidity was at first rare, but now we are seeing it grow. Scientists are afraid that now that Stupidity has entered society it will be difficult to cure, as those with the infection often think of themselves as intelligent and are unlikely to change their thought processes. Until a cure is found, lives may be lost, with another full scale pandemic and further strain on the NHS looming.

WORDS BY RUBY WOOD IMAGE BY CRISHA RODRIGUES WESSEX SCENE

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THE TOP GOVERNMENT MASK-OFF M O M E N T S T H AT L E F T M I D D L E A G E D WHITE MEN SHOCKED COBRA meetings that addressed the looming pandemic. Thankfully, he explained that it wasn’t the norm for the PM to attend those meetings and someone else would eventually pass on to him what happened. Remember the seminar numbers dwindle throughout the semester until the week before the assessment is due, then it’s a full house. These were those meetings. I’m all for being a disappointment, but in a pandemic? You biffed it, Boris, you biffed it.

WORDS BY ELIZABETH SORRELL IMAGE BY GERD ALTMANN VIA PIXABAY

uring this pandemic, the government has worked tirelessly to keep us on our toes, catastrophising about the stability of every single aspect of our lives. But that ominously disappointing cohort of men who were all born in the 1960s? They’re fuming. So, I thought it would be nice to point out for them some top British government mask-off (haha) moments that left Gen X white men in shock as the rest of the country waved goodbye timidly to the rest of our hope, like a goldfish going down the toilet.

1. Herd Immunity projected to kill a quarter of a million The first course of action by our Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock, was simply leaving it alone. The idea was to let the virus travel naturally through the population and let it fizzle out by itself, like Freshers’ Flu or Freshers’ Herpes. Unfortunately, not everybody is up for the adrenaline rush of going to shops and wondering if today is the day that ‘unexpected item in bagging area’ takes on a whole new meaning.

3. Dominic Cummings’s Highspeed Escapade One of the PM’s top advisors, Dominic Cummings, not only got matching diseases with Johnson (like the best of friends), but entertained everybody with his story. Cummings carried the virus 260 miles from his London home to Durham without adequate eyesight. Johnson defended Cummings, saying that he was simply following ‘a father’s instinct.’ Boris, baby, we need to talk about optics! I’m not saying that we should be too judgemental about the moral character of Boris Johnson solely based on his mysterious string of illegitimate children. All I’m saying is that if we look at Johnson’s parenting techniques, a father’s instinct is to leave. 4. NHS Pay Rise (or lack thereof ) The colours of your soul are between you and the mirror, but your arse belongs to the people. This country is remarkably good at symbolism. Hero statuses and Thursday clapping. But hold on a second... aren’t the people condemning the NHS protests against the refusal to raise the wages of NHS workers the same ones who were out there every Thursday with their pots, pans, and conga lines? I’ve thought about this and I’ve concluded that the reason behind the government’s inaction and people’s stiff upper lip attitude is the same as when I got bullied at school: it’s character building.

2. The Cobra Meetings to address the crisis If you are or were a student, chances are you didn’t attend every single seminar you could have. Maybe you routinely didn’t go to any! You might feel guilty about ‘wasting your education’, but don’t worry, Boris backs you!

But poor Mark, Steve, and Richard (call him Rich) who are scratching their heads at the prospect that the government does not care about its people. Tell them to look closely at all the women, LGBTQ+ people, ethnic minorities, disabled people, single mothers, the elderly, and poor people who have that certain glaze over their eyes, an otherworldly sombreness about them, a faint smile that points downwards in the corners.

Michael Gove admitted that Boris Johnson didn’t attend 5

This silent tranquillity is the sigh of exhaustion.

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WESSEX SC ENE. CO . UK @ W ES S E XS CE NE

F B . C OM / W S C E N E @OF F IC IAL W E S S E X S C E N E

Wessex Scene Pandemic Issue

Articles inside

THE TOP GOVERNMENT MASK-OFF MOMENTS THAT LEFT MIDDLE AGED WHITE MEN SHOCKED

RARE CASES OF ‘STUPID’ POPPING UP ACROSS THE GLOBE SPARK PANDEMIC CONCERNS

THE COVID-19 GENERATION: THE NEW OUTLOOK OF A NEW GENERATION

A PERSONAL ACCOUNT OF INTERCONTINENTAL TRAVEL DURING A PANDEMIC

UK STAYCATION HOTSPOTS

SPORTS

WHAT LOCKDOWN TAUGHT ME

RECIPES FROM LOCKDOWN

HOW SOCIAL MEDIA HAS HELPED AND HINDERED DURING LOCKDOWN

WHAT’S IN A NAME? THE PROBLEM WITH NAMING DISEASES

WHY THE DIVERGING MENTAL SIDE EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE PHYSICAL

OXFORD COVID-19 VACCINE TRIAL SHOWN TO PRODUCE A STRONG IMMUNE RESPONSE

WHAT HAS COVID TOLD US ABOUT THE WHO?

THE GAY PLAGUE: THE HOMOPHOBIA OF THE AIDS CRISIS

PAST PANDEMICS: THE BLACK DEATH AND MEDIEVAL POLITICS

WARTIME INNOVATION AND ITS COUSIN, THE PANDEMIC

CORONAVIRUS PARANOIA SPARKS IGNORANT XENOPHOBIA AGAINST ASIAN PEOPLE

A BRIGHTER SIDE TO LOCKDOWN: GROWING CLOSER TO THE ONES YOU LOVE

WHY WAS SOUTH KOREA SO SUCCESSFUL IN DEALING WITH THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC?

THIS PANDEMIC IS THE LEAST OF OUR WORRIES

HOW HOMOPHOBIA SHAPED GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THE AIDS PANDEMIC

MY EXPERIENCE WITH MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT DURING LOCKDOWN

IN CONVERSATION WITH UOS HEALTHCARE STUDENTS