2020 - An Overview: Part 2

 by Flixy Coote

After all that has happened already this year, 2020 seems a long time away. A couple of months ago, I shared an article about the first part of 2020; this is Part Two. Even Though this seems very late to be writing this, I think that it will be very good for records later on and to look back at a very special and horrific year for many.

(Image by James Eades)

May - As cases began to drop all across the country, the UK remained in lockdown for the majority of May. On May the 10th, the very familiar saying to many “stay at home” changed to “stay alert” as Boris Johnson announced his plan for getting the UK out of lockdown. People are allowed to exercise more than once a day, sunbathe and he mentioned the reopening of shops and schools could be reopened by the earliest July with social distancing measures. The loss of taste and smell was added to the list of covid 19 symptoms after being in debate for a long time. Dominic Cummings, the now former chief advisor of Boris Johnson faced many calls to resign after travelling 260 miles across the country displaying covid 19 symptoms. Finally, at the end of the month Scotland announced that lockdown restrictions were being eased there with two households being allowed to meet outside. All in all, May was a pretty uneventful month compared to others. 

June - This was a month that shook the world. After the unlawful killing of George Floyd by police officers in America due to the colour of his skin, protests struck out all around the world calling for equality, the movement calling for racial equality. Protests struck main cities all over the world as the video of George Floyd’s neck being knelt on by police officers while he muttered the words “I can’t breathe”, words were shared over social media all over the world. On June the 13th, protesters in London clashed with police as statues of people linked to slavery were pulled down. On June the 23rd, Boris Johnson announced changes to lockdown measures that were to come into place on July the 4th. A positive end to a very eventful month. 

July - After months of waiting, the UK finally began opening back up again, an excitement for many. Indoor gatherings for up to two families inside, with the two metre rule being dropped down to one metre plus. A sense of normality filled the country as people started to get on with their lives. However, it was a rough month for many. Massive companies like Boots and John Lewis were struggling severely with money and had to cut thousands of jobs leaving many in a state of distress. To end the month on a space high, NASA launched its Mars 2020 rover mission to search for signs of ancient life. 

August - Spain, France and Greece saw a massive surge in visitors as people took a leap of faith and booked holidays all over Europe. Probably the highlight of many peoples month was the eat out to help out scheme, launched by the government to increase spending in restaurants, leading loads of people out of their houses, bringing cities to life again. Cases slowly began to rise towards the end of the month as quarantine rules were put into place to help slow the spread of the virus as people were flying in from all over the world. Plans for the return to school brung news to many expectant pupils as fights went on over unfair GCSE grades.