By Kimberley
The rapid spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) took a turn for the worse when it became an ongoing global pandemic and marked the beginning of a war without weapons. The number of reported deaths and confirmed COVID-19 cases jumped up in the UK days before PM Boris Johnson declared a nationwide lockdown on March 23rd 2020, as social media outlets fuelled anxiety and helplessness in the face of the coronavirus. To prepare to stay at home and take safety and control measures, people rushed into local supermarkets, frantically panic-buying and stockpiling goods, and emptying stores across the country in fear of a shortage of supplies. Masks, anti-bacterial liquid, and rubber gloves - even flour and toilet paper - sold out rapidly, so that supermarkets had to enforce purchase limits on items per customer. Faced with empty shelves, people went to book online slots for the delivery of essentials. However, in many cases, there were no delivery slots available for at least two weeks, triggering an even greater anxiety. In view of the lack of food resources, the lack of guidance and unclear coronavirus instructions released by the UK government, the limited bed capacities and intensive care admissions in the NHS, and the increasing number of cities being put under lockdown, many international students chose to return to their home countries. However, purchasing international airline tickets to
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A silent war without weapons
A silent war without weapons: Life in lockdown in Northeast England from the perspective of an international female PhD student Liu
Asia was no tea party at that point. The UK lockdown policy brought in aviation restrictions in an effort to flatten the curve and further prevent the spread of the virus and suspended, reduced, or cut flights to affected countries. Some airlines were selling one-way tickets to Asia, with economy seats receiving bids of up to nearly £6,000. Even these high-priced tickets sold out rapidly. Although some – apparently – lucky students successfully managed to book tickets home, many of these flights were continually rescheduled and/or ultimately cancelled.
Special thanks are due to Ustinov’s Acting Principal, Sarah Prescott, for sending us frequent updates via email about the latest coronavirus information. We are also grateful for the weekly college newsletter. Ustinov college staff are actively and continuously preparing college facilities in alignment with public health recommendations, distributing antibacterial hand sanitizers and masks at college entrances to protect both staff and students. We are hopeful the situation will improve soon, for we do miss the taste of life before lockdown. The coronavirus lockdown has left
To cope with loneliness, many of us have put up pictures taken at different events on our dorm walls. Several affordable takeaway chains – e.g. McDonalds, KFC, Burger King – stopped doing deliveries and drive-thrus during lockdown, creating even more struggles for many international students. The Ustinov Hairstyles and Lifestyles Society (H&L) started a WeChat study group to encourage students to support each other during these challenging times and gathered 197 Ustinovians. Most Asian Ustinovians had been away from home for at least six months, lacked food resources, and were tired and bored of cooking. So we had an idea and asked some popular reliable Chinese restaurants in Cambridge, Birmingham, and Durham to deliver fresh Chinese food to students’ accommodations within twenty-four hours so Asian Ustinovians could get a taste of home and feel a wee bit less homesick during this difficult time.
streets empty and turned many cities into ghost towns. Attending conferences, going to formals and parties with friends, taking part in outdoor group activities, dining out, having picnics and group barbecues, face-to-face meetings and conversations, lying in the sunshine, strolling down the usually crowded streets, and above all else, hugging one another. To cope with loneliness, many of us have put up pictures taken at different events on our dorm walls.
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