"THIS pandemic is over!" I heard this from a couple of people yesterday and it really worried me and here’s why.

What people see being reported versus what is happening on the ground in real-time are two very different things.

As the political climate has become quite tropical this past week, I fear that it has started to negatively impact the messaging of what matters most – the health of the nation.

England has announced the end to most restrictions and Scotland sets to move in a similar direction from next week, albeit a bit more cautiously.

However, how do I, as a GP, feel about it all?

The short answer is that I am really concerned.

I wholeheartedly appreciate that everyone is fed up with living life in fear and under restrictions.

People are tired of covering their faces, having to constantly stress about their distance from others, and are desperate to resume “normality” again.

I feel this way too but we are simply not at that point in the pandemic yet.

READ MORE: Dr Punam Krishan: You should always try to prevent rather than cure

Compared to where we were one year ago, we have come on really far and if we look at the devastation caused by the Delta variant, Omicron has surprised us with milder symptoms.

The vaccines have been incredibly powerful in seeing us through to this point and we are in a much stronger position moving forwards.

However, cases remain extremely high and this is what we need to consider when we speak of “normality”.

I hear many argue that if Omicron causes mild symptoms, then why should we be worried?

We need to think of those who are still very vulnerable.

They shielded from the beginning of the pandemic and are now terrified because what will cause mild symptoms in someone with a robust immune system will cause someone with a weaker immune system serious illness.

I have patients who are literally terrified of some restrictions lifting because it will mean they cannot mingle without fear.

Covid spreads through the air and evidence has shown face masks to be effective in helping to reduce transmission.

With cases in the thousands, we still need to be very cautious about the consequences of moving too quickly.

A simple kind act of wearing our face coverings will help those more vulnerable feel safer, surely that’s not a big ask?

Despite what the headlines are saying, in primary care, we are seeing more patients having either just recovered from Covid or currently isolating with it.

Cases across nurseries, schools, universities, and colleges are rising exponentially with staff absences in every industry.

READ MORE: Dr Punam Krishan: Healthcare during the pandemic

The issue here is that if we continue to let Covid rip through society, we are going to increase the risk of more long-term health complications.

The number of people suffering from long Covid is unacceptably high.

It’s an illness largely affecting the younger age groups and these people were previously fit and well.

We have no cure for long Covid yet and we do not know how it will affect these people long-term, so surely we need to do more to limit this as much as possible?

Something else that is not being considered is the mental health issues directly related to this pandemic.

The uncertainty and the constant yo-yo effect is damaging morale and again, there is little help available to support these people.

A significantly large population remains unvaccinated too and so easing and lifting all restrictions feels premature, bearing in mind that most of the world remains unvaccinated also.

With travel open, the threat of variants is very real.

I am not trying to be negative, rather I am painting a realistic picture to say, if you too believe that this pandemic is over, it really is not.

The big problem is that the mixed messages, the unclear guidance, and the sudden lifting of restrictions translates to some people as the pandemic ending.

I wish it was, but we must move forward with caution in order to learn to live with it.

I urge you to keep doing your bit.

We are very nearly there but something as simple as wearing your face covering in crowded indoor places or on public transport will make others – who might be scared or vulnerable – feel safer.

We must all come out of this together.