Wish You Were Here...?
A family getaway to the sun is plagued by COVID restrictions. But will they ever escape? Just remember to click on the links.
The phone alarm rings. 4:15 am, but the pink morning clouds are bright enough to light up the room. The kids are in bed still, but the bags have already been done. Quietly, the car is packed, a flask of coffee is made, and the children are gently lifted to the car in the hope they will stay asleep. No luck, as the prospect of driving to the airport, to get into their first plane is much too exciting, especially for the six-year-old.
Wife winds down the window, the cool air sweeps in and she looks at the curved green hills. “I love you, England,” she thinks, “but after three years of lockdown, I need some Mediterranean sun”.
The widespread adoption of electronic vaccine certificates was a success in the eyes of the British government. Linking in with the EU’s digital green certificates, authorities in many countries rushed through the digital infrastructure. With a successful celebrity-driven social media campaign and with many in the UK utterly dismayed by two washout summers, the vaccine certificates were picked up without much fuss. People wanted out.
The family arrives at the airport, hours in advance. Masks are now compulsory. QR codes are scanned. One giant screen displays the arrivals and departures, while another larger displays the amount of virus cases and variants in the country. Another rolls the latest version of “Can you look them in the eyes?" pandemic campaign.
Food is only bought through apps since no one manages any counters anymore and alcohol has been on a temporary ban for over two years now. One man with very dark skin, wears an orange high-vis vest and blue overalls, messes with a mop, nearly knocking the bucket over, near the toilet doors.
Before getting on the plane, everyone has to take a swab test, even the kids. You can either wait to get the results for free in two hours, or you can pay £30 to get them in ten minutes.
After, while sitting in their allocated bubble, the parents look around and take a small bottle of champagne out of their bag. They pull down their masks and take a swig. A toast to Spain, they say.
Optional COVID booster shots are now offered in private lounges. They are mostly used by businessmen for gaining access to higher end venues and/or luxury car hires.
The family reaches the gate to board the plane. With Spain in sight (and with Andalusian locals well known to have a cavalier attitude to social distancing rules), two weeks of sun and wine, will make them feel human.
The large virus cases and variants screen turns red. “One case of the Nepalese variant has been discovered in the UK. To prevent mutations from spreading like wildfire, a national lockdown has been put into immediate effect. Acting Prime Minister Neil Ferguson will address the nation at 1pm”.
The family sighs. “At least we got as far as the gate this time,” says the husband.