But within hours, there was even better news. Over 400,000 people had volunteered. And within 24 hours, over half a million.
That's astonishing. I suppose that in the main they were people unable to work who were free to pitch in and assist. Some out of undiluted altruism, some just to be active - it didn't matter which.
Well, talk about 'coming together in adversity'. I think this is remarkable. And it shows that human nature hasn't after all been altering for the worse, sliding into selfishness and cynicism: a lot of people, perhaps most, want to do good - and will do good if the opportunity presents and the need is acute. It will appear false to strike a world-weary pose in the future; and any such attitude will seem very 'pre-virus' and rather passé. The world has changed. And this grand effort won't be forgotten. I hope that the volunteers who stick it out all get a special medal.
Hang on, Lucy, you might be saying. Are you volunteering?
I thought about it, but decided it would be best not to. At nearly sixty-eight I'm not yet within the definition of 'vulnerable', but statistically I'm more likely to get infected and suffer serious symptoms than somebody even ten years younger. I don't want to push my luck. It's not really a personal choice: if I get ill, and it puts me in hospital, I'll have added to the NHS's problems. I don't want to do that.
A cop-out? Despite the rationalising, it rather feels like it. Oh well; one can't always find a way to feel good about situations. And with so many hands already to the pump, one pair less - my hands -won't hurt the broad picture.
And I'd hate it much more if I found myself hogging a hospital bed that somebody else in an awful state ought to have. But even that doesn't quite still the nagging voice inside, that tells me I may have found a perfect reason, but it's not a perfect excuse.
