In and around a London lockdown. A Cartoon Diary by Pidge.

 Public spaces became busier to the delight of some: But a return to complete normality had not occurred.

 Although many pubs remain closed many more rose to the occasion even though they had to devise methods to comply with the social distancing requirements which basically meant keeping staff and customers as far apart as possible. Technology was enthusiastically introduced to facilitate continuity of the traditional  functions which have existed in pubs and taverns since the Middle Ages: But it became clear that the pub is not the best setting in which to attempt to master a new technology: But I imagined that some of the more entrepreneurial restaurants might get it right:

 At last! On July 4 pubs and restaurants were allowed to be open after having  been closed for over three months. Amazingly some were  against such a possibly risky move and campaigned for customers to stay away:

 Some people resigned themselves to the fact that travel to foreign parts was too risky and they therefore had to stay at home but then it was necessary to keep up appearances: It was very hot in England then.

 But there was a potential cost to socialising. People experiencing COVID  symptoms were supposed to inform the authorities of the people that they have been in contact with and they would be asked self isolate for 14 days which seemed to be a heavy price for a pint even after three months of going without:

 The easing of the lockdown in May which permitted the meeting up of only small socially distant groups gave way to laxer observance as groups expanded and distances shrunk and by late June it was common to see larger groups enjoying the ‘take away’ beers that the more enterprising pubs were selling and adherence to the two metre rule was evaporating. 

The lockdown begun on the 20th of March was eased in May so that people in one household were able to meet another as long as social distancing was respected.  The easing of lockdown was accompanied by good weather and people made the most of it.