'My heart went down to my boots': Frustrated acceptance as new Tier 4 restrictions begin to bite
There was a sense of frustrated acceptance as the new coronavirus restrictions kicked in across Wolverhampton on New Year's Eve.
Wolverhampton is one of many cities and towns to have been placed in the highest Covid-19 tier due to rising infection rates, wit all of the Black Country and Staffordshire now in Tier 4.
It means non-essential businesses have had to close and people have been told to stay at home and not travel unless for valid reasons such as shopping, work, exercise or education.
The centre of Wolverhampton was quieter than usual as a result on Thursday, with a number of businesses on Dudley Street closed, but shoppers were still out and about visiting stores such as B&M and Holland and Barrett.
Joyce Perry, from Bradmore, had come to the city centre to do her weekly shop and said she didn't think the restrictions and tiers were helping to curb the spread of the virus.
The 74-year-old said: "To me, I really don't think these restrictions are working as you still see all the young people out in groups, hugging each other and doing all they're doing.
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"When I found out about the new restrictions, my head went down to my knees and my heart went down to my boots and it really is just another blow.
"It's affected me as I can't go to my church at St Peter's and be part of services, which is very upsetting, and I think it will affect a lot of small businesses around the city as they need support and they aren't getting it."
Families were staying together in their bubbles as they shopped for essential items, with Anna Chiurlea and her son Tafari among those buying items for their home in Wednesfield.
The 21-year-old said she was concerned about the guidance being confusing, saying that there seemed to be one rule for schools and another for staying at home.
She said: "It's all a bit manic at the moment because they're saying that you can still take your children to school even though you live in Tier 4.
"It's a confusing mixture and I've been struggling with my mental health throughout this and it doesn't help when people look at you in a certain way when you go outside.
"I don't think these restrictions will do any good because it means locking yourself away and I really don't think that's a good idea as there are so many people struggling out there."
The frustration felt by Mrs Chiurlea has been echoed by the younger members of the community as they continue to look at the effect restrictions will have on their lives.
Jack Hancox, from Birmingham, said it would stop him being able to go to the gym and play football with his friends, while 16-year-old Aliyah Smith from Wolverhampton was concerned that she might not be able to go to sixth form.
Jack, 16, said: "I'm missing out on a lot and I would like to think that things will improve while we're in Tier 4, but I'm also afraid that we'll end up with more infections when the restrictions are lifted."
Aliyah said: "I don't think it'll make a difference as I still see lots of people out and about and it's hard because I don't get to see a lot of my family at the moment.
"I think more should be done and we should go into a total national lockdown, but I don't see that happening."
The widening of restrictions means a total of 44 million people, or 78 per cent of the population of England, are now in Tier 4, where non-essential shops, as well as gyms, cinemas, casinos and hairdressers, have to stay shut.
People are also limited to meeting one other person from another household in an outdoor public space, and must not leave their Tier 4 area except for legally permitted reasons such as medical appointments.
