The buzz of normal life is slowly returning in New York

Athlone woman Lauren Kennedy moved to Brooklyn, New York, in late 2019. She works as a research assistant in a lab that focuses on paediatrics, haematology and oncology. Lauren recently updated us on what life is like there at this stage of the pandemic.

* What is the current situation with the virus in New York City?

For a short time at the beginning of the summer, life was completely normal. Most people I know had been vaccinated, places were opening up. Tourists were flocking back to New York City. People felt safe enough to start living their lives again, and we have been.

It's only in the past couple of weeks that the uptick of the dreaded Delta variant has put the brakes on slightly. Measures are now in place now for most large events and all indoor settings to only allow fully vaccinated people.

* Is the pandemic continuing to impact on your own life and work?

Earlier on in the pandemic, work was impacted massively. We were still in-person and fully masked, as we are now, but people had to work in rotations to make sure we were not here at the same time. Nowadays, we continue to wear masks all day at work but feel safer to work together as all of the people who work building are fully vaccinated.

I am very lucky in that the pandemic doesn't impact my daily life massively as my routine was built around it. I've been required to work in person basically the whole time and allowed to continue to play football, go to restaurants and see friends. It helps that all of my friends are vaccinated.

* How does the situation feel now, compared to earlier in the pandemic?

It feels worlds apart. I barely had three months in New York 'pre-Covid' but it's getting back to that kind of atmosphere.

* What has been the toughest aspect of 2021 for you?

Definitely not being able to see my family; it's been almost two years. There was a period where I would keep getting my hopes up and trying to plan ahead, trying to anticipate when Biden would lift the travel ban. Since giving up this way of thinking, and living week-to-week, it has been a lot easier.

* What are your hopes for the rest of the year?

I hope my family and friends will finally get to visit before the year is out. I also hope to complete the New York marathon, if it goes ahead, all going well.