That we are out of anything is I think a fanciful notion going forward. What happens in Europe happens here because we are part of Europe and it’s going to take a coordinated effort to put the continent back on its feet.
It also seems likely that we will be one of the last to come out of lockdown. Several nations have started exit planning with the Germans leading the way on the back of their widespread testing program. The danger here is that it will panic the Govt into doing the same prematurely and without the resources in place to manage the exit resulting in more fatalities and greater economic damage in the long run. Personal view but I think Johnson’s illness and experience may temper the rush to do this.
The EU will be changed and shaped by this, as we all will. What emerges at the end will be down to the member nations who ultimately decide what the EU can and cannot do but it is likely the need to cooperate to mitigate the economic damage will prevail. The UK by necessity will have to be part of that.
Then there is the question of China going forward and the US which is having its own ‘Union’ trauma with the failure of Federal Govt in this crisis driving Western and Eastern States to form ‘mini unions’.
This pandemic is shaping up to be a world changing event. Worrying about the EU and bendy bananas is no longer a luxury we can afford.