Fools rush in, so let’s not throw caution to the wind...

SO for what seems like the first time in months, there’s a burst of good news. We’re moving along quickly, more quickly than we thought we would, more quickly than we hoped we might.

Businesses will reopen, more people will be returning to work, relieved to come off the Covid-19 payments, relieved that their financial future is secure again for the meantime.

The sound of children happily playing outside will become normal once more. Since March our little ones have been staring forlornly at those swings and roundabouts, not really understanding why they couldn’t get in and play. They’ve been isolated from their grandparents and their school friends but now there is hope. Hope for the chance to be children again, the chance of a normal childhood summer where playgrounds are open and laughter from summer camps rings through the air.

In the distance we can now catch sight of a break away, a hotel by the sea, a trip to that holiday park that lay dormant and forlorn when we enjoyed weeks of beautiful weather and all we could do was shake our heads and think of what a shame it was that Covid-19 had denied us the luxury of Ireland’s wonderful natural resources. Because now we realise they are a luxury that we should be thankful for, that we should take more care of and that we should appreciate more.

We’ll remember this, we tell ourselves, when we’re back at the shops buying clothes. We’ll make sure we shop smarter, shop better when the lure of that bargain starts to pull on the pocket when the shopping centre opens its doors again.

We’re in a celebratory mood, that’s for sure, as we look forward to the final stages – a haircut, a pint in the pub and maybe, eventually, that sneaky break abroad.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Not yet. This virus is still lurking, somewhere unseen.

We’ve done well to flatten the curve but it hasn’t been without consequences. At this stage 1,670 consequences. Mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, children that we didn’t protect, that our heroic doctors weren’t able to save.

Since March 21, we have had just one day where the Covid-19 death rate has been 0. And we must not get ahead of ourselves. Life as we know it will not be going back to normal. Social distancing must remain in place if we are to ensure that Ireland doesn’t return to lockdown later this year, which would spell disaster for our economy and health service.

We need to take extra care to keep following the rules and not throw caution to the wind at this delicate stage. As Ireland opens up, it is important that we keep our heads, maintain social distancing, good hand hygiene and take extra precautions to protect the over-70s and those who are medically vulnerable.

So by all means meet your 14 friends outdoors, your five pals inside, go to the shopping centre to pick up those socks and jocks you’ve been in desperate need of.

But until there is a vaccine or a treatment, consider this virus in every step you take.

For when it comes to the swings and roundabouts of everyday life, keeping ourselves and our families safe is still the most important thing we have to do.