Time to get tough and beat Covid

We are at a crossroads in this pandemic and choosing the right way to turn is truly a matter of life and death. The second wave we prayed would never happen is now here, and all because a selfish minority failed to stick to corona safety rules.

The carrot for behaving ourselves was an easing in restrictions. Now comes the stick for those who took that as a signal to let rip.

A cavalier disregard for the wellbeing of others will now be met with £1,000 fines for breaching two-week quarantine rules after testing positive. Repeat offenders will be stung for £10,000.

The same applies to those who fail to obey the orders of test and trace teams to stay inside if they have been in contact with someone who has the virus.

If you think that is harsh, tell that to the 13.5million people facing another round of lockdowns. Tell that to the 2.2 million people who may now have to shield again.

Tell that to those who may be struggling for breath in Covid wards by next weekend.

Stiff penalties are all very well, but of little use if they are not enforced.

Boris Johnson cannot rely on everyone to snitch on their neighbours.

When fines were introduced in June for travellers breaking quarantine rules after arriving in the UK just one was issued in the first seven weeks – and only a further nine a month later.

The PM cannot allow that kind of inaction to continue.

These penalties must be properly policed, even if the police have to be leant on to do it.

We are in the toughest battle for life since the Second World War. So now we need some of the Churchill bulldog spirit.

We should fight this virus on the uncrowded beaches, we should fight it in the socially distanced fields and we should fight it in the streets, two metres apart.

And we must never, ever surrender to complacency.