Battle against virus moves up a gear

The spirit of Dunkirk and the Blitz have both been involved in recent days as the UK faces down the challenge of coronavirus. After the manic round of cancellations of events and closure of major venues on Tuesday, the morning felt like the calm before the storm.

In such a quick moving situation, it was a rare moment to breathe and take stock of the new normal.

But then, from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, came the announcement that schools will close for an indefinite period following the session tomorrow.

It is a measure that has been long expected and, in some quarters, called for, but the decision still represented another major escalation in the battle against this virus.

The truth is it is a decision the Scottish Government were reluctant to take as it adds to the pressures on individual households which are already feeling the strain with more people working from home and self-isolating.

It also creates a further problem in mobilising the vital army of NHS workers against the disease.

Many will require to arrange childcare but find they have fewer options available to them as grandparents follow advice to self isolate and other potential providers are overwhelmed or are closing their doors.

Not for the first time in this crisis – and likely not for the last – there are more questions than answers about how things will work.

But in wartime – which is what Prime Minister Boris Johnson has suggested this is – people adapt to the prevailing circumstances and get the job done.

And that, no doubt, is what will happen again here. There have, inevitably, been some excesses in which people have put their own good ahead of others.

That is natural when a threat is looming.

But, hearteningly, the early days of this crisis have also seen communities across the country come together to put the elderly and most vulnerable in society first.

Three people have died in Scotland to date and, sadly, we know that more will perish as this crisis runs its course.

But by collective action, staying positive and by being community-minded we have a greater chance of curtailing Covid-19’s worst effects.