Give Covid an inch and it will take a mile

This is a time of real danger. Nicola Sturgeon’s words as she announced a further easing of the lockdown restrictions in Scotland from today. The first minister’s trepidation comes from the knowledge that an invisible killer stalks our communities.

Covid-19’s role in more than 4,000 deaths north of the border since this crisis first began is evidence enough that this is an adversary worthy of respect.

Ms Sturgeon has given it such in her cautious and deliberate approach throughout lockdown.

But there are variables that she cannot control.

The vast majority of the general public have stuck by the rules and helped suppress the virus to a relatively low level.

But that will become more difficult rather than less in the days and weeks ahead as the restrictions ease and there are more people circulating within the community, households start to welcome guests for the first time in months and pubs and hotels open their doors properly.

Those measures are necessary in order to return society to a more normal state and to kickstart an economy which, across several sectors, has been brought to its knees.

Scotland cannot afford to remain in neutral. We must start to create jobs, wealth and opportunity and build again.

But we must do it in a responsible way because if we give Covid-19 an inch, it will take a mile.

Going backwards is the worst possible scenario for Scotland’s health and prosperity.