We must act to protect each new freedom

The traditional Easter message is all about new beginnings and renewed hope. But as lockdown restrictions begin to ease in Scotland, it is a theme which will resonate with a much wider section of the public than normally might be the case.

Yesterday Scotland moved from the stay at home position we have endured for months to stay local.

From Monday, the first phase of retail reopenings will begin and hairdressers will start to tend again a grateful and hirsute nation.

In the grand scheme of things, the changes are no more than baby steps.

But that is the right approach. With Covid still circulating in our communities and a clear and present danger to life, Scotland cannot afford to try to run before it can walk.

Reopening the economy as a whole and returning to something resembling normality is a complex challenge, the success of which is dependent on our individual and collective behaviour.

The urge to gather this weekend to celebrate Easter with family and friends is strong.

That is entirely understandable. But caution must remain the watchword to ensure that our first taste of new freedoms does not lead to a spike in cases down the line.

After a year living under Covid, Scotland cannot afford to let the virus gain new momentum and cause further misery.

Act responsibly and we can consign the one step forward and two steps back cycle of Covid to the past. Act irresponsibly and, from bitter experience, the consequences are all too clear.