Restrictions are a price worth paying

IT is understandable that most people will feel increasing anxiety over the spread of coronavirus.

Most of us have seen nothing like it in our lifetime, where the narrative we are used to has infectious diseases being conquered and people living longer.

While most of those contracting the condition have had it in a mild form and recovered, the risk is higher for those who are older and those who have underlying health conditions. That’s why it is particularly important to contain the spread of the virus for as long as possible. The fact that people are currently unable to develop immunity to it adds to the general stress.

It’s important that pharmaceutical research corrects that position as quickly as possible.

In the mean time, the authorities have important decisions to make.

Inevitably, there has to be a calculation about the degree to which individuals should be isolated from each other. But equally, the ability of the NHS to cope with the volume of patients has to be taken into account.

Different countries are on different states of alert, and there is some logic to that. Italy has seen a spike in deaths from the virus over the last few days, suggesting that not enough was done to keep people out of harm’s way quickly enough. Now the country has gone into lockdown.

It’s important that governments are candid with their citizens. To his credit, Boris Johnson made it clear that some families will suffer bereavement prematurely.

Many people find it odd that tomorrow’s Six Nations match between Wales and Scotland has not been cancelled. We hope the decision to go ahead does not backfire.

It’s important that all of us take note of official advice and act accordingly.

If we develop coronavirus symptoms, we should self-isolate. One of the worst things we could do would be to turn up at a GP surgery or A&E unit if we suspect we may have contracted it.

Preparations are already under way in many businesses and public bodies on the assumption that most employees will be working from home. Some argue that this should already have happened, but to avoid panic there is merit in getting people used to the idea before it is implemented.

Many will find the restrictions placed on their daily lives unpalatable, but if they help to consign a deadly condition to history, they are a price worth paying.