Coronavirus shows it still has a sting in the tail for South West

IN newsrooms up and down the country as the coronavirus crisis struck journalists said that things would never be the same again. After a story this big, what could ever top it? As the crisis began to subside, however, the move back to a more ‘normal’ news agenda, with the light and shade of positive and negative stories, found new appeal.

And then the Russian build-up of military strength on the border with Ukraine started, followed by the shocking invasion. We swapped one all-encompassing story, Covid-19, for another – Ukraine. That is how it has been – understandably – across most national and international news outlets ever since.

As for coronavirus... it barely gets a mention on the major bulletins these days. But, as the Western Morning News reports today, the virus has not gone away. Cases are still extremely high here in the South West and while serious illness and deaths remain, thankfully, relatively uncommon compared to case rates, there is – as the health experts continue to remind us – no room at all for complacency.

Here in the South West we have see-sawed between very low and very high rates of illness. We are currently on an upswing in many parts of the region thanks, in large part, to the fact that the relaxation in restrictions has seen many older people getting out and about again, mixing with the young and picking up the virus. There are also concerns that the effectiveness of the booster jabs may be waning among those who had them earliest. Details on a rollout of Spring top-ups, for the most vulnerable, cannot come soon enough. We also need to know what plans are in place for Autumn jabs to protect everyone.

The effectiveness of the vaccine roll-out has made the difference between Britons being able to live with the virus and continuing to put normal life on hold. It may be that vaccine frequency can be extended at some point – but all the evidence so far points to the need for a nationwide cross-generational fourth jab before next winter – if not before.

It is heartening that health organisations are continuing to take the virus seriously. The Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust’s decision to suspend visitors from the wards earlier this week might have looked harsh to some – but we have learned during this pandemic that it is better to be safe than sorry.

Of course measures to protect people must continue to be imposed in a balanced way. While the severity of the illness people are getting when triple-jabbed remains low, it would be overkill to impose too tough a set of sanctions once more. Protecting hospital patients, clearly among the most vulnerable, makes sense – bringing back further curbs on ordinary life does not.

It is a credit to people’s resilience and good sense that they have returned relatively quickly and confidently to normality as the restrictions have eased – while maintaining sensible precautions where necessary. But even as the news bulletins are dominated by the appalling attack on Ukraine and the remarkable support for the people under fire we must keep an eye on the pandemic.

It’s not quite done with us yet.