Grim milestone reminds us the battle is not over

BRITAIN reached a grim milestone yesterday when coronavirus deaths surpassed 40,000. Chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance had said in March that 20,000 deaths would be a “good outcome.” But 11 weeks on, the doubling of his estimate proves the massive battle we face.

Health secretary Matt Hancock yesterday rightly acknowledged it was a time of sorrow as each death represents “a family that will never be the same again”.

Meanwhile, the fact that the R rate of reinfection may be going above 1 in the North-west and South-west is a wake-up call that the war in defeating this terrible disease is far from won.

With lockdown being eased we should heed the warnings of the Government that we must stay alert.

The decision to make masks compulsory in hospitals is sensible, but as with the same announcement for public transport on Thursday one wonders why now.

The heartbreaking effects of the virus were etched on the face of GMB presenter Kate Garraway when she broke down about the horrendous impact the virus has had on her husband Derek Draper’s health. His 10-week stay in intensive care is a harrowing story.

Many will know the true impact this disease has on body and mind and why we need to double our efforts to beat it.

We must do everything in our power to avoid a second wave of this disease including being careful and staying alert.

We can only hope those attending the Black Lives Matter protest this weekend adhere to the social distancing measures. Gathering in large groups with no proper distancing can create a severe danger of allowing the infection rate of the virus to rise well above the one-mark again.This puts us all in danger.

Protest has an important place in British democratic life, but these are not normal times and perhaps other peaceful avenues should be explored before we risk a second wave of infection.