Not time to toast the end of coronavirus
PUBS open tomorrow as other measures are introduced to ease the lockdown. But is it all happening too soon because the Government is trying to save the economy? America relaxed lockdown and is now suffering a second wave of Covid-19
across the country. US experts warn it could spiral out of control and Dr Anthony Fauci, the respectable face of White House spokespeople, said it could rise to 100,000 new cases a day.
Within the UK, we may think we are doing all right. We’re British. We don’t panic. But Leicester is in lockdown after a surge that took infections up to 140 per 100,000 people. Other areas in a top 10 risk chart include Bradford and Barnsley with Kirklees sneaking in at number 10 with a 30.3 infection rate per 100,000. That doesn’t sound so bad. But will it get worse with closer public contact that is likely to happen in pubs?
Sir Jeremy Farrar, a member of the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, has said: “We’re on a knife edge, it’s very precarious the situation, particularly in England at the moment, and I would anticipate we would see an increase in new cases over the coming weeks.”
In advance of pubs opening, Brian Booth, chairman of West Yorkshire Police Federation, said he hoped people would maintain their common sense as the country continues
Prior to Covid-19... A&Es on Friday and Saturday nights were at
times akin to a circus.
to live “under the cloud of Covid”.
He said: “Prior to the Covid-19 outbreak, local A&Es on Friday and Saturday nights were at times akin to a circus full of drunken clowns. We do not need this once again.”
Despite the queues at Primark and the promise of a pint, it seems we are not yet out of danger or anywhere near back to normal.
Vulnerable groups still need to take the utmost care and younger generations, who feel they are fit enough to fight off infection, should continue to act with responsibility. While they may shake off Covid-19 as if it were a bad cold, they could infect others less able to cope.
Stay safe.