Light ahead but don’t forget Covid’s legacy

THE report by the CBI which is carried by this newspaper today shows that there are real grounds for optimism and that, as MPS have told us, the nightmare of Covid-19 and lockdown is drawing to an end.

The testing scheme to reduce isolation, the acceleration of easing measures and more are all reasons for optimism.

It is also worth noting that Brexit has freed this country up to put itself in a better position to recover – not just with the vaccine rollout but economically too.

In many ways we now need to trust in ourselves as a country and push for a rapid and full recovery.

Yet we must also heed the other issues which Covid and lockdown have left as a legacy for this country and elsewhere.

As we report today and have warned of before, the childhood mental health consequences and the cancer epidemic directly resulting from lack of diagnoses, facilities and treatment during lockdown are with us now.

The collateral damage of the last year must not be forgotten and people who have suffered as a consequence must not be left behind as we bathe in the relief and joy of finally returning to normality.

Likewise, retail representatives as well as the CBI highlight that while the economy is set to “lift off” there is urgent need to help businesses get going again.

This should involve targeted tax breaks, especially for the High Street and hospitality.

We may not be out of the tunnel yet but the light at the end is getting closer.