Pandemic has taken toll on young people

For many, the announcement by Nicola Sturgeon that pupils will return to school following the Easter holiday will be a shot in the arm as welcome as any vaccine.

It was nearly a year ago they first broke up early, with many parents and carers expecting a short stay at home before a return after Easter 2020. That rolled into a full lockdown, which was not exited until a short period of “normality” last autumn.

For many, either through shielding or because of positive Covid-19 tests in their school, there was not even that brief respite from home.

It has been a testing time for those left with day-long caring responsibilities but the suffering of the young people themselves should not be forgotten.

Many have missed out on key developmental stages, from those exciting first days at school or, at the other end of the scale, the chance to say goodbye to their schooling in a traditional manner.

It must be hoped, as the first minister said, that this is indeed, the final lockdown — that the measures taken in recent weeks, along with the vaccination programme, can truly bring an end to this ordeal.

In coming weeks and months, however, we must be aware of the toll lockdown has taken on many young people.

The effect on their mental health may be the next crisis which must be tackled every bit as vigorously as this pandemic has been fought.