Learning to live with the virus

by John Knox

A few short weeks ago, coronavirus was something affecting a far off city in China which few of us had ever heard of. Then suddenly it was in not-sofar-away Italy.

The wave seemed to get bigger and more threatening as it approached us. Now it has overwhelmed the whole world, killing thousands and causing economic and social meltdown.

Who would have thought those few short weeks ago that our schools would be closed, pubs and restaurants shut down by government order, all public events cancelled, all non-urgent operations postponed to free up 3,000 hospital beds and all of us told to work from home if possible and observe “social distancing” and “self-isolation.” And who would have imagined a Conservative government ditching “austerity” and announcing a public spending programme the like of which we’ve not seen since the Second World War. Then the unimaginable - the lockdown that we have seen in these other countries arrived on our doorsteps.

The SNP Scottish government has abandoned its plan to hold a second independence referendum this year.

And there’s even talk of putting Brexit on hold for an indefinite period.

First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, wasted no time in taking the lead, closing schools, cancelling exams, calling for football matches and other large gatherings to be abandoned, always a day or two ahead of the UK government.

And people, by and large, have accepted her judgement.

I notice in my local supermarket some panic buying, but not much.

People are standing correctly at a distance from each other.

The parks around me and the Pentland Hills were peppered with individuals and family groups out walking at the weekend, but all now are closed.

Charities are organising food deliveries to the elderly. Everyone is being exceptionally polite and helpful.

But there are troublesome questions in the air. How long can this last ? What will the brave new world look like when the pandemic is over?