Time to set new standards for ourselves as we take on Coronavirus - Mark Casci

Two years before Apollo Eight successfully flew men to the moon, three astronauts lost their lives without ever leaving the ground.

During a launch rehearsal at Cape Kennedy, there was a cabin fire in the Apollo One space craft.

All three crew members, Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee, were killed on the launch pad and the command module was destroyed.

Faced with decimated moral, NASA Flight Director Gene Krantz delivered a speech which went down in history.

Assembling his team , Kranz made the following remarks: “From this moment forward Mission Control will be known for two words: ‘Tough and Competent’.

“Tough means we are forever accountable for what we do or what we fail to do. We will never again compromise our responsibilities. Every time we walk into Mission Control we will know what we stand for.

“Competent means we will never take anything for granted. We will never be found short in our knowledge and in our skills. Mission Control will be perfect.

“You will write these two words on your blackboard and they will never be erased.”

These words could not be more applicable to the current situation we face in light of the Coronavirus pandemic which is threatening our very way of life.

Just when the uncertainty of the interminable Brexit process looked to have been put behind us, an existential crisis like no other is before us.

How we deal with this will define our era of history.

Already it is bringing out the best and worst in us.

One need only look at the shameful and cowardly actions of many selfish individuals who have spent the past few days ransacking the shelves of supermarkets at their expense of their neighbours.

Despite repeated assurances from supermarket bosses and retail experts that supplies are not in danger of running out this has not proved enough to prevent self-centred putting the comfort and health of their fellow citizens at risk.

However as I look around the region I am heartened by the signs I am seeing that these morons may be well be in a minority.

My colleague Ismail Mulla has been inundated with examples of firm’s banding together to help one another, be it by sharing services, materials or just generally working to make each other’s lives easier.This week we saw Morrisons reacting to the crisis like a responsible corporate giant should do. It is committing to a massive expansion of its home delivery operation, hiring 3,500 people to make it happen, and offering targeted food parcels to help families get the provisions they need in ready-made form.

Elsewhere the supermarket industry at large has issued clear guidance to consumers to only buy what you need and limiting certain items to two purchases per customer.

That is should come to stores to limit purchasing is a sad indictment of our society but done it they have.

Elsewhere we have political leadership seeking to allay fears and concerns, pledging to help all businesses weather the storm.

These examples, from the smallest to the largest institutions are where the hope lies.

This era is one that needs its heroes.

We can all play our part but heroism is the standard we must set for ourselves.

Tough and Competent are the qualities that will get us through this.

Make the right choices, look out for your fellow human beings and get ready for tough times.

It is this that will define us and make future generations look back with pride.