Boris Johnson’s caution as virus ‘passes its peak’ – The Yorkshire Post says

Yet these are early days, the so-called ‘reproduction’ rate is only now falling to a level deemed acceptable by health experts, and the PM was right to exercise caution in his unique style.

Nevertheless, this has come at a heavy price – the UK-wide death toll now stands at 26,711 and behind each number is a much loved person being mourned by family and friends.

The unfolding tragedy has also been compounded by difficulties supplying – and distributing – sufficient PPE protective clothing and equipment to NHS staff and carers, a failing that the PM did, at least, acknowledge at last. He now needs to sort it.

Yet, despite this, public support for Mr Johnson remains high and Britons are generally supportive of their leaders, irrespective of their political persuasion, at times of national crisis.

But such trust cannot be taken for granted if the Prime Minister is to be able to count on the public to remain patient for the next phase of the lockdown.

This demands far clearer communication from the Government than the mixed messages that were delivered during Mr Johnson’s enforced absence from office while he, and his partner, were treated for coronavirus.

And it is also significant that Ministers are now preparing to release a three-point plan next week setting out how they intend to get the economy moving, children back to school and a public transport network that can accommodate social distancing.

As Mr Johnson suggested, there is now a glimmer of light on the horizon – but that the nation will pay an even greater price, both in human and economic terms, if public and political impatience now leads, inadvertently or otherwise, to a second, and potentially more damaging, lockdown later this year.

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