Heed this NHS doctor’s anguished appeal over new lockdown – The Yorkshire Post says

They come from Dr Richard Cree who, as an intensive care consultant at Middlesbrough’s James Cook Hospital, is one of the NHS heroes working day and night to save the lives of Covid victims from North Yorkshire and beyond.

And, as he witnesses helplessly, a rise in deaths – and the hospital struggling to “function normally” – he pleads: “The time for complacency is over. Everyone needs to play their part in preventing the spread of the virus. Only this will ensure that lockdown will not last any longer than is absolutely necessary.”

If you’re still unconvinced, how about the testimony of Gerard Dempsey, a reader of The Yorkshire Post, who has just spent 14 days in Rotherham Hospital being treated for Covid. He reports: “There’s gridlock in A&E as there are far too few beds left on Covid wards.”

Or Sir Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, as the threat level is raised? The number of virus patients now equates to 14 hospitals and counting.

All stark, sombre and sobering words, they’re a reminder of our collective duty to observe the lockdown, despite the inevitable personal, social and economic hardship, in the hope that it can be limited to just 28 days.

But the intervening period must be used to extend testing programmes – it would be counter-productive not to use the interlude do so – and for the Government and Opposition parties to start working together on a national approach, perhaps in a cross-party Covid Cabinet first advocated by this newspaper on Tuesday.

If not, Ministers and MPs risk the public’s goodwill – and compliance – reaching breaking point sooner rather than later.

Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today. Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you’ll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers. Click here to subscribe.