Nation must act responsibly with further easing of lockdown restrictions - The Yorkshire Post says

From today, friends and family can meet in parks and gardens in socially distanced groups of up to six and more than two million vulnerable individuals who have been shielding since March are finally allowed to spend time outdoors. For most, these new freedoms will be gratefully received.

Yet, just as there are concerns about many schools beginning to admit more pupils from today - some authorities, headteachers and unions claim they are unconvinced about the safety of staff and students and some educational establishments are being advised to delay wider re-opening as a result - there are questions over whether these new freedoms are being given too soon.

It’s clearly a pivotal moment; last Thursday, the Prime Minister stressed that to control the virus, people must continue to act responsibly and strictly observe social distancing rules. England’s deputy chief medical officer has also urged caution, describing now as a “very dangerous” time, and yesterday Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab acknowledged it was a “sensitive moment” but said the country has to transition.

It is vital then, that the Government ensures guidance around this latest easing - and of others in the weeks to come - is clearly communicated and in the best interests of this country’s recovery and of its citizens. Therefore it is incumbent on individuals to adhere to the official advice. Without both of these, a resurgence of the virus, putting more lives on the line, is undoubtedly a greater risk.

Editor’s note: first and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

Almost certainly you are here because you value the quality and the integrity of the journalism produced by The Yorkshire Post’s journalists - almost all of which live alongside you in Yorkshire, spending the wages they earn with Yorkshire businesses - who last year took this title to the industry watchdog’s Most Trusted Newspaper in Britain accolade.

And that is why I must make an urgent request of you: as advertising revenue declines, your support becomes evermore crucial to the maintenance of the journalistic standards expected of The Yorkshire Post. If you can, safely, please buy a paper or take up a subscription. We want to continue to make you proud of Yorkshire’s National Newspaper but we are going to need your help.

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Sincerely. Thank you.

James Mitchinson

Editor