Social distancing is ‘first line of defence’ as fears of virus ‘second wave’ grow – The Yorkshire Post says

With limited restrictions still in place in parts of West Yorkshire, Leeds on a heightened state of alert and a number of businesses having to shut in Whitby due to local outbreaks, it is imperative that the public start heeding these warnings as new laws are introduced to limit social gatherings.

Yes, the Government’s response continues to leave much to be desired – not least its broken promises on testing and the breakdown of trust arriving from that trip to Barnard Castle by Boris Johnson’s chief aide Dominic Cummings – but it does not excuse the complacency now common in some areas.

There’s no reason why people can’t return to work, go shopping or socialise with friends and family provided – and that is they key word – they continue to adhere to the strict public health measures on social distancing, still the first line of defence, and hygiene that did make a significant difference earlier this year.

The problem is that the cavalier shown attitude shown by a small minority, notably those young people who have contracted the virus at large social gatherings, does, in fact, put the health of more vulnerable members of society, including the elderly, at greater risk.

However the question of early intervention isn’t just for Ministers for public bodies. As one council chief executive on the Covid-19 frontline in Yorkshire has observed, peer pressure will now be critical as Britain comes to terms with living with coronavirus – it means highlighting the very best examples of public health in practice and shunning those who, despite everything, are taking liberties with a virus that feeds on complacency.

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Thank you

James Mitchinson