FROM THE EDITOR: Restrictions should only be eased when health experts and the numbers say it is safe to do so

As it turned out, for most of us, staying home and staying safe is going to remain the norm for many weeks to come.

That is both a bitter pill to swallow and a sweet relief.

It is the right thing.

You only have to look at the graphs of infection rates and death to see that.

We can’t experiment with human life.

If manufacturers, factories and all those who can’t work from home can return safely, from Wednesday, then that is very welcome.

The most important word though is, if.

The Star’s newsdesk has been innundated throughout lockdown by calls from workers who feel they are being put at risk but are too scared to talk out against their bosses.

We must stop that. People have to be their priority, always.

It is vitally important that the government only eases the restrictions when the health experts and the numbers say it is safe to do so.

Equally, there must be no rushing back to schools without listening to teachers and the unions.

How on earth we expect a reception class, aged just four or five, to social distance is beyond me.

That isn’t any disrespect to their teachers or the good behaviour of the children, it is just their natural instincts and behaviour to be all over each other at that age.

Think of the games you loved at playtime and you’ll know what I mean.

It is important that the youngest are looked after so their parents can work but it must be done the right way or not yet.

We all want this to end and we all want to be back with our friends and family.

However, most importantly, we want it to end safely.

We have worked far too hard and already made too many sacrifices to rush things at this point.

So please, stay home if you possibly can.

If you go out to work, for exercise or to the shops, please keep following the rules.

It can be very tempting to just nip somewhere or pop in to see somebody but it still is not worth the risk and that isn’t about to change any time soon.

There is already a lot of criticism about how Boris Johnson’s government is handling this pandemic and why so many have died here.

That is bound to grow but whatever your opinion, please keep yourself safe.