Duvet musings - let's learn from our mistakes, but leave inquests until virus battle is won

Ships carrying members of the BEF leaving Dunkirk during the evacuation of British troops 80 years ago this week. Picture: Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

A World Health Organization expert considers it may be several years before it becomes less of threat to life.

The consensus between the political parties starts to wane under the pressure of the pandemic, leading to thoughts about its similarities with World War Two, where, during the six years of conflict, victories were made and setbacks subject to reviews and judgements with benefit of hindsight.

Both tragically involved casualties/deaths and all parties often having a different prism of the facts and explanations.

In any war, countries being attacked are often underprepared and no plans stand the actual hest of battle.

The learning tragically comes out of misjudgements and mistakes, as well as victories.

Someone said generals lose battles, but the frontline troops win them.

In this pandemic, the front line troops are the NHS and care staff, the casualties the general public, all too often the most vulnerable and elderly in society, as well as those tragically caring for victims.

My self-isolating peers and I wonder, given the above. when we can ever return to normality.

To contain the virus, do we have to maintain the status quo indefinitely, to allow more younger citizens to return to a more normal life?

Shades of the wounded left at Dunkirk and fit soldiers saved.

It’s only my dire speculation as being alone, though well supported, that thinks this.

Then I think that I and others of my vintage may be justified in saying leave the inquests until later when the battle is won.

And for now, concentrate collaboratively to solve the challenge of saving lives and preserving jobs.

Then the young may have a future and those in the twilight of their lives can enjoy a well-deserved retirement with family and friends etc.

For now, I have to be content with successfully stuffing my duvet, looking forward to a brighter future, and the reality that we can only change today and tomorrow.