Golden opportunity to put an end to health inequalities

The challenge this gives to schools cannot be underestimated as they have to both ensure safety as well as maintaining education, particularly if numbers increase.

Also as key workers, they have the same family concerns as the rest of ours, to protect the welfare of their own children and relatives.

As I read The Star, I also reflect that, as during World War Two, we need regular reporting from the media.

That means staff in these organisations getting out of their duvets, to produce time limited updates to both entertain us, even more valued during lockdown, and, of course, independent reporting of the news.

Like World War Two, tragically there have been casualties - more than 40,000 – which will necessitate a review of how well the government has dealt with Covid-19.

Relatives of victims deserve this, while also we need be prepared for possible second spike in winter.

It will have to be robust, but not take so long, probably an interim review done this year, followed by a more substantial one when hopefully we have either dealt with a second spike, or avoided one.

We cannot overlook the possibility of more pandemics in the future and be better prepared and, in the scenario planning, think the unthinkable.

Health and the economic recovery are inextricably linked, so we can count ourselves fortunate we have Sheffield Hallam University’s Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre at the Olympic Legacy Park, Attercliffe, which has established a unit to research the heath and wellbeing implications of recovery from the pandemic, including the self isolating.

This will guide the appropriate rehabilitation of the population and, ultimately, as a consequence, the economy too.

After World War Two, there were many changes – of course, the welfare state and not least the NHS, which has have served us so well during the pandemic.

The post Covid-19 world has to enhance the post-War aspirations of a fairer society and end health inequalities.

The test of this is to reduce the disparity of longevity in this city between one side of Sheffield to another, something I continue to champion.

I was brought up in an area of the city where it was joked birds don’t sing they cough. The Clean Air Act alleviated that, but there is much to do if we have the political will to do it.