Our new-found freedoms come with responsibilities, says Sheffield health boss

Is anyone surprised at the recent imposition of more restrictions after increasing news of preventive measures being flouted by a significant minority?
Visitors have flocked to beaches etc, with little social distancing to be observed, leading to the inevitable consequences, says Graham MooreVisitors have flocked to beaches etc, with little social distancing to be observed, leading to the inevitable consequences, says Graham Moore
Visitors have flocked to beaches etc, with little social distancing to be observed, leading to the inevitable consequences, says Graham Moore

Recent visits to pubs and restaurants has shown inconsistent preventive measures being applied.

However, I exempt The Phoenix, in Ridgeway, as they, from personal experience, seem to have achieved a high standard of compliance that I found very reassuring and I’m sure there are others too working hard to keep us safe.

Media coverage has shown visitors flocking to beaches etc and little social distancing to be observed, with the inevitable consequences.

Graham Moore, Westfield Health chairmanGraham Moore, Westfield Health chairman
Graham Moore, Westfield Health chairman

The saddest thing being that our schoolchildren have returned to school, so this lack of discipline is the worst kind of example to show.

Closer to home, I had two deliveries recently. One driver had their mask around their chin, while another had none – it makes you wonder what protocols their employers had communicated.

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Inconsistent actions by too many are an unwelcome sign they consider the pandemic is less of risk, when thinking people know this is far from the truth.

Visits to supermarkets show mainly well-stewarded and well-regulated queues, but in spite of well-signposted, one-way systems, some seem incapable of complying with them.

With a colleague, we visited a store, dutifully wearing masks, following arrows that suddenly disappeared and dodging other shoppers seemingly oblivious they were coming wrong way.

All this may seem trivial to some, but perhaps we all have become a bit complacent and need a bit of a reality check.

This can be recovered if we reflect Covid-19 is not yet beaten and realise social distancing/wearing masks where advised are the only preventive show in town until a vaccine.

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Perhaps the easing of lockdown made us forget the harrowing scenes of hospital patients struggling for breath and daily media briefing of increasing hospitalisation and coronavirus deaths.

Certainly those who have lost loved ones and/or suffered the stress of being a frontline worker will be alert to not letting our guard down.

We are just starting to recover our economy, but it is fragile and a return to lockdown measures would not only be disastrous for our morale, but an increase in deaths particularly for the elderly and vulnerable would be most unwelcome and, on top of normal winter illnesses, a huge blow for NHS workers and those on ever-increasing waiting lists.

As the nights draw in the choice really is for us – we cannot now plead ignorance – although the Government has not helped by confusing communications and last-minute changes in advice.

Social distancing, wearing masks when advised, seeking a test when displaying symptoms and self-isolating when required to do so should now be well ingrained behaviour.

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If too many ignore these precautionary measures, then the consequences are all too obvious; a return to crippling lockdowns, more job losses and, worse still, more deaths.

Imagine how fearful the vulnerable and elderly would feel if they had to face more self isolation?

Surely we have enjoyed the new-found freedoms too much to experience not being able to see our loved ones again and see our children have their futures blighted by more disruption to their education .

We have to take recent increase in coronavirus cases as a timely warning that we can enjoy new found freedoms, but only if we exercise self discipline.

The choice is ours. The price of new-found freedoms comes with responsibilities also.