We cannot ignore the onward march of Covid-19 pandemic, warns Sheffield business leader

It was poignant to see so many signs, but also reflect how many young lives lost from our area.

We could easily have done the same for those who died from coronavirus, who, like the deceased Armed Forces personnel, were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The sheer number of those dying from the pandemic, if their names were highlighted on the lamp posts, would surely have the same poignancy .

Whether it would shock us into applying greater levels of discipline more diligently remains to be seen.

The $64 question is not the labels we give to the latest restrictions, or indeed how eloquently they are communicated, it is the motivation of all of us to comply conscientiously with them.

Recent anecdotal and media assessments continue to show too many refusing to comply with the mildest of restrictions.

I feel sure all of us can reiterate examples of reckless non-conformity from our own experience.

I wonder whose names highlighted on the lamp posts would think about the freedoms their sacrifices brought and how the present generation have exercised them.

If complying with the restrictions is the only show in town, then such non-compliance is exercising a freedom to harm others whether health or economically and so ignoring their personal responsibilities comes at a cost to others.

What is quite mystifying is I cannot remember going into a public area and seeing someone smoke, an almost universal acceptance.

Have we not communicated the dangers as effectively as we did with dangers of smoking, or has time moved on and are we now less motivated to comply with self discipline ?

One thing is certain the spike in Covid-19 is most concerning and even more worrying because we are not yet in winter and NHS hospital beds are rapidly filling up.

Those who questioned the relevance of Nightingale Hospitals when they stood empty might be glad now they are there, but whether the extra staff needed to staff them without denuding other NHS areas must be another challenge.

One thing is for sure we cannot ignore the upward march of the coronavirus and have to face the consequences to livelihoods, lives and the very way we live our lives.

On Remembrance Day we remember those who gave their lives for our freedoms so how we exercise them will have a crucial effect on if we can contain the coronavirus before a vaccine is found.

If it is not as with smoking we may have to live with the disciplines required and make them a habit.

If you defy smoking restrictions then sanctions apply as well as being regarded as socially unacceptable, then not wearing masks as required , not social distancing etc may necessitate a similar environment.