We have to keep calm and accept our responsiblities to fight virus​​​​​​​​​​​​​​, says Sheffield business leader

As this would inevitably put strain on our social distancing , hand washing and wearing masks discipline , it was incumbent on the authorities to put in place the other crucial complementary protection ie the much vaunted test and trace system supported by the mobile phone Ap.

Clearly there was a challenging balance to be struck between opening up the economy to save businesses and jobs whilst not increasing coronavirus with all the consequences that would bring .

That coronavirus is now worryingly on increase would suggest that our population have weakened their resolve and self discipline during the summer and the government’s confidence in embedding the testing regimes was misplaced .

At the worst this brings awful reminders of unfulfilled promises on PPE and the Care Homes crisis.

Whether this precipitates a major winter crisis is a responsibility for all of us now , it will not help if we descend into mutual recriminations.

No we all have I suggest to now keep calm and refocus to each accept our responsibilities to control the pandemic if we cannot yet beat it before a vaccine is available.

We have to do it with a keeping the economy going , schools open and being disciplined but certainly not fearful .

Many will still able to return to a degree of normality and prevent further lockdowns if we now make personal disciplines an embedded habit and the Authorities have the humility to accept mistakes that have been made and targets not met , are not serious if they are quickly acknowledged and rectified.

There is a lot of common sense around who will accept these mistakes were inevitable as we were not the only country to make them, given this unprecedented challenge the country was facing but what we do need is honesty in governmental responses.

That gives credibility to their future advice and communications .

If we believe we are now on the right path then we will be much more motivated and confident in our responses and more accepting of whatever actions we need to do to protect ourselves , our families and our way of life.

It was also an opportunity for Government to reassess the lockdown , learn the lessons and prepare for what was anticipated would be a challenging autumn/ winter when universities/ schools reopened and more heeded the exhortations to return to their workplaces.