It is better to plan for the worst rather than be caught out again, says Sheffield health boss

When my 12-year-old grandson had continuous cough this weekend, at the time of writing, my daughter could not make contact to arrange one.

I hope tomorrow she has better luck as she needs both to protect him and, of course, others as he has only just returned to school.

Another relative when faced with fixing a test also was offered one in Leicester.

So, if we are asked to apply self-discipline then surely we could have anticipated a surge in requests for testing .

The time for recriminations is not now, as making it a political football would detract from our Immediate efforts to contain the pandemic.

Now is the time for all us to work collaboratively, with us cooperating with clear communications from the Government, who in turn most provide decisive leadership and empower/resource Public Health to take local initiatives .

Experts undermine our confidence by mixed messages; we have heard stories that a second spike is imminent and could carry on to next year, let alone Christmas.

Then, in parallel, others say we will not get a second spike due to a alleged increase in national immunity.

Whatever the outcome, we can only fall back on our common sense – some would say lacking in some high places at the onset of this crisis – by hand washing, social distancing and wearing masks when advised to do so.

Then it is up to Government to learn from the last few months to better safeguard those in care homes, protect the jobless, safeguard our children’s education and have NHS contingency measures in place if the pessimism of a second spike is realised.

Now is the time to plan for the worst, as it is better if this is later seen to be an overreaction.

In the final analysis, if we have learnt one thing it is that health and the economy are inextricably linked.

If we smash the virus, we boost the economy and education etc.

Failure not to do so by concerted action would have devastating consequences.