Personal self-discipline is key to a brighter future for us all, says Sheffield businessman

So, as we are on the cusp of a second lockdown, we have the opportunity to not make it a self-fulfilling prophecy of rising despondency that we are on the way to a miserable Christmas .

Yes, numbers of coronavirus cases are rising and more local lockdowns either implemented or anticipated.

Fortunately the NHS, while busier, is not yet facing capacity problems and testing is more extensive, although regrettably we hear stories of people being offered them miles away.

So, there is no cause to be complacent but fearful neither, and certainly no reason to plan for a bleak Christmas.

So provided we heed the warnings and reflect on the consequences of non-compliance, we can take personal responsibility to consistently apply the hand washing, social distancing and wearing of masks as advised, and stem the rise in the pandemic.

However, all sections of society must join the effort, as nothing less will suffice. Hopefully even those who showed indifference and, at times, contempt in summer will reflect and revert back to personal self-discipline in autumn.

It is now considered anti-social and indeed unlawful to smoke in public places, giving a huge public health dividend.

We must now put failure to follow the recommended coronavirus precautionary measures in the same way and transgressions made unlawful and socially unacceptable.

This will require a significant behavioural change in those who think the pandemic only affects the elderly – latest statistics are showing rising number of younger and middle age effected now.

This also causes a knock-on effect whereby the NHS is already facing a backlog of millions on their waiting lists for non-Covid conditions which will inevitably have consequences, if they are diverted to deal with rising Covid cases.

We came into this pandemic and learnt personal and governmental lessons during its progression as thousands sadly died and the economy and education were devastated.

The biggest lesson surely is that when there is so much devastation, loss of jobs and loss of life, advice helps, but unfortunately there are those who only respond to enforcement.

Would we have got the curtailment of smoking in public places merely by advisory measures?

Indeed, millions spent on TV exhortations did not make the impact required.

The government now is finally introducing enforcement measures, including marshals, a clear recognition mere advice has not impacted sufficiently on measures to contain the virus.

With no vaccine yet available, we have to rely on everyone’s personal self discipline.

If we get back into that mindset, we can alleviate a second universal lockdown with all the consequences of that, including a miserable Christmas.

It is up to us.