We’re stuck in a coronavirus time warp

There is actually some good news emerging from the tragic gloom of the Covid-19 epidemic. Despite some relaxation of lockdown rules in recent weeks, markers of serious infection – hospital admissions and deaths – continue to fall. There are several reasons for this but undoubtedly a learning process has taken place and we now understand much more about the virus. This has completely changed the dynamic compared to when actions were first taken from late February to March. And yet watching the news now with reports of new case surges and local lockdowns it feels like we are stuck in a time warp.

One of the jokes doing the rounds on social media is a mock-up of the film, Back to the Future with the scientist character, ‘Doc’, imploring the film’s hero, Marty, not to select the year 2020 to travel to. For me, thinking back to the beginning of the year seems like a lifetime ago.