As I write, the details of how the country will unlock over the coming weeks and months are imminent.
I hope that the prime minister has learnt from his previous errors and will not unlock too much too swiftly, and in doing so once again undo the progress made since Christmas as a result of the efforts and sacrifices that so many of us have made and continue to make.
What is even more crucial is the need to put in place alongside the physical reopening, plans to continue to support individuals and whole families who have experienced, and continue to experience, trauma, hardship and difficulties resulting from their personal experiences of Covid.
It is now well evidenced that it is those individuals from families who were already living in poverty and experiencing hardship and disadvantage before Covid, who are the most negatively affected by Covid.
Sadly, such individuals and families have not only been adversely affected by Covid itself, they have also experienced their overall situations before Covid deteriorate further, with many experiencing retrograde progress over the past 12 months.
Their situations, unlike the physical unlocking of schools, retail and hospitability, cannot be unlocked on a given date and unless there is support available and in place now, there is a real danger that they will never be able to overcome their experiences, make up the lost progress and unlock themselves to be able to move forward positively in the future.
We need to put in place at local levels across the whole country, the support that individuals and families need to rebuild and make progress alongside the physical unlocking – support which unlike the physical unlocking, needs to come straight away now.
There will be a financial cost but the cost of not doing this now will be far greater in the future for both the individuals concerned and society as a whole. We need action now to prevent further unnecessary suffering, because the individuals and families concerned have suffered enough.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here