Second lockdown would have devastating effect on morale, warns Sheffield businessman

If not contained, of course, it has the potential to prejudice the already fragile economy, lose more jobs, cause schools to close, restrict further how we live, work and access leisure opportunities and, worse, put more lives at risk .

There was optimism coming out of lockdown that we could look forward to greater freedoms after its limitations.

Those came with warnings to maintain our self discipline of hand-washing, social distancing and wearing masks, or these would be at risk, but, unfortunately, many found those disciplines too hard to follow, underestimating and/or ignoring the risks they were taking and indeed posing to others.

The legacy we face now is a further phase of lockdowns and the possibility of them being tightened further if the current Covid rate does not subside.

The first thought inevitably was is our traditional Christmas now at risk?

Something many of us would have considered unthinkable, as even during wartime there was some festivities.

Disappointing as that will be, it will have even more severe consequences for those waiting for diagnosis and treatment of non Covid-19 conditions that may become more critical if not attended to.

The scale of this is staggering with ever-increasing NHS waiting lists going into millions.

Those who trivialise the risks of the pandemic and show indiscipline should not only reflect on this, but also on the NHS frontline workers who once again will be putting their lives at risk again, if the coronavirus is not contained.

Just imagine the joy of our returning schoolchildren turning into dismay at further disruption to their education and contact with their school mates, let alone a restricted Christmas.

The effect on morale of a return to lockdown cannot be underestimated, so surely we must now heed the warnings, however sceptical or defiant some may be and follow the advice .

If we do not, the situation is quite stark and even losing Christmas pales into insignificance, if it confirms our insistence in meeting our own needs, at the expense of the above consequences and in defiance of the advice again. The future is bleak if too many of us cannot accept freedoms bring responsibilities also.

There is now a window of opportunity for us to show we accept that as an obligation for all the freedoms we want to enjoy at Christmas and beyond.