Health Matters: Stick to coronavirus guidance and take it slowly
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Dr Tim Allison says it is still important to be cautious as coronavirus restrictions are eased.
Some people say that history repeats itself. I am not sure about that, but I do know that both recent history and things further back in time have much to teach us, writes Dr Tim Allison.
Perhaps we can avoid repeating mistakes even if the circumstances are not quite the same.
Epidemics come in waves and Covid is no different.
Why this happens will be different for one disease compared with another. It could be a build-up in immunity in some of the population, a change in the weather, a new variant of the disease or a combination of factors.
At the end of a wave of infections the natural reaction is one of relief and a desire to get back to normal, but that feeling may be misplaced.
The Spanish influenza pandemic a century ago had three waves and although Covid is unlike influenza in many ways, we have had two waves and there are fears of a third.
Those in government have difficult decisions to make.
Covid cases have declined and vaccination uptake has been exceptionally high among those who are most vulnerable to the virus.
We all want to go back to normal and for restrictions to disappear, but what about the risk of another wave of infection?
So, decisions are made that are designed to move us back to normal at a speed that will reduce the chance of an upsurge in cases. These decisions are finely balanced and aim to go as far as is reasonable but not too far.
We can all help make those difficult decisions be the right decisions by sticking to the guidance and not going too far and too fast.
Pushing the line as far as it will go or thinking about what we can do rather than what we should do will increase our own risk and that of our friends and family.
Two separate things have made me think more about this over the last week. The first was seeing a couple of friends recognise each other. It looked like they had not seen each other for some time, and one rushed over to the other and they hugged, with masks dangling around their chins.
It was a natural reaction but one that we should try to avoid, for now at least.
The second was a rise in Covid cases in Inverness. Numbers are still relatively small, but this demonstrates that the virus is still here and is all too ready to spread.
The current restrictions are hard and recent relaxations are very welcome. It is important not to jump the gun as things relax, especially meeting indoors where the risk of virus transmission is high.
I certainly hope that this will stop another wave of infections and get us back to normal more quickly.
Dr Tim Allison is the director of public health for NHS Highland.
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