TODAY's front-page image by cartoonist David Pope, of a flotilla of rafts, adrift but connected by ropes on a raging sea, is an appropriate metaphor for where all of us find ourselves four months after COVID-19 emerged in China.
The title, Holding Together, Keeping Apart, says it all.
It's what we must do, and it's what we have done.
As a result, daily counts of new coronavirus cases in Australia are well down on their late March peaks and conversation is turning to when, and how, the nation will emerge from lock-down.
It was easy to convince people of the need to stay inside and isolated when case numbers were rising like wildfire.
It is less easy now things are improving.
Success in controlling the virus emboldens the doubters who say it was never that bad to begin with - as though the global tally of almost 109,000 deaths from 1.78 million diagnosed cases so far is a mirage.
For some time, Australia has ranked between 18th and 21st of 180-plus nations with recorded coronavirus cases.
Yesterday, we had fallen to 29th, bearing out the message of chief medical officer Dr Brendan Murphy, that we have, indeed, done better than other nations in controlling infections (the debacle of the Ruby Princess to one side).
Dr Murphy says his main concern for the coming days is the numbers of Australians returning from overseas who will be carrying the virus.
Australia's often lamented "tyranny of distance" is this time a blessing.
Even so, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says the Australian government will not "move ahead" of its expert medical advice.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard says he worries about the impacts of prolonged social isolation, but the state government, too, will be wary about opening the shutters too soon.
The numbers of people on and around Newcastle beaches have drawn attention, but unless the situation becomes unmanageable, the authorities would be advised to let things be and maintain a light touch.
A more pertinent picture of the lock-down lies in the empty streets and broken businesses - the real symbols of an economy closed shuttered for our own good, but shuttered none the less.
The coming weeks and months will test us and our leaders, but we will get through it best by holding together, even if it means staying apart for some time yet.
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