The message has been clear for a couple of weeks – stay at home and save lives.
Lockdown is difficult, frustrating, stressful and has many of us worried about the future of our jobs or children’s education.
But, even though it goes against the hard-fought rights of our freedom, we do it.
Because, above all else, it protects our health and that of those we love and live beside.
It’s tempting to want to venture out in this weekend’s predicted warm weather.
But the message is clear –don’t or people will die.
There’s overwhelming support for the laws that have been created so quickly just to protect us.
Sadly, there are still hundreds of people across Scotland who don’t see it that way.
Have they not listened to the constant warnings, read the advice or taken on board that they could die – no matter what age they are?
Or do they just not care?
Police Scotland has had to fine 144 people for being outside when they had no good reason to be – a pretty drastic step in our democracy.
But these are 144 people who just wouldn’t listen to the advice and instead went out and decided to put all our health at risk. They deserve to be fined.
Let’s do the right thing by our fellow Scots and stay in the house and only go out for essentials or exercise.
We’re in this together and for the long haul.
So stay in the house – and don’t let this epidemic cause any more deaths than it needs to.
Play it patient
Everyone will be looking forward to a special date when this lockdown is lifted.
Maybe a family member has a birthday next month, before the school year is due to end?
Or perhaps you are planning get away abroad on holiday for a couple of weeks in August?
Unfortunately, the reality is – as plainly set out by Nicola Sturgeon yesterday – that isn’t going to happen.
We don’t yet know what shape this crisis will take next week, never mind by the summer.
We’re all looking for that glimmer of light that the things we enjoy so much are coming back.
They will – we just need to hold on to that hope for a while longer.
