Are we ready to leap into a post-coronavirus world?

The most troubling component in the whole coronavirus/Covid-19 disaster story is the level of ignorance about the true lethality of this pandemic. Boris Johnson announced yesterday that England can now emerge from its hibernation - Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland go their own way - and move to a new more normal life. Yet the signs from so many different parts of the world are anything but optimistic. There are fresh virus surges going on all over the place, notably across South America and in at least half of the states in the US. Are we all so desperate to get back to our former life that we no longer want to listen to the scientific and medical experts? The most alarming statistics are emerging in the US with significant spikes in virus infections and hospitals once again becoming overwhelmed with new cases. So is Boris right, can we really start enjoying dinners out in restaurants, attending cinemas and pubs and hugging members of the family not living in the same household? And can we plan holidays in Europe later in the summer? Everything we do for the rest of this year is going to have risks attached. For the sake of the country's economy and all our livelihoods, perhaps that is the only way to look at the future. Life out there IS going to be more risky but that is better than hiding away in our flats and houses frightened to go out. What is worrying is that all governments have been saying that they ordered lockdown on the basis of scientific advice. But now no government wants to listen to the scientists any more because they never seem to have good news. All they say is that each step forward has to be matched with caution. But once restaurants and pubs open, people are not going to hold back. The latest recurring message from the scientific community is that we all have to prepare for a second wave of coronavirus in the autumn. But how can we prepare for such an event if the government is telling us that we can come out of hibernation and resume our lives. You can't shrug off lockdown AND prepare for a possible lockdown in the autumn. The only hope is that before the second wave arrives, if that is what is going to happen, a miracle vaccine will be on the market and we can all go and have our jabs. October is the month when most experts are now predicting there COULD be a vaccine. Then and only then can we all begin to enjoy a post-lockdown world without living in constant daily fear of being snatched away by a new surge in virus infections.