The public desperately needed clear leadership, as the trajectory of the coronavirus epidemic in this country continues to track that of stricken Italy. It was imperative that Boris Johnson abandoned the register of exhortation and issued clear instructions that will be enforced, thereby instituting a lockdown. There, as in Britain, the spread of Covid-19 was initially greeted with misplaced stoicism and declarations that life must go on. Enforced by fines for those who left their homes without good reason, lockdown brought clarity and, overwhelmingly, compliance. As things stand, Britain is believed to be two weeks behind Italy in this nightmarish experience.

Source: The Guardian March 23, 2020 19:24 UTC