Lockdown will be grim but should help to prevent a health disaster with coronavirus

The prime minister’s dramatic broadcast from Downing Street last night, which has no precedent since World War Two, had immediate effect.

This is probably because there would have been a rush to the shops and other gatherings today and tomorrow if Boris Johnson had announced implementation of such draconian measures later in the week.

The measures announced include sweeping restrictions on when it is permissible to leave your home. But, while the police can now issue fines for non compliance, the UK has stepped back from the most stringent possible response.

By allowing people to exercise once a day, for example, it has left open the possibility that this will be abused (if the PSNI stop someone, how will they know if they have been out before?). The likelihood, however, is that the great bulk of people will accept the restrictions. Lockdown became necessary because while most people seemed to be observing pleas for social distancing, many were not doing so. Their selfishness put others at risk, and brought forward the clampdown.

And make no mistake. The consequences are far reaching in every area of life. Scores of millions of people confined to home will lead to loneliness in single person households, and tensions and frustrations in larger ones.

It will wreak havoc with businesses, despite the huge financial support announced by the chancellor last week.

The restrictions will last for an initial three weeks, but every political and medical indication is that it is more likely to last for months.

There might be a glimmer of hope however. It is too early to say, but lockdown seems to be working in many other parts of the world in restricting the spread of the disease.

But whatever the difficulties of this new way of living, across the nation people above all are concerned for the infected, and our heroic NHS staff who are putting themselves at risk to treat them.