Shropshire Star comment: Country at a crossroads

Understandably, after months of lockdown restrictions, many people are keen to enjoy the freedoms that we have been deprived of for long periods over the last 14 months.

Having been forced to close their doors, our pubs are doing a roaring trade having finally been able to welcome drinkers back inside.

Cinemas are also doing far better than many had expected, with Cineworld hailing a strong opening weekend after customers flocked to see the new Peter Rabbit film.

Some people have started venturing abroad, while many others are in the process of planning summer holidays that only a few months ago looked highly unlikely.

All this comes ahead of the magical date of June 21, when it is hoped we can finally see the end of most restrictions once and for all.

This is the date when, according to the Government's roadmap out of lockdown, all legal limits on social contact can be removed.

It is when nightclubs can reopen, large scale indoor events can take place, and limits on the number of people who can attend weddings will hopefully end.

Yet as we approach this date, we must do so with a sense of caution.

Across our region infection rates are low and Covid death rates and hospital admissions have plummeted. Yet as health chiefs are keen to point out, the virus has not gone away.

It is still in our community, and the number of cases of the so-called Indian variant are rising by the day.

It leaves us with a delicate balancing act.

On one hand, everyone is desperate for life to return to some form of normality.

But in order to get to that point, we need to continue to do all we can to ensure there is no spike in cases.

The success of the vaccine programme has given millions of people the protection they need, but the battle is far from over.

Providing we all continue to stick to the rules, it will not be long before the virus is under control for the foreseeable future.