WALK through any town or city centre in the UK and you see the evidence of a world that has changed radically.

With social distancing, disinfection points, and endless bottles of sterilising gel, in so many important ways we are winning our battles with Covid-19.

But the war is far from over and it will go on for many months, possibly years.

It was hardly surprising that the first easing of lockdown brought a flood of people into our city centre, where they savoured their rediscovered social freedom – and the alcohol – that so many had once taken for granted.

This break-out was seized upon almost desperately by some.

But elsewhere in the world there are some countries – including in Israel and the US – where painful lessons are being learned about the danger of lowering our guard.

Time and again, health experts have warned there can be no relaxation of our vigilance while there is no effective vaccine.

There are concerns about the infection rate in Barrow, though Cumbria’s Public Health Director Colin Cox points out that this is most likely due to the high level of testing carried out by the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust - the efforts of which must be applauded.

However, this should not be used as an excuse for complacency.