WE are past the peak of coronavirus in the UK but there is still much work to be done before the disease is beaten.

This was the thrust of the message from Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday.

Our readers will have differing political views and opinions on how the Government has handled the crisis.

But while acknowledging this, it was a significant moment to see Mr Johnson back to full health and giving the daily briefing for the first time since his own life was in the balance.

Some observers may have been hoping that he would provide more information on how the country might emerge from lockdown. However it seems this won't happen until next Thursday - three weeks since the previous extension.

A lot was made of the 'R' rate during the briefing - the average number of people somebody infected passes the virus on to - and that this will need to remain under control until social distancing can be relaxed.

This is where we can all continue to make a difference by adhering to the rules so we all limit the number of other people we come into contact with.

This is why it's so important to only go out when it's absolutely essential.

This has been a difficult few weeks but it seems that a return to normal life is edging ever closer.

At the same time, we feel deep sorrow for those families for whom life will never be the same again.