A week may be a long time in politics, but it is an even longer time when you're trusting politicians to control and manage the spread of a pandemic.
We are living in unprecedented times, even for us hearty northerners, well used to stress and trauma, but this is like nothing that's gone before.
Regardless of what happens over the next few months our lives are going to change forever.
The health service is going to change, our justice system is going to change, how we live and socialise will change, but most important of all, how we treat each other will change.
Not since the days of border checkpoints have I been so aware that I live on a divided island.
The two different systems used for virus control north and south are a nonsense.
On such a tiny island we need to have faith that the politicians are doing what's best for us all without selfish intent.
But that's difficult when one side of the border is in line with the rest of Europe while the other is slavishly following the British government's conflicting advice.
We've now been told that the data the British government were using to plan their coronavirus strategy was incorrect and had they continued down that route it was predicted over 250,000 people would die.
Those people are our friends, relatives, neighbours, real people who are having their lives and livelihoods gambled with by an elite who will never have worry about affording to feed their children.
The most recent report from Imperial College London notes this is the most serious health threat since the 1918 influenza pandemic.
More worrying, they note that social distancing, isolating and household quarantine needed to suppress the spread of the Covid-19 virus might need to be maintained until a vaccine becomes available - something we are told could be 18 months away.
As of this week the hospitality industry was the first casualty, with Boris Johnson advising people not to go out but also not ordering premises to close, thus leaving owners in an almost impossible position.
They now face being bankrupted out of business without any of the protections that have been put in place in other regions.
There are businesses who took a decision to close this week that will never open their doors again.
They're just the first of many industries that will crumble one by one as this pandemic continues.
While right now saving lives is a priority we are heading for a global recession as a result of this virus and the impact of that will be felt for many years after a vaccine is found.
I know many of you are worried about vulnerable and elderly relatives.
I'm worried, I have parents in their 70s, both with underlying health conditions.
I'm worried about the health and wellbeing of all those I love, worried about the people who read this paper every day, many of whom I have come to know from our regular correspondence and exchanges with each other.
We were already in a mental health crisis. How those who were struggling will cope with the fear and isolation in the coming months is a worrying prospect.
And so, while I know we are all worried for many different and valid reasons, we're also all in this together.
This virus doesn't recognise borders, it doesn't recognise colour, gender or social status, it is an illness that will impact us all in some way.
So, let's be considerate.
Stop clearing supermarket shelves like a plague of locusts. Shop normally; even in Italy, the epicentre of the virus in Europe, the supermarket shelves remain stocked.
Consider your elderly relatives or those on low incomes, dropping a few essentials on their doorstep once a week could make all the difference.
Be considerate of front-line workers who will still have to turn in for work regardless of advice on social distancing.
Think of those living alone. A phone call, just for a chat, could be enough to get them through these dark and uncertain times.
Everything in life has a start, a middle and an end. This will pass and when it does let's make sure we can say we did our bit to help not just ourselves but others get through it.
