The reckless and selfish behaviour of those who wilfully ignore social distancing advice stands in stark contrast to the dedicated, selfless and brave actions of health service workers.
As we cope with the mounting challenge presented by coronavirus, the vast majority of us will be able to stay at home, to protect our families and our communities by remaining indoors.
That will require sacrifice and it will also bring its own difficulties on a number of levels.
But there are those in our society who do not have the option of staying at home, whose role will make the difference between life and death for thousands of us who fall ill.
The contribution of doctors, nurses, paramedics and a range of other health professionals in the current circumstances can rightly be described as heroic.
It takes a monumental amount of courage and resolve to go into work each day knowing that by doing so, their exposure to this deadly disease will be greatly increased and by extension, their families placed at heightened risk.
As the preparations for the expected surge of cases has been ramped up in recent days, medics have sounded alarm bells over the looming cataclysm.
Concerns have been expressed over the availability of ventilators, masks and other equipment and of the need for NHS staff to be tested to ensure they are not taken out of the workforce unnecessarily.
These are issues that must be addressed but there is also an overriding message from our clinicians and that is the absolute necessity for the public to adhere to the guidance on social distancing and staying at home.
Behind the stark warnings it is possible to detect a sense of fear and anxiety among those who have seen what hospitals are facing in Italy and Spain and are terrified we are facing a similar catastrophe unless we reduce the spread of coronavirus.
We owe it to our healthcare staff to protect ourselves and them.
It must not be forgotten that many other key workers are continuing to provide vital services, many from the frontline of this outbreak.
They all deserve our thanks and appreciation.
They are playing their part, the rest of us must do the same.
