The performance of Boris Johnson's government during this health crisis has been absolutely woeful, the most damning indictment being the 40,000-plus deaths which make the UK the worst country in Europe in terms of mortality figures.
Unfortunately, even as the death rates are falling and the lockdown easing, the government is still making huge mistakes, displaying an incoherent approach which completely undermines public confidence in its handling of the pandemic.
A key issue which it has mishandled is the education of children and the strategy for a return to school.
Mr Johnson announced that some primary school year groups would return at the start of this month with other classes coming back on a phased basis.
However, it quickly became clear that the implications had not been fully thought through with principals pointing out that limiting class sizes to 15 and maintaining social distancing was going to be a challenge.
Earlier this week the education secretary Gavin Williamson abandoned plans to bring all primary school children in England back before the summer break, while yesterday Downing Street did not rule out the possibility of retired teachers being called in to help schools cope.
In Northern Ireland we can watch and learn from the shambles unfolding in England but there can be no sense of complacency.
There has not been the same pressure to reopen early and it will be remembered that before the shutdown, Arlene Foster warned that schools would be closed for at least 16 weeks.
The expectation is that it will be September before our schools reopen although there are now suggestions that some classes could be back in mid-August.
Education minister Peter Weir has set up an Education Restart Programme, which will put in place detailed measures and guidance to enable a safe phased reopening.
Schools have already begun writing to parents and it is essential that clear information is provided to help families prepare for what lies ahead.
There is no doubt the hiatus has had a severe impact on all children, the extent of which may take some time to become fully apparent.
Even before this crisis, schools were struggling with financial constraints.
There must be a proper plan for the return to the classroom along with the funding and resources necessary to ensure the education of our children gets back on track.
