Confident parents show faith in schools

Confident that the virus is under control in the island and that Public Health is doing exemplary work, the vast majority of pupils were allowed back to experience schooling Covid-style.

There seems little reason to doubt that, come Monday, the States schools will see similar high attendance levels.

Confidence has been a key factor in the island’s united response to the coronavirus.

While the UK wrestles with doubts about test, track and trace such as data security and civil liberties and frets about enforced quarantine for people coming into the country, the islands have been more trusting.

Timing is part of that. The UK travel quarantine seems, like its lockdown, to have come too late. It is a hard message to get across just when those sunny beaches in Greece and Spain are opening up, the death rate is falling and lockdown fatigue has set in.

The opening up of schools, likewise, is a sensitive subject. The UK pandemic may be easing but there are still 2,000 new cases each day and hundreds of deaths each week.

Communities are wary and trust is in short supply.

Little surprise then that UK teachers are anxious to the point where some refuse to work and early reports suggest that in parts of the country only four out of 10 children had returned to school.

Much of the Bailiwick’s confidence, of course, stems from the belief that the virus, if not eliminated, is in hiding.

After the understandable euphoria of the first phase 4 weekend, when the sound of outdoor parties rang through the air, it is vital that the islands do not get carried away. Covid-19 is on the ropes, not down.

With schools back, pubs, shops and restaurants open and many islanders forgetting the importance of continued social distancing and hygiene, the next few weeks and months could see pride in our achievement turn to bitter regret at what was carelessly thrown away.

Over-confidence, as the Durdle Door cliff jumpers learned, can lead to foolish risk-taking.