Last Sunday, the UK marked five years since the outbreak of the Covid pandemic, with events including a ceremony on Glasgow Green. It is, of course, right that we marked this occasion, and we should continue to do so. It is estimated that Covid was a central or contributory factor in around 17,000 deaths in Scotland; this was a once-in-a-lifetime catastrophe and we should never forget those who we lost during it.

Thankfully, the days of acute illness and death due to catching Covid are long behind us. However, the knock-on effects of Covid and, in particular, of lockdown, remain with us. As important as it is to remember and honour those who died at the time, it is important to be cognisant of the turmoil that Covid lockdowns continue to cause amongst large sections of the general population.

Scotland and the UK both do a good line in self-congratulation in many areas, but this peaked during and after the Covid pandemic, when we told ourselves that we made decisive, clear and strict decisions on Covid and saved lives as a result. This would be wonderful if there was a shred of evidence to back up the bravado, but sadly there is not.

Read more by Andy Maciver

Indeed, the more time passes, the clearer it becomes........

© Herald Scotland