Steve Cardownie: Covid rules are a pain in the posterior - but here is why we we must follow them

Fearful of spreading Covid-19 to not only her, but to other residents, I have taken the only sensible course of action. It will not be easy but the prospect of meeting up with her, hopefully around Spring, is enough to satisfy me at the moment and I look forward to the future.

I am aware that many people will be wrestling with similar issues and some will opt for a different course of action. Meeting up with family and friends on Christmas Day can be a much anticipated occasion for children and adults alike and it will be sorely missed if it has to be cancelled-or postponed but it could come at a tragic cost if not.

The new strain of Coronavirus which spreads up to 70 per cent faster than the one that we have been dealing with ought to provide cause to pause and re-evaluate any Christmas celebrations that may have been planned. The seemingly constant chopping and changing of the regulations are undoubtedly a pain in the arse but this virus does not have a rule book and it offers unforeseen challenges with relentless regularity.

Viruses mutate- we must adapt accordingly. Social media has attracted the usual cynics who attempt to pour scorn on the measures that have been deployed to combat this menace but the stakes are too high to ignore the warnings.

Have a safe one!