The province of Antwerp has become the first area I am aware of in my neck of the woods to introduce a curfew. It applies from 23:30 to 06:00 with exceptions only for those needing to travel to and from their work. In addition, bars and restaurants have to close by 23:00 in the evenings.

This is in my mind one of the most sensible measures an authority has introduced. It is relatively painless and doesn’t in itself hurt the tourist industry or the local population at large. It does target those who feel they can go out and drink with abandon late into the night which has the knock-on effect of participants ignoring the social distancing rules, partly because they become less aware of them as the night goes on.

Coupled with reasonable social bubble recommendations and the requirement to keep track of who you socialise with, whether by app or just keeping a list for yourself, it makes tracing contacts following positive tests so much easier and effective.

Masks – the big topic of the day in the Netherlands – are another matter. They may be better than nothing in certain confined spaces like buses and trains, but there are a host of counter arguments against their use. They have to be bought in advance and represent an extra cost, and their disposal will form a new large source of pollution. Basic masks do not stop the penetration of particles containing the corona virus, only reduce the risk a little. The wearer can easily be tempted into thinking that masks mitigate the social distancing advice, which still remains for me the cornerstone of infection defence.

Using the same mask for long periods would also render it ineffective due to the build up of particles in the fabric of the mask, and handling the mask when removing it only transfers virus particles from the mask to the hands if you are not careful.

Consistent behavioural changes work far better than masks. Not shaking hands and not greeting someone with a kiss helps enormously. There is talk of the coming cold and flu season, but social distancing will also help reduce the incidence of the ‘common cold’ and flu!

Socialising is not the biggest problem. Meeting others does not have to be banned. In fact, intimacy is the biggest casualty. It has already been documented that singles have had to ‘go without’ for months now. I am one of those people and I know this situation will continue until vaccination gives us an acceptable level of protection.

I am pleased that the levels of infection among young people are being documented. Teenagers and those in their 20s and 30s are probably the hardest group to convince that their need to observe restraint is clear. A curfew does not destroy their lives or their social life – but it does help to increase the awareness that everyone has a responsibility to do their bit.

Interviews with young people throughout this pandemic has thrown up the same widespread response: if I catch it, I won’t become seriously ill. Worse still: I’ve had it already and I am immune. Older people need less convincing, but need to know that the message is targeting all those who could potentially pass on the virus.

Everything today is instant! Social media gives us instant contact and the internet, instant ‘knowledge’. A pandemic is not eradicated instantly. Its reach is pushed back bit by bit but it will take years to reduce its threat to the level of other deadly diseases.

Patience is the key, but patience is often a skill which we command only in later life. Restraint is also a key, but many never learn it. Common sense is a third key; it is present in all of us but needs to be fed with the right information, preferably passed on from generation to generation. The post war (WW2) years have shown a decline in the effectiveness of parental guidance.

How many keys do you have?