We are now in the fourth week of social isolation. It seems that people are on message, taking heed of the social isolation rules with general good nature.

Britain seems to be in the middle of the pack when looking at the saddest of all statistics – hospital deaths per million of population.

However, whilst these numbers are reliable, the numbers of people dying in the own home or in nursing homes is less clear.

Numbers for nursing homes deaths have been published, but this is widely seen to be too low.

Patients with other conditions present a deepening of those symptoms because of coronavirus, so death can be misdiagnosed.

What is abundantly clear is that care home workers are on one of the front lines in our work to overcome coronavirus. And that is why it is essential that they get the supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) that is a necessity of barrier nursing.

This presents challenges with the supply logistics. Whilst the NHS supply chain covers the 1,000 or so hospitals that need PPE, care homes had their own arrangements.

With such huge demand now facing the whole of the medical industry, the NHS now must supply and coordinate not just their 1,000 hospitals, but also around 25,000 care homes.

It is a challenge, but a challenge that must be met.

We have also learnt this week of the cost to the economy. Predictions suggest a 35 per cent drop in our economic output.

It’s easy to see why – close everything from pubs to factories and there is no output or consumption.

Key to the Government support is not just helping people through these unprecedented times, but making sure that when we bring the economy out of partial hibernation, it wakes up quickly.

If the Government gets support to where it is needed, then switching back on the economy will appear seamless and back to full output immediately. That’s the plan, anyway.

The problem is that no one knows how to wake up the economy.

Deciding when to lift social isolation orders requires the wisdom of Solomon. Too early, and we risk more deaths; too late and some businesses might be pushed over the edge.

And it is only when we get back to work that we know whether the Government’s business continuity plans have been successful.

I know that there are businesses not getting help for a variety of reasons and we are working through the issues to help.

I also know that we are facing challenges with essential medical supplies. It will only be with the benefit of hindsight that we will truly know how the Government has performed.