AS our nation, and countries around the world, try to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, the key priority is to save lives – that is number one, above everything else, and we all have a duty to do our part by following the advice on limiting social contact to limit the spread of Covid-19.

But we can do that while still supporting local businesses, and we must support them because, if we don’t, they won’t survive this crisis. We have to think of the future beyond coronavirus which is, hopefully, only months away.

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Clever business owners will be adapting to survive right now. Restaurants, pubs and bars are offering delivery service. Shops are ramping up their online business and delivering. Salons are limiting the number of customers and staff on site at one time, or visiting their customers in their homes if safe.

We must support them. If your favourite shop is an independent boutique in the city centre and you can’t physically get there, phone them or go on their website and ask them to deliver your order that way.

If we all think of each other, we can survive this crisis.