This pandemic that is sweeping the world is evolving in real time and that makes it difficult to take a step back and assess how things are going.

Some countries are undoubtedly doing better than others but that often varies according to political and economic nuances. Communist China tried to cover up news of the virus when it first appeared but has since used its political clout to enforce a strict lockdown. Meanwhile the fate befalling economically weak Italy threatens to reignite the Eurozone crisis.

In the UK the effort by people to follow the lockdown has been unprecedented and the number of people who are volunteering and helping in anyway they can has been amazing to see. The response by the government has been less awe-inspiring but is finally kicking into action.

This past week saw the Coronavirus Act 2020 receive Royal Assent and in a special bonus edition of the podcast I break down some of the key provisions and consider the adequacy of the response. Much of that is going to be about damage-limitation as the outbreak persists but it also requires a pro-active approach to things like supply chains and testing.

The Chancellor Rishi Sunak is winning praise for pouring billions of pounds into the economy but it is easy to be popular when your are spraying money around like it’s coming out of a garden hose. In reality a prolonged crisis is a test of the investment in infrastructure made by his predecessors and it is that which is looking rather shaky.