“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.

“So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

An enemy approaches. It bears no standard. It comes not in the form of a nation, nor an ideology. Its soldiers are invisible. They come not by foot but on the wind. They cannot be stopped, and we will never be done fighting them. This enemy cannot be reasoned with, nor defeated entirely. But fight we must. And fight we will.

I’m speaking of course, about COVID-19.

At the time of writing, the UK death toll has already reached 35, with many more likely to follow. I fear for many of my elderly relatives and friends, who may be forced to self-isolate for a matter of months. The supermarkets are feeling the strain too, with shelves completely stripped of items such as toilet paper, soap, canned and dried goods. The government has advised us that many more are expected to be off work, to fall ill, to die. I’m on a zero-hour contract myself, so it’s fair to say that I am particularly anxious about what is to come. But I will not succumb to fear. I am listening to our scientists, to our leaders, and am acting based on what is known, not on what is not. People abhor a vacuum however, so it’s easy to slip into panic mode if one is not careful. Our health is at risk, yes. But so is our economy, our society, our basic way of life. So how does one prepare themselves for battle? Greed is certainly not the answer. Cooperation is. If we are to survive this, we must rediscover the Blitz spirit. Because sadly, this is only the beginning.

It’s like a bomb is about to go off. It’s made worse by the fact that everyone is anticipating it. When a bomb explodes, everyone is shocked, albeit temporarily. But when everyone knows that a bomb will explode, it creates a lingering sense of dread. Unfortunately for us, we need to know what’s coming. Our hospitals will become battlegrounds, where medical staff are going to have to make horrible decisions about who lives and who dies. Supplies will run short. Our workplaces will likely close. And there will come a point when all hope seems lost. But we must not panic. We must prepare ourselves, mentally and physically, for what is going to come. Needless to say, we have survived far worse than this. Populations regrow, economies bounce back, and people move on. The fear we feel now will only be temporary – but it’s what we do with that fear that will ultimately define the outcome for our country.

Alas, some are already failing in this regard. As I sit writing, many of my fellow countrymen are treating this crisis as a zero-sum game. I am referring to those who are stockpiling, or those who are looking to exploit demand. I am referring to public figures trying to score cheap political points, Twitter trolls looking to place blame on the differently-opinionated, and hysterical scaremongers advising the public to ignore expert advice. To those people I say: Grow up. This is an issue above politics, and like it or not we are all in this together. We must not waste what little time we have. We have to use this period – the calm before the storm – to reassure our loved ones, to plan for the worst, and to be good neighbours. Luckily, many others are responding sensibly. Earlier this week, Stephen Fry eloquently put it, “OK. Until this thing is over we’ve all got to be helpful, friendly and kind to each other, understood? Hatchets buried. Grievances forgotten. Disputes resolved. Feuds ended. Strangers smiled at. When the final whistle is blown we can go back to be being mean and beastly. Agreed?” This is the mindset we must all adopt if we are to hold together, for the British spirit, while never gone, needs invigorating from time to time. We need to hold strong, for the worst is still to come, and this will not be over quickly by any means.

It’s highly likely that we’ll need to self-isolate at some point. Again, I’m not saying any of this to scare you, but because you must know exactly what is going to happen, and accept it. The prospect of staying indoors may be attractive to some, (particularly introverts), but it’s a very different matter when that choice is taken away from you. You may start to feel like a prisoner in your own home. You may lose track of time. Your sleep may be disrupted. You may even grow resentful of your companions. I would advise you then to stay busy, (especially if your job does not allow for remote working), to exercise regularly if you can, and to make sure you have sufficient space for privacy when you need it. Be social with your house mates, speak to others on the phone (not just on social media), and ensure you remain transparent with people – for nothing disrupts a household faster than fear and distrust. Stick to routines, spend time in the garden, and consider avoiding films like The Shining or Lord of the Flies (they may not put you in the best of moods.) But for those lucky enough to live with others, self-isolation does not necessarily mean just that. You will come to rely on each other over the coming months, and it is your duty to keep up morale. Remember that the British are staunch to the bone and will never surrender, but that there will be many temptations to do so before this is over.

I say all this because I am afraid. But I am determined to put that fear to good use. I am determined to remain calm, and remember that no crisis was ever resolved by panicking. This will pass, as all things do. But it’s not going to be easy. The onus is on all of us to prepare ourselves, for what is likely to be the greatest challenge for a generation. I believe in Britain, and I trust in our experts to make the right call. And so the time has come to stop fighting, and start listening. The time has come to be considerate, and put the most vulnerable before ourselves. The time has come for Britain to prove its greatness once more, and rise to the occasion.

So keep calm, and carry on.