On Saturday, Britain experienced its greatest spike in the number of daily deaths from the Covid-19 disease when 260 lost their lives, while the number infected approached 20,000.

Meanwhile, in the United States, the leading and most respected medical authority predicted that 200,000 Americans could die from the pandemic.

There are more Bermudians living in Britain and the US than in any other part of the world, and by now they will be well versed in what and what not to do to assist in controlling spread of the deadly coronavirus.

So why is it that Bermudians living in Bermuda are struggling to get the memo?

Why are we still hosting house parties?

Why are we congregating in private members’ bars?

Why are we staging pick-up football matches?

Why are we going to the beach in numbers?

Why? Why? Why?

Do we need that first recorded death on island before the penny finally drops?

We have been fortunate thus far, with only two people out of the 22 positive tests requiring hospitalisation — and they are both in a stable condition.

David Burt, still only 41, remember, has done a remarkable job of leading the country through this crisis — so, too, Wayne Caines, the Minister of National Security.

Meeting after meeting after meeting. Update after update after update.

Their impact has resonated to such effect that our unscientific poll shows how opinion has shifted from 56-44 against to 52-48 in favour from close to 4,500 responses.

Which takes some doing for our readers, who are predisposed generally to challenging government.

However, you can see that the intransigent, selfish, indifferent and at times juvenile nature of some in our populace is taking its toll.

The Premier showed the first signs of tiredness on Thursday. Imagine his reaction when learning that the malicious and ignorant among us were spreading misinformation on social media that grocery stores would close — no matter that it is unfathomable that such nonsense could be seen as credible in the first place?

But people are vulnerable now as they have never been before.

We did not need to know how Mr Caines felt about people in self-quarantine going on walkabout. It was clear in his press briefing where he hammered out his words almost in staccato style.

Incensed.

Because the people have not been getting it. All of the people have not been getting it.

This disease is not affecting them personally or theirs, so the worst-case scenario does not apply. Until they contract the Sars-CoV-2 virus. By which time it may be too late.

Every man, woman and child in this country has a responsibility to do their part in flattening the curve so that spread of the disease is controlled and our healthcare system — already under pressure because of insufficient testing kits and ventilators — does not creak to the point of collapse.

But that is precisely what will happen if we do not get our acts together. We make a lot of noise about respecting our elders. But are we? Really?

If that is not to be exposed as paying lip service in times of crisis, we need to put our social-distancing practices where our mouth is.

Our seniors, with their weakened immune systems, are the most at risk. So, too, those with underlying health issues. And that is a vital point because an underlying issue may not be readily visible to the eye.

Playing footloose and fancy-free with the threat of Covid-19 in the company of those with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, etc, can be a harbinger of death.

It needs to stop, Bermuda. And it needs to stop now.