So many lives have been lost, more than 1,850 deaths associated with coronavirus here so far. As well as almost 51,000 confirmed cases.
The pain and trauma is unimaginable for those who have not been touched in some way by this terrible virus. Like a stone into a lake, the ripple effects have moved out across the country.
More openness about what we are truly facing over the coming months is probably needed. Most people will have listened to last night's Government announcements.
One expects that each minister at the Cabinet meeting considered, in detail, each measure they agreed to. Talk of hope and light is difficult at this point for many people, given we have been on this tortuous challenge for so long.