Life is a game of risk that we all must play

THERE is still concern among parents and teachers over the threat of Covid – for there is much conflicting advice. Dr Tedros Adhanom, the

World Health Organisation director general, is on record as saying that Covid will be beaten within two years using modern technology, but Sir Mark

Walpole, a member of the SAGE team advising Government, maintains that Covid is here to stay.

In life there is an element of risk in practically everything that we do. It is necessary to evaluate the pros and cons and then decide. Every car driver knows that there is always a chance that something will go wrong, no matter how careful they are.

In the case of children and schools, Government and its advisers have taken the view that it is more important that children are educated.

Yes, there may be some risk, yet to be fully quantified, but on balance, parents should send their offspring to school.

They have also considered the risk for teachers, but surely this is no more than shop workers have had to face since day one of this virus hitting the headlines, let alone the tens of thousands of health workers, bus drivers and others who meet and serve the public on a daily basis.

If we are to take Government advice seriously about social distancing, hand washing and other precautionary measures, then there is a very fair chance that coronavirus can be controlled. However, if some choose to throw parties and ignore prevention measures, then we will all suffer, for this bug is still a potential killer.

I have no sympathy for those who have chosen to go abroad for their holidays, and find that to get home to beat an isolation ban is very costly or unachievable resulting in legally enforced lockdown.

Boris Johnson, from the earliest days of Covid, stated that this year holidays should be enjoyed within the UK. To ignore such advice and travel is an unnecessary risk.

Covid is here for the long term, so risk assessment is going to be very important in the years ahead.

Russell Luckock is chairman of Birmingham pressings firm

AE Harris