Second wave is a real threat

■ OF course it’s essential for Britain’s economy to get back on track but the timing of easing the lockdown must be spot-on in order to prevent an even more deadly second wave of Covid.

Without a reliable test-and-trace system which would pinpoint local areas of increased infection, we’re playing a game of Russian roulette with citizens’ lives. This deadly pandemic hasn’t gone away and remains a severe global threat. The Tories promised a “world-beating” testing system but again their pledge fell on stony ground.

This is why Britain is behind most of the world in the coronavirus death toll. It’s sheer incompetence. If people are to remain safe, common sense must prevail and people must take precautions. Bill Cook, Teignmouth, Devon

■ I hope Boris isn’t relaxing the lockdown too early. We’ve seen how Germany – regarded as Europe’s safest pair of hands in dealing with the virus – has been delivered a sucker punch with the R rate jumping to more than two in some parts.

With thousands walking around our communities carrying the virus and almost no trace-andisolate system running, we could be heading for a second spike.

I don’t think that local lockdowns will work for us but I hope I am wrong. A Smith, March, Cambs

■ The Government’s announcement of further easing of the lockdown, including narrowing the social distancing to onemetre plus will be a welcome relief for many, not least those in the hospitality industry who are anxious to resume business.

The PM is adopting a rational approach by taking cautionary steps rather than fast-tracking to normality and is also prepared to row back if there’s a second wave or the R level rises above one.

I’m confident that by the end of summer we’ll have regained much of what we lost during the pandemic.

Mike Smith, Chatham, Kent

■ When it comes to the easing of lockdown restrictions, I think the most important consideration should be the number of deaths and the likelihood of a second spike occurring.

Boris Johnson has consistently been overly influenced by the economic situation and has significantly taken his eye off the ball where the number of deaths are concerned.

Howard Gardener

Sale, Gtr Manchester

■ I’ve been concerned that the easing of lockdown could lead to the possibility of local spikes in the number of new cases.

The latest infections have all been at meat and poultry processing plants in Germany, Wales and England. I feel that there should be a thorough investigation to see what the link is.

Mary Gazzard, Dudley, West Mids

■ Let’s give the lifting of lockdown restrictions a cautious welcome. We need to get back to normal at some point and the number of infections has dropped considerably, so it seems the right time to attempt to restart the economy. It must not be business as usual and everyone needs to play a part lest we get a second wave. David Nicholson, Oxford

■ It seems the reopening of things, while welcome, remains complicated with unworkable social distancing still in place. You can’t go into a pub, for example, and expect to be one-metre plus apart. Apparently, this Government struggles to

do anything right.

Richard Hyman, Hull