Social distance is the ‘key’ to defeating virus
THE key to defeating the virus is social distancing, since the virus is passed from person to person, either directly by touch or indirectly by droplets in the air deposited by such actions as coughing or sneezing.
It appears, however, that the majority of people when outside have little concept of what two metres really is in length or, come to that, even one metre (which would be a more realistic figure to aim at) since it is apparent that most people make little effort to make that amount of space a reality when passing other people in public places
An additional drawback is that the virus is invisible, and there is a section of society which seems to believe that either it doesn’t exist or that it is nowhere near them.
There also seem to be a number of people who assume that wearing a face mask means that social distancing no longer applies.
Social distancing needs to be taken seriously.
Our main problem, however, is the lack of any causative link between the person passing on the virus, and the consequences, which may be the death of a complete stranger, so many people do not feel directly responsible for the fact that many thousands of people are contracting the virus, and many hundreds are dying of it.
Which is why I think the government is mistaken in its present approach in requiring many group activities to cease, at least temporarily. Most places – restaurants, shops, leisure centres, football grounds and so on, have put into place substantial precautions for all those attending them.
If you are tested positive after visiting any facility and, using track and trace, the consequence is that the facility has to close, then it is more likely that you will feel some responsibility and connection with that situation.
You are therefore more likely to observe the requirements associated with attendance, simply because you want that facility to continue to be available.
The logic is, therefore, that all
these places should remain open.
The virus is more likely to be passed in unstructured communication between people, some of whom do not take a lot of notice of the requirements of lockdown and will continue to mix socially with relatives and friends, especially when other facilities are not available to them
Mike Clemson, North Ferriby.