‘The Government might be making a terrible mistake’

THE front page of the July 7 issue of this paper announced starkly, ‘Country to open up despite rise in cases.’

Three days later, Dr Helen Stokeslampard, chair of the Academy of Royal Medical Colleges, warned that the relaxation of anti-covid restrictions planned for Freedom Day on July 19 might be disastrous.

Her view has been supported by other experts.

Leek should take particular heed. The pandemic has brought a variety of responses.

Fluctuations of policy, widely differing interpretations of those policies and regional divisions are among the most obvious.

The divisions along national lines are all too clear.

It is an ominous sign of the times that the description ‘The United Kingdom’ is slowly being shunted aside by ‘The Four Nations.’ Nor is that all.

Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland, and Andy Burnham, Mayor of Manchester, have fought a brief war about limiting contact between their populations.

Closer to home, sports clubs half in one county and half in another have been placed in an anomalous situation. Unfortunately, disease ignores national, city and county boundaries.

We can reasonably expect a continuing rise in infections, hospitalisations and deaths.

After the extra burdens imposed on the NHS over the past 18 months it is surprising that anyone should even consider such a prospect. We are told that things will get worse before they get better. How much worse? And when will they get better?

The Government might be making a terrible mistake. It could cost many lives and increase waiting lists. Already deaths are outnumbering births.

Can we suspect that the Prime Minister is crossing his fingers, closing his eyes and hoping for the best? Where will we be this time next year?

Margaret Brown Staffordshire