We can’t just pick which Covid laws we should follow
The mayor of Middlesbrough Andy Preston’s response to local lockdowns was to say he would ‘defy’ the law regarding Covid restrictions (Metro, Fri). No problem. Lock him up for the sake of the rest of us.
Peter A, South Shields
Oh dear, it seems the mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham’s continued moaning and whingeing is rubbing off. Everyone, including your mum, now wants to be involved in the decisionmaking regarding lockdowns.
While we live in a democracy, public health decision-making cannot and must not be delayed by hours and hours of discussions, questions and counter proposals, which is what MPs will be doing.
Paul, West Midlands
I’m a middle-aged nurse and for your information, 1: Cloth masks have no conclusive evidence for protection of others. 2: Unless you wear the mask correctly 100 per cent of the time and never touch your face it renders the process pointless. (Healthcare professionals can’t even manage it.) 3: Covid prevalence is still very low.
‘But it’s the vulnerable person
I may pass it to,’ I hear you say. That’s the same with any virus. So when are we going to put this into perspective and realise we can’t suppress a virus. There may never be a vaccine.
Please can we start living and not let the fear take over our right to breath normally or smile at a stranger. Mask wearing is slowly finding it’s way into schools and this will never stop if we don’t take a stand now.
Children are facing long-term psychological damage. First step, accept a small risk in our lives.
L Henderson, Herts
The UK and Scottish governments have destroyed the university sector. Foreign students bring billions of pounds into the economy each year, but why would they now come to a UK university to be placed under house arrest? Lockdown didn’t work months ago and it won’t work now.
Robespierre, Glasgow
Stephen McCarthy of Glasgow (MetroTalk, Thu) says isn’t it any wonder students are confused – being told to do one thing one day, then the opposite the next. How he considers this ‘bungling’ is beyond me. If the number of positive cases are falling and then, within a matter of a week or so (due to people ignoring rules), they start to rise at a rate of knots, then it is necessary to bring in more restrictions.
Students wouldn’t be confused if they couldn’t go to the pub one day and could the next. Changing situations require different responses and if that means an about-turn, so be it.
S Gill, Warrington
Stephen McCarthy says the government’s ‘bungling’ is why the public has no faith in what politicians advise. FYI, most people lost faith in politicians 50 years ago.
Mick, London
Stephen McCarthy says it is no wonder students are confused with the changing health guidelines and restrictions. If they are knowledgeable enough to be the ‘medics of the future’ that Heidi (MetroTalk, Thu) seems to think they are intelligent enough to become, let us all hope they can all adapt to quickly changing situations. Otherwise, we’ll all be in a worse situation than we are already. They are
supposed to be adults and as such should have enough common sense to understand what is required of them without waiting for daily instructions.
Angie Miles, Surrey
I have to agree with Gordon from Glasgow and Dave from Surrey in (MetroTalk, Thu). We should take responsibility for ourselves and our families to try and ensure we don’t expose ourselves to the virus and if we do contract it, then self-isolate to prevent the spread.
We can all blame the government, advisers, scientists, police and anyone else we feel we can pass the buck to. However, do any of these people accompany us on trips out of the house? There is only one person responsible for your actions.
Noel, Selby
In response to Neil (MetroTalk, Fri), I accept Boris was voted in on the back of Brexit, the Covid pandemic has complicated things and that he could do better.
However, the media criticism is uncalled for. He’s not the only politician who is struggling, as we well know.
Still A Boris Fan, Airdrie
I totally agree with JQ’s response to whingeing students who claim that lockdown has robbed them of the ‘full student experience’ (MetroTalk, Thu). I started university aged 17. I was banned from drinking in my hall of residence and was barred from every student bar and nightclub in Glasgow. Bouncers demanded proof of age. I spent my first year sober and working hard, especially after five months of working night shifts as a kitchen porter, saving up money. University is a place of work.
Malcolm Sutherland, North Ayrshire