The heavy price of lockdown

WE are all heartily sick of the gross imposition of lockdown.

For many it is a great nuisance but for some it is a tragedy which has blighted their life and their work.

90% of deaths are reported as being people aged 60+ and of those some died with the virus rather than because of it and some may have been near death without it.

Statistics on this may become clearer in future, but we can sympathise with those whose fear of financial ruin has become greater even than the fear of this virus.

The five-year weekly average death rate was reducing throughout the peak of coronavirus deaths, which tells us the death rate was rather higher five years ago.

The decision to lock us down, with the irreparable damage committed to our ability to earn our living, may have been made with the best of intentions on the very limited information available.

However, it is clear we can never do this again.

Value judgment for certainty of risk against fear of risk is a poor decision, a basis for financial suicide.

Too many civil servants and their political masters do not have the experience of managing the business risk, being exposed every day to

balancing income with expenditure and managing to create sufficient income to cover wages and expenses.

Too many appear to have thought any health risk could ever become so important we would make a free choice to stop supporting our families.

It is a much easier option not to make a rational argument for or against financial suicide and to prefer personal attacks.

Personal rights and wrongs, choices, value judgments and seeking a fair balance can make fascinating drama studies, but they do little to advance discussion and decisions about our policies.

This is so important for students, employees, breadwinners, traders, debtors and creditors, as well as our carer industries.

It is insulting to the many that a few forget if only for a

moment the great issues of the day and descend to personal attacks. Any such diversions from more serious policy matters may be better left to lawyers.

GEORGE BRITTAIN.