UK Government slow to react

Fife could be used as a test case to allow the removal of all social distancing restrictions and a return to normal.

As numbers of new cases are so low in Scotland the test and track system would not be overwhelmed if there should be a spike.

The Highlands and Islands that have low population densities could also be freed at the same time.

Quarantine any cases for 10 days until they are no longer infectious.

We need to restore confidence that it is safe to venture out again and return as quickly as possible to normal life.

Scaring everyone with the threat of a second wave is nonsense.

Eric Gibbons.

112 Coldingham Place, Dunfermline. giving such advice to the Scottish Government?

Decisions of this nature, which run counter to the rest of the UK, are most likely to prejudice the electorate against any further moves towards an independent Scotland.

Freedom to worship God is the principle for which so many of our Scottish forebears laid down their lives.

It is sheer hypocrisy to wave banners for freedom, yet deny that in your own jurisdiction.

David Scott. Westfield Road, Broughty Ferry.

Sir, – Unusually, I agree with Martin Redfern’s first comment (Sturgeon’s stock Covid answers, Courier, July 3) that Nicola Sturgeon is a capable and astute politician, but I would add also as first minister.

That this virus has infected and killed 4,000-plus of our fellow Scottish citizens is an undeniable tragedy.

However, in his letter he attempts to lay the blame solely at the Scottish Government’s door, specifically and unjustifiably the first minister.

When reading similar comments, I have asked the question, ‘What would you have done differently?’, and frequently the answer was ‘I would have shut down sooner!’.

Professor Neil Ferguson agrees, as an ex-member of the UK Government SAGE group, and has produced validated modelling indicating that shutting down two weeks earlier would have saved a significant number of deaths, possibly as much as half.

To achieve this level of shutdown, all employees needed to be furloughed and companies needed other support mechanisms.

It required the UK Government to pull the levers, as this level of intervention is not reserved to the Scottish Government.

The delay in initiating employee furlough and business support and other relief was completely under the control of the UK Government. What was the hold-up? Was it the disarray and disagreements surrounding ‘herd immunity’ strategy, where livelihoods were to be prioritised over lives?

Only the UK Government knows.

Alistair Ballantyne. Birkhill, Angus.