Leave the bunker

Nicola Sturgeon has expressed her concern at the sudden increase in “cases” of covid-19 in Scotland. The United Arab Emirates has recorded a high rate of cases of Covid-19, higher than in many other countries across the world. The high number of cases recorded there does not mean that the UAE is under more threat from the virus than anywhere else (it has lower death rates from Covid-19 than most of Europe) but, rather, reflects the very comprehensive testing system in place in that country.

They are collecting relevant data, having tested 4.5 million inhabitants of the country for Covid-19 by the end of July (almost half of the population). Incidentally, this comprehensive testing system has been reported as showing that 90 per cent of all recorded cases are in fact asymptomatic, that is, in nine in ten cases of Covid-19 that they have detected people did not even report feeling unwell.

As a retired GP who practised evidence-based medicine for three and a half decades I look at the news each day and keep asking myself – if the Scottish Government had only organised and carried out more rigorous population testing from the outset, might we now have amassed some concrete clinical evidence about the behaviour of this virus? Such evidence would have allowed us to make intelligent, informed decisions going forward.

Instead, we carry on as before with poorly informed decisions based upon the advice of academic epidemiologists making sterile projections from computer data.

Time to get out of the bunker and see what is really going on. (DR) MICHAEL J LAGGAN Newton of Balcanquhal

Perthshire

Whilst Tony Abbott is perfectly entitled to his personal thoughts on individual choices regarding the virus restrictions, surely there is a bigger picture to consider?

I wonder how manypeople live in isolation with no friends or family? Would I be correct in surmising that only a small percentage of humanity would fit this criteria, therefore having carte blanche to indulge in the luxury of this freedom of choice?

From a well septuagenarian who is “fully alive”.

MAUREEN GRAHAM Braid House, Longniddry