The coronavirus ‘battle plan’ can only work if it is implemented now

SIR – The Chief Medical Officer has said that schools will not be closed to limit the spread of coronavirus until “the last minute”, because of the disruption this would cause.

Is it sensible to wait? We know that the virus spreads rapidly and the Government is expecting it to do so.

At the beginning of the year there were just 40 cases in China. If they had known what was about to happen, would they have waited for the virus to spread before acting decisively? What is the point of having a “battle plan” of quarantine, closing public spaces, limiting travel and shutting universities and schools but not initiating it immediately? Advice on washing hands is hardly sufficient.

Without decisive action now, we will have all the disruption but, in addition, there will be an overwhelmed health service and many people who are dying or seriously ill. Professor Greg Philo

Glasgow University

“You may need to isolate yourself if you have travelled to an affected area, or have been in close contact with an infected person.” It is also stated that: “Spending 15 minutes within 2m (6ft) of someone with the virus, or having face-to-face contact, is judged to be a significant risk.”

Given that the symptoms may not appear till some time after infection, how can I know if I have spent 15 minutes within 6ft of someone with the virus when I visit a supermarket or travel by public transport? This advice is almost totally irrelevant unless I spend all my time at home. Mark St Giles

Taunton, Somerset

SIR – As a retired nurse, I am concerned by the obsessive use of hand sanitisers.

I worked with an infection-control specialist nurse in the Eighties, when these products were first appearing. She believed they represented more of a threat than a solution to the problem of cross-infection, as they made staff complacent. Before the introduction of sanitisers, staff were trained to wash their hands thoroughly, paying close attention to the areas between the fingers and under the nails.

When my wife was last in hospital, on a surgical ward, I witnessed staff quickly rubbing a little sanitiser on their hands between patients. I didn’t see one rub between the fingers or carefully around the nails. John Owen

Gloucester

SIR – In addition to trying to increase the numbers of GPs available to cope with coronavirus, some thought must be given to reducing the administrative burden on all doctors.

Suspending the requirement for annual appraisals and stopping all CQC inspections should happen immediately. Patients also need to be aware that complaints generate a lot of work. Writing one is fine but – please – think twice before sending it. Dr Nick Summerton

Brough, East Yorkshire