Why pick on the old...

Sir Nicolas Bevan, London

Has it yet occurred to politicians that continuing lockdown for those aged over 70 when current restrictions begin to be lifted would be totally counterproductive as the Government endeavours to revive the economy?

People from this age group make up many of the customers for small businesses, beauty salons, garden centres, cafés and restaurants that may gradually be allowed to reopen (some of these places are even managed by over-70s). If this group were to remain in lockdown, where would a large proportion of the congregations in places of worship be once doors reopen? Indeed, where would some of their ministers and leaders be? Where would the grandparent childminders be, once parents return to work?

The answer to these questions is, of course, stuck at home – rendering proposed measures to lift the lockdown virtually useless.

My son works in a care home where, in the past few weeks, there has been a rise in coronavirus cases and some deaths. He is paid £9.50 an hour to care for people who are often critically ill, with only their front-line care workers to comfort them. Care workers receive statutory sick pay of £95.85 a week, but only after four days, if they fall ill or suspect they have coronavirus. Currently, the care home is not able to employ agency staff, so if a care worker falls sick there is no one to replace them, putting more strain on the alreadyoverstretched staff.

If the Government really wants to address the coronavirus deaths in care homes, it needs to consider not only providing testing kits but also increasing statutory sick pay, so that care workers are not forced to decide between caring for the vulnerable, with the possibility of passing on the virus, and living in poverty at home without money to feed themselves. Is this really how we want to reward our care workers? Fiona Murrell, Horsham, West Sussex