I have lived a long life of risk and joy, I will not hide away
■ I am in the 80th year of my life, which has been full of wonderful happenings, incredible adventures, joys, sorrows, love, family and friends.
I have taken risks to have the above but I have also taken responsibility for the consequences of my actions. Now I am told, ‘Get back in your box, girl! Hide away, isolate yourself from all that has helped to create a free, healthy and fulfilling life.’
I am old – or so Father Time tells me – so I am apparently incapable of being responsible for my actions. Look around you and see elderly couples walking hand in hand and wearing matching masks as they enjoy life until the moment they die. They do not live a life of fear but of an understanding that life has many risks to overcome.
Come on, you serpents of doom, stop filling my life with foreboding of death!
Ann, Kingston
■ Why do mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and other northern leaders feel they should be consulted so they can ‘negotiate’ various local lockdowns introduced by the government (Metro, Fri)? What’s there to negotiate? Covid-19 is a killer at worst and a lifechanger at best – and anyhow, the government’s intervention would seem to confirm that these local leaders haven’t got control of the issue.
Quit complaining and police your communities properly.
Gordon, Staines-upon-Thames
■ Regarding the news of 1,600 students testing positive for Covid in Newcastle, one wonders if some of these were the young people pictured partying in Newcastle last weekend.
Mudher Al-Adnani, Harrow
■ I’m just back from holiday in Turkey, which the government has recently taken off its safe travel list, and I felt safer there than I do here!
When we arrived at Antalya airport, everyone had their temperature taken. When we went out of the hotel in a hire car and visited ancient sites and waterfalls, we had our temperature taken.
In the hotel, all staff wore masks and food was served from behind panels, and each time we entered the restaurant we were given clean masks and had our temperature taken.
People social distance with sun beds set 2m to 3m apart and people kept away from each other in the pool.
What are people doing here, other than track and trace and a few people doing temperature checks, and some people wearing masks? Some shops have even stopped cleaning their trolleys – and that was before I went away. Needless to say, I’m now selfisolating at home for 14 days.
Maggie, Essex
■ Lyndon (MetroTalk, Fri) says alcohol should only be sold to those aged over 40 because they are more responsible and so less likely to spread the virus. Sorry to burst your bubble but at least half of the 40-year-olds I know (my age group) are not wearing masks, not social distancing and having pub lock-ins and (quieter) house parties.
Commuter, South London
■ Pubs and restaurants should rebel and open. Stand up to the erosion of our liberties!
Gordon, Glasgow
■ I disagree with the view that lockdown doesn’t work. It works if the rules are obeyed. Unfortunately, that’s a bridge too far for many in this country.
Nick Smith, London
■ Why do people say the 10pm curfew takes people from pubs, bars and restaurants into ‘non-compliant gatherings’ in the streets or homes? It’s the individuals who are being noncompliant. Just wear face masks, keep your distance and go home without mixing with other households!
Clare, Liverpool
■ Partial lockdowns will achieve nothing. Closed homes and open businesses will achieve nothing unless airports and ports are completely shut down. Plus, opening schools was a bad idea.
Alan, Stamford Hill
■ So people are finally getting fined for not wearing a mask on public transport (Metro, Fri). But what about staff? Take London on Friday morning. Charing Cross station at 6.50am, and nine out of ten platform staff had no mask or were wearing them as ‘chin warmers’. It was just as bad at Cannon Street station.
Jake, Abbey Wood
■ The trains might be being cleaned (Metro, Fri) but have they got any fresh air in them? Keep the windows open to help stop the spread of the virus.
John, Bromley