If only we’d responded to virus as quickly as Taiwan PHOTO OF THE DAY
A STATEMENT from
Michael Gove in the national media on May 5 – “We must probe our early response to virus”. Surely this should have read: “We must probe our late response to virus.”
The perfect response to the virus came from the island of Taiwan, 85 miles off the shore of China, the initial source of the virus. Taiwan, with a population of 23 million people, contained the effects of Covid 19 to six deaths, as of May 3.
Where did the UK go wrong? The answer, Taiwan acted with alacrity. From the onset of the virus, their government took a positive attitude in immediately banning the export of medical masks, along with encouraging their people to wear those masks. Moreover, with the exclusion of banning tourists and other prompt measures, Taiwan’s government has exceeded all their expectations.
This is unlike our government, that has built up a catalogue of disastrous results, smokescreens of hype, and the creation of illusions, all hidden in the shenanigans of propaganda in the media, that all was going well.
A huge price has been paid by the people of the UK, especially our health services, and the elderly, who have died needlessly. Due to the failure to instigate promptly the precautions that were needed, the supply of PPE, and advising the public to wear sanitised masks or face protection.
It this had all been put in place in the UK, it would have saved a great many lives. And yet our government, abetted by medical officers, still prevaricates, and fails to categorically urge people to wear sanitised masks or some form of sanitised face protection as we near lifting the lockdown.
Well done Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. In a week when we were about to celebrate the end of World War II and all it entailed, the UK, is once again plunged into mourning, a mourning for the thousands of deaths from self-inflicted inaction.
That inaction is a proven fact; as shown by the UK’s position in the world league table of deaths, a position that needs a serious public inquiry, with clear positive terms of reference.
George Chelmis
Cardiff
Reservations about rehabilitation plan
I READ the article about plans for a rehabilitation centre for women in Wales.
Yes, this is great news to have such a centre open in Wales to help women by diverting them away from custody and hopefully a life of crime. The women’s centres will offer, says justice minister Lucy Frazer, a “robust” (they do like that word!) alternative to short prison sentences that will tackle the underlying causes of their offending such as substance abuse and mental health problems.
However, they will be run by “other agencies” and not the National Probation Service. When will this Tory government learn from their mistakes? Who can recall the total disaster caused by Chris Grayling when he attempted the partprivatisation of the probation service, Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) that failed abysmally.
Why not let the probation service, with more than a hundred years of experience in rehabilitating offenders, run the centres and simply buy in those “truly inspirational” services as partnership agencies?
Under Ms Frazer’s scheme, the service will constantly rely on funds and grants that may well dry up and force the closure of the centres.
It has happened in the past, and when this largesse from Westminster stops (don’t think there will not be further austerity measures – Covid-19 has cost billions and the Tories will want this money back, after all) then the voluntary/third sector services will be the first casualties.
Mike Brennan Llanishen,
Cardiff
This is one expert we should ignore
SIR David King has assembled a 12-strong committee of academics to look at how the UK could work its way out of coronavirus lockdown.
Don’t we have enough “experts” giving their opinion? Everyone from pop singers and sports people to celebrities.
Ah, hang on, this man is different. This is the very fellow who advised Tony Blair and Gordon Brown that we needed to convert to diesel vehicles because petrol was causing pollution.
This created a rush towards diesel power, costing mega bucks. Hey ho, we now find out that diesel is a worse pollutant than petrol.
So the people who invested in diesel vehicles, now find these vehicles have dropped in value and will be eventually phased out.
Sir David was then forced to admit that he had got it wrong, so my “expert” advice to him is to keep his head below the parapet.
Ken Baxter
Beddau,
Pontypridd
Residents anxious for tips to reopen
ON April 25 I wrote to Caerphilly County Borough Council following complaints from residents wishing the recycling tips to be reopened but was informed the guidance was clear that opening them in the current lockdown would encourage non-essential journeys and they will remain closed until the lockdown is reviewed.
After receiving more than 20 representations I have written to the leader of the council and the director informing them of the strength of feeling in this regard as I understand some councils in England have reopened.
My residents have mentioned the amount of fly-tipping, and I have been asked that one vehicle be allowed in at each time with monitoring of social-distancing rules applying.
Cllr Kevin Etheridge Blackwood Ward
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So the people who invested in diesel vehicles now find these vehicles have dropped in value...