‘Rule of six’ is an intrusion so unnecessary

APPARENTLY the Government’s new ‘rule of six’ does not apply in the workplace or an educational environment, such as schools and colleges.

Therefore, a large number of colleagues can work together indoors for eight to ten hours a day.

However, if work colleagues decide to go for a drink or a meal together after work then the ‘rule of six’ comes into force and they can only socialise in groups of no more than six.

Surely, if one is at risk of catching the virus in a group setting then whether that environment is a workplace or a social setting is irrelevant.

A virus does not discriminate between business or social settings unlike Johnson’s useless government.

In which case how can this rule be about protecting people’s health?

This rule is yet another unnecessary and unwanted intrusion into people’s lives by a government that does not trust its citizens to take the necessary precautions for their own safety. We don’t need the State telling us to ‘wash our hands’. Johnson’s government is not Conservative at all.

Another observation I have made is when a speaker approaches the podium they invariably remove their face covering to speak. Otherwise, they would be incoherent to their audience.

However, once they have finished addressing their audience they proceed to put on their face covering once again.

The act of removing the face covering to speak has made it redundant since one has already been exposed to any threat of catching the virus in the meeting hall whilst speaking.

Robert Parker, via email

WE KNOW the UK was very late going into lockdown and very, very late getting started attempting to develop its track and trace system.

Yet, in May, Boris Johnson said that by the end of June 100% of virus test results would be given to patients within 24 hours. Two months on the true figure is not 100%. In this last week it was up on the previous week, but only to an average of 24.3% from all sites. That, of course, is for those who managed to get a test, many cannot even get through to book one.

We were promised an app by mid-May, it didn’t happen. So we were promised a world beating track and trace system, that seems not to have got close, so now we are promised a “moon shot” programme of daily testing for everyone in the country.

This is all jam tomorrow. The “moon shot” is considered by scientists as unworkable and estimated as costing £100bn a year, which is two-thirds of the entire cost of the NHS.

What is needed is a good contact tracing system, not a government promising the moon. Even Matt Hancock recognises it isn’t working and people can’t get a test.

Without a test everything else fails, we will not have good tracking and tracing, we won’t be able to protect older people, our hospitals, our schools, the economy. We must fix this system and fix it now.

Anne Qualter

via email

NO ANIMAL SUFFERING

BRITAIN is renowned as a nation of animal lovers – and many people would go to any length to ensure their pets are healthy and happy. Thankfully, access to vet care when our companions are sick or injured is usually quick and easy.

Sadly, it’s a very different story for animals in developing countries, including working animals. A severe shortage of vet services means too many animals must endure pain and suffering without the vital care they need. In Zimbabwe, for instance, only 340 vets serve the entire country.

SPANA believes that all animals deserve the right to high quality veterinary care, including working horses, donkeys, elephants and camels, which transport goods, people and water in the world’s poorest communities. Our vets are often their only hope, providing free treatment that simply wouldn’t be available otherwise.

This World Animal Day (Oct 4), we ask for your support to ensure no animal has to suffer in silence. Visit www.spana.org/worldanimal day and help us provide working animals overseas with the same care and compassion as our own much-loved pets here in Britain.

Geoffrey Dennis, SPANA (Society for the Protection of

Animals Abroad)

THIS IS HORRIFYING

BLUE Cross is horrified about the latest social media craze where pet owners are sharing videos and images of themselves getting up close to their pet and surprising them when they are asleep or removing their food when eating.

Using hashtags #invadeyourdogs personalspace and #invadeyour petsspace there have been half a million views of these posts so far.

Examples we’ve seen include making loud noises next to sleeping pets to film how they react, getting into a pet’s bed when they are sleeping and waking them suddenly when face to face.

While we are sure the intent is innocent fun, it is vital pet owners understand that this is a potentially dangerous activity and extremely traumatic and stressful for most pets who may go on to develop serious behaviour problems.

Claire Stallard Animal Behaviourist, Blue Cross