We lose, lockdown stock and barrel...

Balance is critical for our overall health

Congratulations to Made in Chelsea star Ollie Locke, who has married long-term boyfriend Gareth Locke (they coincidentally share the same surname).

After the first lockdown, some of their chosen venues refused to host their gay marriage, forcing them to postpone their wedding twice this year. But they made sure it was third time lucky just before lockdown two.

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Ollie, and I can say he is a very polite, kind gentleman. I wish him and his husband a very happy and safe future.

I would add, ‘Enjoy your honeymoon’ – but that will have to wait until after Lockes-down...

So we’re in another lockdown – which will surely do so much more harm than good. That’s a view also taken by nearly 70 GPs, led by highprofile names such as Dr Ellie Cannon and Dr Phil Hammond.

In a letter to Health Secretary Matt Hancock, they said: “A one-track response to rising cases threatens more lives and livelihoods than Covid lives saved.

“We do not wish to undermine the seriousness of pandemic management, but the wider harm to babies, children, young people and adults of all ages can no longer be ignored.”

These are intelligent people who signed up to a profession to save lives. They are people who can give us a snapshot of the public’s health and wellbeing via their patients. So they can provide politicians with a sense of the physical and mental state of the population.

Like these GPs, I want Boris and gang to include a sense of balance when it comes to deciding Covid policies. I am neither politician nor scientist, but I do understand that the coronavirus is more transmissible and deadly than seasonal flu. I also understand the very low risk to the average person of developing severe illness.

How can I agree with policies that just don’t make sense any more? Why should we close businesses which, on Government advice, have invested time and money in implementing social distancing measures, only to be told to close?

How can I respect policies that defy logic? For example, my children can go to school, but they can’t play sports outside at the weekend.

I can have a cleaner come to my house, but not a family member or friend.

I say to Boris: Protect the old, vulnerable and those in care homes, but let the healthy go to work in safe environments where they practise social distancing, wearing masks, washing hands and use track and trace apps.

The politicians have had more than enough time to put measures in place to implement effective and efficient testing.

Due to their failings, they resort to lockdowns and furloughs.

Why is no one challenging our very generous Chancellor Rishi Sunak with the most important question: “Who is going to pay for all this furlough?”

Meantime, lockdown is resulting in lost jobs and leading to mental health stress – some people are even scared of going back to work!

We understand the need to protect the NHS, but we must raise concern for our people. We are seeing rising cases of physical and mental abuse, mental health issues, poverty, suicide and drug abuse.

The damage to our society long-term by continuous lockdowns will be a human disaster on a colossal scale – with future generations paying the price for our lack of foresight today.

Policies defy logic – I can have cleaner but not family in my house