Where is the science to justify this latest theft of basic civil liberties?

sir – The announcement on Wednesday that households may only meet in numbers of up to six persons must surely and finally explode the myth that the Government’s removal of our liberty is being “led by the science”.

What scientific evidence is there that six persons is safe, whereas seven persons leads to the NHS becoming overwhelmed – which, after all, was the only rationale for the emergency measures in the first place?

If this information exists, please let us have it, otherwise we are entitled to assume that this is another off-the-cuff decision taken with the cavalier approach to our diminishing freedom that we have come to associate with this benighted administration.

Dr Kevin Mcbride MRCGP

Warminster, Wiltshire

sir – I am more scared of the Government’s handling of Covid-19 than I am of the virus itself.

What is the point of imposing random measures to protect the health of the nation if in so doing the nation itself is destroyed both socially and economically?

Jeremy Parr

Suckley, Worcestershire

sir – I used to meet my friends in the pub on Friday night. Now I haven’t seen them for six months.

I went to meetings of three societies, which have not met for the same length of time. I am awaiting treatment for medical conditions, which is on hold until the Covid panic is over.

I am 86. I used to think that losing the will to live was just a figure of speech, but now I know how it feels.

Alan Shaw

Halifax, West Yorkshire

sir – Does it really matter if some of us aged over 70 die a few years early? Those who don’t want to take the risk can isolate themselves.

Personally, at 76, my main concern is that my grandchildren lead normal lives, with a full education, sports, extra-curricular activities and, most importantly, normal socialising with their peers – and grandparents.

Mary Evans

Repton, Derbyshire

sir – When I joined the police 27 years ago I had to memorise the nine principles of policing, which haven’t changed since the time of Robert Peel. None of them refers to enforcing government public health policy.

One could suggest that it comes under the duty to protect life but, by that argument, police officers should therefore also be preventing people from driving cars, riding motorcycles, smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol and eating fatty foods, all of which are more likely to kill you than Covid-19.

Graham Low

Malpas, Cheshire

sir – No family gatherings at Christmas? The nation heaves a collective sigh of relief.

Geoff White

Bath, Somerset