Coronavirus deaths are a tragedy but it’s time to embrace positives of situation

I have a problem. I actually think that exposure to Covid-19 – on a controlled but much less restrictive basis than now – is a good thing!

Don’t get me wrong – each of the deaths from Covid-19 is a personal tragedy. And in an ideal world all of these deaths would be avoided. However, there is good news also, namely that if the mortality rate is 1 per cent, and around 30,000 have died from coronavirus in the UK, then almost 3,000,000 people in the UK have had the disease, survived and built up immunity. So, contrary to public perception, a higher than average number of deaths from Covid-19 means a higher than average immunity. Non-vulnerable people have to be extremely unlucky to die from the virus. A 99 per cent chance of surviving is fantastic odds. And so, given the tiny chance of non-vulnerable people dying once they catch the virus, I – and I’m sure many others locked into their homes and not earning – feel that it is well worth taking that risk. Especially as the world governments and economies cannot afford lockdown – financially, physically or emotionally – and the only way for the world to get through this within 6-12 months (before there is a worldwide vaccine) is for as many people as possible to build up immunity.

Yet such an approach is portrayed as anathema and extremely dangerous. The governments would have you believe that if you catch the virus, you are likely to be in the 1 per cent and will either die or be on a ventilator. In reality, you are almost sure to join the 99 per cent who gain immunity. These people can go out safely without masks or PPE, and work, enjoy themselves, meet and care for people, including the people at home or in care homes desperate for human contact. And the world can start moving again.

I’m not advocating going straight back to packed commuter trains, sports stadia etc. That would swamp the NHS even with a 1 per cent mortality rate. However, we now have a significant excess of NHS beds – the Nightingale Hospital in London is lying empty, for example – and 450,000 NHS volunteers to take up the slack. So we can allow many more people to have social interaction again and still cope. ANDY SCOTT Newhalls Road South Queensferry