Pure guesswork

Perhaps it’s just as well that Scotland is not Lesley Riddoch’s independent island paradise (Perspective, 29 June), for the main ingredient in tackling the coronavirus pandemic has been, as most of us are aware but which was not even mentioned by Ms Riddoch, finance – and that came from where? She is also ‘certain’ that Boris Johnson’s quarantine system was introduced far too late and that it is ‘true’ that most European countries are now safer than the UK but ‘maybe’ not safer than Scotland.

Last time I checked, Scotland wasstillpartofthatukandthe quarantine system was introduced according to professional guidance – at the peak it would have made little difference. but of course became more important as things eased off. UK citizens ‘rescued’ from cruise ships and other hot spots were rightly quarantined in hospital from the start.

I can sympathise with Nicola Sturgeon’s desire to save lives by retaining a 2-metre, so-called social distance but she has based that decision on ‘The Science’ which, if I heard her correctly, has claimed a 2-10 times increase in risk infection at 1 metre. A five-fold range of probabilities to me is simply guesswork.

The collateral damage financially and even health-wise, resulting from not reducing social distance to 1 metre, most people are now becoming aware, is already more serious than the direct result of the disease itself and of course, instances of non-observance of the 2-metre rule are now rife.

By this time we have had Covid-19 for breakfast lunch and dinner for so long that every

one is aware of what they need to do to look after themselves – in other words do their own personal risk assessment, as the Prime Minister has now advised.

(DR) A MCCORMICK

Kirkland Road Terregles, Dumfries