Self-isolating over-70s are just being sensible

SIR – I am over 70 years of age, as is my wife, and we remain content to stay at home. We do not see this as a surrender of our civic rights, but as a precaution to keep us safe and free from Covid-19.

Jaqui Taugwalder-Hill (Letters, May 10), who wishes to go swimming and go out to lunch and enjoy seeing her friends as she did before the lockdown, may care to ponder the fact that, of the 27,000 deaths from Covid-19 up to April 24, 24,000 of them occurred among those over the age of 65.

Those under the age of 45 accounted for just 332 deaths – so it seems reasonable that we who are vulnerable should remain indoors and allow those at low risk to pick up the threads of normal life.

No doubt anyone in our age group who decides to go out and socialise and is unfortunate enough to contract the virus will expect the NHS and its frontline staff to risk their lives treating them.

Rev P J Walter Hay-on-Wye, Breconshire

SIR – The Prime Minister has asked us all to take a common-sense approach to social distancing.

Perhaps he could pass this idea on to the Health Secretary, who has suggested that no one should meet up in a back garden, only in open spaces.

If I use the side entrance to my sister’s back garden and sit two metres away from her, am I really more likely to get this virus than I would be in a public park?

Liz Beaumont

London SW19

SIR – Taken for what it was – a broadbrush vision of the way forward – the Prime Minister’s address last Sunday was straightforward enough.

During unprecedented times such as these, national unity takes on a special importance, and the sight of the Opposition, regional politicians and elements of the media doing their best to undermine efforts by promoting confusion and petty politics is lamentable.

Charles Smith-Jones Landrake, Cornwall