It’s nothing like Freedom Day as restrictions continue to manipulate us
SIR – We need to stop calling tomorrow, July 19, “Freedom Day”. With the Government urging businesses to keep in place Covid measures out of a sense of “social responsibility”, we are far from free but are still being manipulated by a Government that is totally out of touch.
Malcolm Tod
Felton, Northumberland
SIR – Could somebody please explain to this 82-year-old, double-vaccinated simple soul exactly what new freedoms we are going to be allowed tomorrow, as we are expected to carry on wearing masks in enclosed public spaces and may have to obtain a Covid passport if we wish to enter pubs and restaurants? Jacqueline Marshall
Eastbourne, East Sussex
SIR – Regardless of the rule changes tomorrow, I’ll continue to wear a mask.
The Government’s anti-mask, anti-social-distancing agenda is, in reality, a thinly-veiled policy of herd immunity. It clearly wants to let Covid rip. It is now down to the people of Britain to deny the Government its herd-immunity wish. We should mask up, practise social distancing and generally be cautious to help save human lives from this vicious disease. Sebastian Monblat
Sutton, Surrey
SIR – The current Covid infection rate is around 40,000-50,000 per day and still increasing (though the figure is probably higher due to many having no symptoms and therefore not contributing to the daily figures).
The reassuring fact is that deaths have only slowly risen to about 50 per day – nowhere near the horrendous figures of the first wave. Vaccination is undoubtedly working well, and this latest wave is increasing herd immunity rapidly, which is good news.
We must keep things in perspective and note that over 1,000 deaths occur daily from other causes: road traffic accidents, heart attacks, strokes, cancer. Deaths from Covid are small in number, and are most likely occurring among people who are medically at risk with underlying health problems. Dr Paul Jacques
Threshfield, North Yorkshire
SIR – Throughout the pandemic, it has been stressed by the authorities that good ventilation is essential when trying to reduce cross-infection.
Last Tuesday I made a return journey from Warminster to London, which involved five trains. None of the carriages had an open window. When I asked the conductor on the 17.20 from Waterloo if he could open some, I was told it was not possible, although it was a good idea. The conductor on the 19.13 from Salisbury did open one. It made a significant difference.
Before mayors insist that the public must continue to wear masks on public transport, they should tell local providers to improve ventilation. The Government should do the same with the national rail companies. Richard Sawle Warminster, Wiltshire