The public needs more information

IT is all a bit grim, isn’t it? That new strain of the virus has hit the country and sent us spiralling into lockdown.

It took just weeks to go from China to the UK, and took only days for this new version to go from London to the South West.

That’s just how spread happens. We are in a race between the virus and the vaccine.

It is surprising that the public health authorities did not foresee this.

Viruses have always mutated, it is what they do. Scientists predicted this months ago. So why no preparation? They were living on hope alone.

Since the pandemic started, just how many leaflets have you had in your letterbox from public health and the NHS about the virus?

We had one letter from the Prime Minister, early on, and a leaflet from the NHS. Since then – nothing.

But we’ve had plenty of leaflets and flyers from curry houses, tree surgeons, pizza delivery firms, and free local newspapers.

Why do they put these things in people’s letterboxes? Because they work. Companies know that if they do this, then a small percentage of people will read it, like it and respond. So it is worth doing for the changes it brings about.

Public health in Bristol could have done the same, but has not. They still could.

We need to get more knowledge and information to people so that they understand a bit more, and act accordingly.

Public health has missed a trick in not doing this.

Simon Wood Bristol