Sir, – I was disappointed that neither the UK nor Scottish governments took pupil age into account when imposing school closures.
Surely it would have been wiser to give priority to young primary pupils in attempts to maintain schooling. They need a structure more than the older ones, and are presumably more at risk of lasting psychological damage in the pressure-cooker atmosphere of being at home with stressed-out parents. In Sweden, where the mortality rate from Covid-19 is roughly the same as in the UK, the primary schools remain open.
Our governments have to give people hope, by a very gradual, weekly loosening of the current lockdown which could end up causing as much harm to society and our wellbeing as the disease itself.
Certain construction sites, for example, could be deemed safe to re-open with adequate, demonstrable social distancing.
George Morton.
29 Hudson Road,
Rosyth.
Praise for army of coronavirus volunteers
Sir, – It is a generous action during this time to applaud NHS staff for their commitment and dedication in the face of very difficult circumstances, and good to see.
I feel we ought to be adding our thanks to other groups as well.
Among them are many individuals, from students to those also in vulnerable groups, who have contacted the churches to offer shopping, phone calls and medicine collection for anyone who needs help, well before there were any official volunteering campaigns.
They have been giving their time quietly over the last few weeks to more vulnerable friends and neighbours but do not see themselves as carers.
And here in Broughty Ferry we have an older age group living in care homes where locally employed staff members have been faced with a ban on visitors to residents who may not understand what is going on.
The ones I have come across have shown great kindness, imagination and thoughtfulness in caring for care home residents and their often anxious relatives.
Perhaps we could show our appreciation and support by sending cards or email messages to thank them for their efforts and support in our local communities?
Rev Catherine Collins.
Broughty Ferry New Kirk,
25 Ballinard Gardens,
Broughty Ferry.
Bailouts only a short-term fix
Sir, – It’s generally agreed it will take a year or more before a vaccine for Covid-19 becomes available.
But maintaining self-isolation and social-distancing for that length of time is clearly untenable. The results of an economic meltdown would be more deadly than the disease and result in a global depression.
Although increasing numbers of nations are announcing lockdowns and multi-billion-euro bailouts, they know these can only offer short-term fixes.
Rev Dr John Cameron.
10 Howard Place,
St Andrews.
Straight talking please on Covid
Sir, – I have listened today to Michael Gove talking to camera and ignoring answering a direct question regarding material supplies to support Covid-19 and frontline staff.
Repetition of a stock message is all that we hear and it doesn’t help allay the reasonable fears of the end users.
It also puts additional stress on the public listening to the platitudes and meanderings. Better by far to say they will be here in two days and we will dispatch them over the next five days.
It needs people to stand up and be counted.
The World Health Organisation, a most prestigious organisation, called for countries to test, test, test and test, trace, treat.
Even I could follow that guidance.
Alistair Ballantyne.
Birkhill, Angus.
Funding levels have hurt NHS
Sir, – As NHS workers are rightly hailed as heroes, not least by our Westminster government, it is perhaps pertinent to remind people that it is not so long ago that those very same Conservative MPs were to be seen clapping and cheering in Parliament as they voted down a motion to increase nurses pay.
In their 10 years of government they have presided over a time of record low funding of the NHS, during a period when demands on the service increased greatly due to an ageing population and higher numbers of patients with chronic and multiple conditions, something which had been predicted for many years.
They have also presided over huge cuts in social care budgets, placing even more stress on an already struggling NHS.
So when we see ministers telling us of the desperate measures they are taking to keep us safe, remember they are culpable for the shockingly unprepared state of our NHS, and the other services on which we all depend.
Les Mackay.
5 Carmichael Gardens,
Dundee.
Doing their duty on our behalf
Sir, – I am shocked at the pettiness of Joan McAlpine, SNP MSP, querying Prince Charles being given a virus test.
All our public figures are placing themselves at risk doing their duty on our country’s behalf and we should offer them every support, not spiteful criticism.
Roderick Stewart.
Dronley House,
Dronley.