Sir, – Am I the only person who believes our government is pussy-footing with regard to stopping or slowing the seemingly relentless march of the coronavirus?
It’s all very well to read that Fife has two positive cases and that these are being handled medically, but for those of us who do not have the virus it would be useful to know if it has struck in St Andrews or Kirkcaldy or Cupar or wherever.
In that way, those of us who are free of infection could steer clear of the areas where there might be even a minor risk of catching it.
Obviously, where people mix with people, the risk of infection is higher so why are we not shutting down all facilities where people group together closely, as in cinemas and at sports meetings of all kinds?
In a similar way, family groups roaming around supermarkets must surely increase the risk of cross-family infection.
We must all get our food supply regardless of the risk of germs but why can’t one member of the family enter the supermarket armed with their required shopping list and money while leaving the remainder of the family outside in the car?
If we can’t control our own actions in the above manner we may well end up in a similar position to Italy, where millions of citizens have had to be quarantined.
Archibald A Lawrie.
Church Wynd,
Kingskettle,
Fife.
Reality is that people are dying
Sir, – Regards the letter from Dr John Cameron (Getting a grip on coronavirus, Courier, March 10).
Is Dr Cameron a medical doctor, and therefore suitably qualified to share his personal views on this matter, or a doctor of “words” who is not?
In any case I appreciate that Mr Cameron is a regular contributor to these columns, and is rightly entitled in this society to voice his freedom of expression.
However, I would point out that this is a completely new strain of this virus – hence rightly the informed world are taking every available steps to limit the spread and mitigate risks.
What I do take exception to is that Mr Cameron makes reference to the rest of the population getting grips on reality.
So the reality is that globally there are hundreds of people who have not recovered from this virus, and have had their lives taken away from them.
And that is the true grip of the reality of this global pandemic for which there is no current viable treatment.
Grant Edward.
647A Arbroath Road,
Broughty Ferry.
The UK working together works
Sir, – The Covid-19 outbreak has made the four nations of the UK work together on a common endeavour.
As England’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Jenny Harries has said “all of the four UK nations are working consistently together, all of the four chief medical officers are working together on a daily basis”.
Surely this is the way forward – going forward together – rather than constantly squabbling over the break up of the Union?
The Scottish Government should drop its demand for a second independence referendum and get on with running the country.
William Loneskie.
Amulree,
9 Justice Park, Oxton.
Is Scotland really so bad?
Sir, – A word to those people whose joy it is to talk down Scotland and its government.
How often on news broadcasts and documentaries do we hear phrases like: “This does not apply in Scotland, where appropriate legislation is already in place.”
The most recent instance, as I write, was in Sunday’s Countryfile, regarding an initiative to improve the lot of women in farming.
Even in the satirical magazine Private Eye, Scotland is often portrayed as the enlightened part of the union.
Gordon Cook.
Gowanlea,
Friockheim.
Garage damage left to get worse
Sir, – Isabel Wardrop (Council pothole response praise, Courier March 10) is very fortunate to have the repair carried out so quickly.
I reported at the beginning of September last year that the fascia panel on my garage required replacing, and the door was swelling up due to rain seeping in.
When nothing was done to rectify the situation, I wrote to the chief executive of Fife Council on December 17, and he replied on December 31 stating he would notify those concerned.
We are now into March 2020 and the repair has not been started.
I am now seriously considering whether to give up the garage and save the £41.32 in rent.
David Whyte.
Kirkcaldy.
Time to re-rig road bridge?
Sir, – Many people were forced to do a detour to Kincardine when the Queensferry Crossing was closed due to ice dropping on the road.
It begged the question, why is the old Forth Road Bridge not being used for all forms of traffic?
This bridge and those who maintain it have done a great job throughout its lifetime but their efforts can only go so far.
Last night I read an old article that said one wire breaks every week.
If this is the case I think the time has come for engineers to start planning how to re-rig the bridge with new main cables and droppers above the old main cables and four new anchor points at each end.
We have the people to do the work but do we have anyone in our parliament with experience of engineering?
What are they waiting for?
We need people to drive Scotland forward.
John G Phimister.
63 St Clair Street,
Kirkcaldy.
Religious belief is a choice
Sir, – We were dismayed to see the suspension from the Labour Party of life-long equality activist Trevor Philips over allegations of Islamophobia.
Religious belief is a choice: you can enter into it or walk away from it, regardless of your skin colour, and many people do.
This conflation of legitimate discussion of the ideas of Islam with racism does nothing for community cohesion and has chilling implications for free speech.
Neil Barber.
Edinburgh Secular Society.
