Sir, – After this Covid-19 situation is resolved, a large debate will be needed on many topics – the health service, agriculture, our supply chains, employment rights, the economy and the environment.
However, right now, whatever our thoughts on those better futures, our current focus must be to support the Scottish and UK government anti-coronavirus policies.
In this light, I must thank The Courier for both the reassuring editorials, and all the reliable reporting.
These thanks apply to all our essential workers, but in particular I’d like to thank those employed at levels in the NHS.
We are going to call on this thin blue, green or white gowned line heavily in the next weeks.
Our actions and behaviours in following the social distancing guidelines is our best individual and collective way of demonstrating this gratitude.
Iain MacDonald.
56 Grove Road,
Broughty Ferry.
Toughen up virus measures
Sir, – We have recently returned from holiday in Tenerife where we were in lockdown for the last few days of our holiday.
We were only allowed out to visit the supermarket or pharmacy.
We had to queue outside and armed Civil Gaurdia only allowed a few in at a time.
There were marks on the floor at two-metre intervals similar to airport check-ins with the Gaurdia keeping watch while we paid for our shopping.The local police were very visible in their patrol cars and stopped and asked where you were going and advised you to go home and stay there.
When we arrived home we were amazed that there were no restrictions here and surprised at how empty the shelves were – no bread, milk and toilet rolls.
There did not seem to be panic buying in Tenerife. I only noticed that there was no pasta and hand gel available.
Yesterday we went for a walk round the ponds at Monikie everyone was sensible and stayed well back when passing each other.
However there was a large group of over 20 adults and children enjoying a barbecue in the middle of the park.
My daughter lives in Spain and they are to be in lockdown for a further two weeks.
She queues at the supermarket and on entering has to use hand gel then put on latex gloves then use hand gel again.
Our supermarkets are crowded and the assistants are not wearing masks or gloves. Perhaps it is time for tougher measures to save lives.
Alison Kinnear.
18 Bughties Road,
Broughty Ferry.
Stop the flights immediately
Sir, – Why on earth is the UK Government still allowing flights into Heathrow from Italy and Iran.
Both countries have skyrocketing numbers of Covid-19 and the number of cases in the UK are rising exponentially.
This is no way to flatten the curve.
It feels like we are behind the curve trying to catch up.
Please, please prime minister, stop those flights immediately!
Carolyn Forrester.
Broughty Ferry,
Dundee.
Not the time for point scoring
Sir, – We are right at the start of the worst health crisis since the Great Plague. Most people are either worried about their own health or the wellbeing of vulnerable relatives.
In this context it is amazing to read Jill Stephenson’s letter (Indy numbers don’t add up, Courier, March 23) which uses coronavirus as a way of trying to score a very cheap political and, of course, anti-independence point.
It takes a very special sort of person to play on the feelings of people, especially vulnerable people at this time.
Shame on you!
Karen Heath.
Cortachy,
Angus.
An unusual point of view
Sir, – I am struggling to follow Dr Cameron’s rambling argument (Where is the evidence?, Courier, March 23).
My interpretation is “always question authority” – that’s fair enough.
Two: We’re all going to die eventually, so what’s the panic?
Well, nobody wants to meet the Grim Reaper early.
Three: Authorities have got it wrong in the past. So what?
Authorities are expected to act with speed and integrity to protect us and I’m sure they do so with our best interests in mind.
Four: Italy and China have been incompetent. I can’t believe such arrogance.
Malcolm Cameron.
1 Oakbank Road,
Guildtown.
Very different public response
Sir, – The coronavirus emergency has shown that in a real emergency both government and individuals will act decisively.
Government has, step by step, introduced restrictions like closing leisure venues, and the public has been largely supportive. Individuals have reduced car journeys and are stockpiling food.
Contrast this with the so-called climate emergency.
I don’t know a single individual who has reduced their car driving or stopped flying.
And what if the government one day were to ban all petrol and diesel cars from the road, and another day banned meat, and another day disconnected the mains gas from all homes?
You could imagine the response.
Geoff Moore.
Alness,
Highland.