Letters - April 18, 2020

I retired from general practice more than eight years ago and my one regret is that I could not encourage more of my patients to stop smoking.

Evidence is now emerging that smokers are up to 14 times more likely to develop severe symptoms with coronavirus as this attacks the respiratory system which has already been

damaged in this cohort of the population.

Clearly, further studies are needed to confirm these findings, but this must be a major cause for concern.

Ever since Sir Walter Raleigh introduced tobacco into Europe in the 16th century, it has been an important part of the global economy.

Perhaps now is the time to take this major public health problem more seriously.

If this pandemic isn’t a wake-up call for everyone concerned, what will it take?

Dr David Tree-Booker

Address supplied

Virus

Resort will flourish after vaccine found

Having looked at the photographs on the internet of Blackpool promenade deserted over the Easter Weekend, it makes you wonder whether things will ever be the same again.

The honest answer is nobody really knows and only time will tell.

Blackpool is made up from a lot of small businesses who rely heavily on the seasonal trade. The government grants to support small businesses and the postponement of business rates are greatly welcomed.

Blackpool Council have acted very quickly in issuing the contingency grants to all those who qualify. This money will help small businesses pay their essential fixed costs and weekly staff wages to those who have become furloughed employees.

I do like to encourage and share a sense of optimism for Blackpool and its future. In all honesty, I do fear that until a coronavirus vaccine has been found many businesses across the world will continue to suffer and further lives will be lost to this deadly disease.

Lifting the lockdown after the virus curve has been flattened is a matter of much debate amongst experts.

Without a vaccine and allowing mass gatherings in a tourist town, I fear is potentially as dangerous as walking away from a fire that has only just been dampened down but is still smouldering away in the background.

History tells us that the second wave of the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic was much worse than the first and an estimated 40-50 million people died around the world. The risks of a second wave of the coronavirus outbreak are high, as little is yet known about this invisible killer. When to lift or relax the lockdown is a real dilemma from both a public health and economic perspective. I pray and hope that a proven vaccine is found and will be readily available this year .

On a positive note, my personal opinion, when a vaccine is found, Blackpool will flourish and has the potential of a post war style resurgence. I think the coronavirus will if anything change the views of some members of society. It will remind us how much we depend on key workers and value the NHS. Britain’s own economy will need repairing, so a great sense of collective and supportive thinking will benefit everyone out of this shared hardship.

In the meantime we have no option but to put our primary health first. Managing the right balance of isolation, social distancing and permitted daily exercise is a must. On a lighter note, after 3-4 weeks of living in this challenging isolation lifestyle ,I think right now many frustrated folks would love to ‘flatten their curves’ .

Stay safe and supportive.

Stephen Pierre

Unity Music

Farming

Why can’t the British work?

Is it only me who feels ashamed that our farmers have to charter planes to bring in workers from Romania to pick our vegetables because those out of work here in the UK prefer the taxpayers to keep them on Universal Credit?

And they will grumble they can’t get what they want in the supermarket.

So sad.

Wish I was younger.

Hilary Andrews

Address supplied