Letters - Thursday September 24, 2020

The scenes in Blackpool at the weekend were deplorable.

The regulations were being deliberately ignored by hundreds - not a small minority.

The attitude was I don’t care and rules don’t apply to me. The fact that some of them might have been infected and therefore were potential walking time-bombs didn’t register. Local people were understandably very angry.

To try to persuade using reason and requests with such people had proved to be useless.

Rules must be enforced, and guaranteed by credible sanctions.

The general air of the maskless and those packed shoulder-to-shoulder in pubs was one of ‘all that matters is me’.

I fear we are a society today riddled with selfish desires and a total disdain for rules and discipline. The latter, sadly is all too common in our schools.

This behaviour, country-wide, also reveals the dreadful lack of knowledge about scientific matters among the general public. Few seem to understand even the nature of a virulent virus.

Dr Barry Clayton

Thornton Cleveleys

Virus

Boris incapable of telling the truth

Boris sent his two specialists to paint the worst possible picture of doom to scare the life out of everyone. Covid 19 doubling every week until November, very unlikely.

Then he set a date for his broadcast from Downing Street that was meant to detract from Sir Keir Starmer’s broadcast as the Labour Leader to the virtual Labour Party Conference. Sir Keir spoke with sense, strength and honesty; none of which could be said of Boris.

He stated that Covid 19 is the biggest crisis in his lifetime, he is the biggest crisis in ours. He also stated that in March the country pulled together, he failed to mention except Dominic Cummings.

Boris is incapable of telling the truth, he is incapable of answering a question, he is however able to do more U-turns than a London taxi driver.

He read his well rehearsed auto script in Downing Street; most likely written by Dominic Cummings. I will comply with the restrictions not because of the dubious pair, but in spite of them, for the benefit of my country.

This is not his country; Boris was born in Upper East Side, New York, United States. I wish he would return to his roots.

Terry Bennett

Blackpool

Virus

No appetite for second lockdown

All the doom-laden scientists and mathematical modellers are, once again, lining up to put the fear of a ‘‘second wave’’ approaching to justify restrictions on normal life. They have had their time.

They had seven months to get a grip on this pandemic – and they still haven’t sorted a competent testing service under Dido Harding. Enough is enough.

We know far more about the virus that should enable us to tackle it without allowing it to force a disastrous second national lockdown. The nation, still suffering mental health issues, has not an appetite for this.

This second phase should be prioritised by the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak. This country used to be tolerant, sensible and resilient with an abundance of common sense – now replaced by panic and over-reaction from alleged leadership at the top.

Yes, the infection rates are up – but surely we expected this when we opened up society? We have all the Nightingale hospitals ready, including Harrogate (which have never been used) should they be necessary.

We are in a pandemic and we need to be personally responsible and careful with distancing and masks.

Most under 60s will not suffer and older ones like myself can take care of ourselves (I’m recovering from a heart attack).

We have to accept that some people will die – it’s a fact of life – but Professor Karol Sikora stated last weekend that there are 30,000 people walking about now not knowing they have cancer because they’ve not seen their GP and receiving treatment and, who are, sadly, going to die.

There will be far more deaths if the economy is not protected over the next few months that will make Covid numbers insignificant.

Keith Massey

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