What does Matt Hancock expect over-70s to do about isolating for months?

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Self-isolation by definition means staying indoors for the period of time prescribed. Last week I was told that if I develop symptoms, I should self-isolate for seven days.

The greed shown in panic-buying should of course be discouraged. But surely I need to make provision beforehand for those seven days, which I have done.

Now Matt Hancock tells me I might have to isolate for up to four months.

I am a 76-year-old single, albeit fit and healthy, man. Most of my neighbours are older than me. I could ill-afford supermarket delivery charges.

What would I be expected to do, therefore, in self-isolation?

Edward Thomas
Eastbourne

People over 70 to be told to stay in their homes for up to four months. Are we to be punished for growing old?​

Val Hatton
Address supplied

Sporting changes

With major sports severely disrupted, perhaps the sports journalists can create an attack out of this defence?

How about covering lesser-known sports that are continuing, or ones that can be conducted online? This includes old-school favourites such as bridge and chess: not only news about the sports and a hand/game or two per day, but maybe reviews of relevant websites and lessons for learners.

And maybe similar ideas can be applied to online gaming (and I mean playing games, not gambling).

Cole Davis
Norwich

Praise and criticism

Your editorial writer is very complimentary about Boris Johnson’s handling of the coronavirus crisis in this country, describing it as “serious, focused and shared with impressive medical and scientific advisers”.

I am less charitable. I see it as tardy, vague, complacent and unconvincing. The scientific advisers he is using are at odds with very many other scientists.

I am a believer in taking personal responsibility, but this is a very serious situation. I think a more detailed description of symptoms of the virus would be helpful, perhaps from people who have suffered from it, describing early indications, and the variety of forms of the illness that we should be able to recognise.

I am very surprised that nursing homes are still able to allow visitors in and out, as they hold the most vulnerable people in society in their care. Why has the government not issued strong guidance on this? It is also incredible that the Cheltenham horse racing festival was allowed to go ahead, and the Grand National is still on. Why on earth?

We’re all hoping for the best, but we are not helped by having a government that is receiving criticism for its lack of gravitas and leadership.

Penny Little
Great Haseley

Levelling up

I’ve puzzled over what Boris Johnson meant by “levelling up”. Like many catchy, empty political slogans, it sounded not so much fit for the side of a bus but the back of a toilet door.

Now, in the midst of random statements about pandemic response, we learn that our glorious leader is “negotiating” with the private sector for hospital beds and “encouraging” manufacturers to make more ventilators. Drugs may cost more because we are out of the EU.

Surely politics has never been more dumbed down?

Amanda Baker
Edinburgh

Mixed signals

No wonder Americans are alarmed by their president given his mixed signals to them on Covid-19.

His handling of the epidemic shows him to be green.

On television his face appears amber and following his statements, stock markets react by seeing red.

Name and address supplied