We are not learning to live with Covid, we’re learning how to die with it

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Burial chambers at Handsworth Cemetery where the section dedicated to the Muslim community has been used up faster during the Covid-19 (Getty Images)

At current levels of some 45,000 – 50,000 daily Covid cases, many of our friends, neighbours and fellow citizens could die from Covid or be seriously ill and require hospital treatment.

We may not be able to economically afford to enter another lockdown, but would it be too much of a sacrifice to wear face masks, observe social distancing and work from home where possible to save lives?

Our government uses the rhetoric “learning to live with Covid”; in reality, we are simply learning to die with Covid.

Richard Colla

Bushey Heath

Firearm training

The fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust is the outcome of a casual and amateurish approach to firearms in the film industry, which is liable to have an influence far beyond.

In a publicity photograph for the new James Bond movie No Time To Die, for example, depicting a character with a backstory of professional service in the armed forces, actor Daniel Craig poses with his finger on the trigger of his automatic. He is not looking in the direction the gun is pointing and so is unlikely to be in the act of firing. This contradiction of the character’s background shows either ignorance or indifference to authenticity.

And the late Phil Spector had a history of pointing a gun at someone’s head, which went unchecked until it eventually cost a woman her life.

Alec Baldwin should not have accepted anyone else’s claim that his gun contained no live rounds; he should have checked it himself. He should still then not have pointed it at another person, except for another actor as required within a scene, and not have pulled the trigger while doing so. Had Ms Hutchins been so close that this couldn’t be avoided, even a blank round would have endangered her.  

The handling of guns carries such a heavy responsibility that even the absence of malicious intent should not be a bar to prosecution and conviction when someone is injured or killed. Mishandling or negligent discharge without such consequences should result in banning or mandatory retraining.

John Riseley

Harrogate

Self-serving government

We are in the midst of a pandemic, facing greater shortages and suffering than this country has seen for decades, and on the brink of climate catastrophe. Our prime minister Boris Johnson talks much about these issues but does very little. Instead, if you look at what he is actually choosing to focus on, it is on weakening the courts, curbing citizens’ right to protest, hobbling the elections regulator, and imposing new rules to restrict freedom of the press.

It is mind-boggling and more than a little concerning that the avoidance of government scrutiny and removal of democratic rights is more important to him than taking action on the huge issues facing our society right now.

I am 87 years old and have never before seen a UK government so misguided and self-serving. If another country did this, if another ruling party moved to cement their grip on power at this time and in this way, what would we call it, I wonder?

June Hawkins

Govilon

Foodbank use

It’s unsurprising to read that people who have been affected by the recent cut in universal credit are once again having to seek referrals to food banks and, as a result, the food banks too are under enormous pressure.

This underlines the need for a rethink by the government. After all, things are not going to get better in the near future when it comes to the cost of living. Gas bills are rocketing; food prices are rising too.

As a result, people are falling into debt just to stay afloat. Yet, we are supposed to be one of the richest nations on the planet. We might be one of the richest but we are certainly not the most generous.

Geoffrey Brooking

Hampshire

Easily avoidable crisis

All the signs that Boris Johnson and his band of ministers are propelling us into another health crisis could have been easily avoided.

His decision to lift requirements for face masks and social distancing was reckless – quite contrary to the decisions of many other countries – and sent the wrong messages to the public. Another case of putting political expediency before public health. Unforgivable.

The NHS, which has had no real let-up for more than 18 months must be cringing at the thought of dealing with winter demand when we are currently listing 50,000 new cases a day compared to Spain, for instance, listing 2,500, where masks and social distancing are mandatory.

There are talks about possibly reaching 100,000 cases – that is totally unacceptable. The prime minister should be protecting people now.

When are we going to learn that Boris Johnson’s repeated incompetence means he is unfit to lead this country?

Bruce and Diana Pell

Devon