It’s time the government levelled with us about Covid and the science behind ‘freedom day’

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Is it not time that the government levelled with the public about Covid? On 21 June, the reason given for delaying the release of all restrictions was so that more vaccinations could take place. It was a race between the vaccinations and the spread of the new Delta variant.

Over the ensuing period, vaccination levels have slumped, partly no doubt due to under-40s not being able to receive the AstraZeneca version. But probably more contributory has been a reluctance by some to be vaccinated.

Meanwhile, the Delta variant has spread – predicted to reach 50,000 new infections a day by 19 July 2021. But apparently this does not now matter as we have effectively moved from seeking to squeeze out the variants, by a combination of vaccinations, lockdowns, masks and social distancing, to the herd immunity approach.

Then there are the confusing statistics. In London, vaccination levels are amongst the lowest in the country at 43 per cent double vaccinated, compared to 65 per cent nationwide. Yet infection rates are 167.7 per 100,000.

So what is going on? Have more people had the virus in London, so have the antibodies? Are there different drivers of the virus? The government must have this data, so should share it in order that we can all better understand where we are heading and why.

Paul Donovan

Wanstead, London

Vigilance against hate

Antisemitism, along with Islamophobia, racism, xenophobia, misogyny, classicism, ableism, negrophobia and religious persecution are all faces of the same coin.

The coronavirus pandemic has led to an unrelenting resurgence of fear, uncertainty and anxiousness; exploited by politicians to sow the seeds of animosity and antagonism.

We must remain vigilant in defeating hate speech, tackling human vulnerabilities, and bridging social and economic fragilities and divides that were laid bare throughout the pandemic.

Strengthening communal bonds based on equality, indivisibility and inviolability of humanity and inclusivity should remain our cherished goal.

Dr Munjed Farid Al Qutob

London

Out of sight

Like other readers, I too have been irritated by the excessive number of photo visits the prime minister makes. However, I calmed down once I realised that this way he is doing the country less harm than if he was back at Downing Street trying to do the job we pay him for. Do you think he knows this, which is why he does it?

Patrick Johnston

Hexham, Northumberland

Fair pay for care sector

The social care sector is currently engulfed in an unprecedented workforce crisis. Each year, we are losing 34 per cent of this crucial workforce. And low pay is at the absolute heart of the problem. Because despite the very real value that frontline social care workers bring to the national economy – currently estimated at £46bn in the UK – incredibly, due to a lack of funding, frontline social care workers are amongst the lowest paid people in society.

The average rate of pay in the care sector is just £9.05 – far behind the real living wage. And the newly published landmark report Unfair to Care, commissioned by Community Integrated Care and carried out by Korn Ferry, a world leader in job evaluation, demonstrates exactly how the care sector is so shockingly underpaid.

Korn Ferry’s study, the first ever independent analysis of the frontline support worker role, found the position to be highly skilled and complex. Shockingly, it revealed that many frontline support workers would be paid 39 per cent more – almost £7,000 a year – if they worked in equivalent roles in other public-funded sectors (this figure goes up to 42 per cent and £7,500 if we look to the NHS).

The government needs to provide an immediate and fair pay rise to all frontline social care workers. It must implement a social care workforce strategy, where every role is benchmarked to ensure parity of pay with other, public-funded roles, and avert this escalating crisis.

This must be done as a matter of urgency. Or we face losing the very people who are the backbone of our society.

Mark Adams Chief executive officer, Community Integrated Care

2021 not 1984

The forces of anti-liberation demand a self-righteous regime of regulation and interference. Hectoring voices on the BBC, especially those of Covid commissar Nick Robinson and Nicola Sturgeon, claim as scientific fact much “consensual” hearsay from pseudo-medical quangos that supports their beliefs.

Take the wearing of masks which is now a saintly duty. There has been only one serious experiment – run by pro-mask scientists in Denmark – which asked 3,000 volunteers to wear masks and 3,000 not to. After two months, 1.8 per cent of those wearing masks caught Covid, compared to 2.1 per cent of those who didn’t.

The scientists concluded the difference was “not statistically significant”. Given the vaunted reverence for “the science” among crackdown zealots this should have been welcome news, but instead they refused to accept the scientific demand that beliefs overthrown by experiment should be discarded.

The fact is that what zealots have is reverence for individual scientists who happen to agree with them: a very different thing. As in the medieval church, some “scientific” Covid mantras have been spiritualised and lifted out of the sphere of rational debate. The year 2021 isn’t 1984 – it just feels like it.

Dr John Cameron

St Andrews, Scotland

Huge success

How nice to see our prime minister and home secretary both in their England shirts during Euro 2020.

What an uplift for the team to see our leaders on their side.

The tournament has been a huge success and the perfect launching pad for a bid to stage the 2030 World Cup.

Then we can really bring football home.

Geoffrey Brooking

Havant, Hampshire