Children are less vulnerable to coronavirus than adults, so why should schools close?

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The evidence so far appears to show that children are less vulnerable to this new coronavirus than adults, so why are there so many calls for schools to be closed?

If schools were to be closed, parents would suddenly need to find people to look after them at short or no notice. They may well not have established arrangements in place (even if there were availability) and are therefore likely to call on their parents to help.

Those parents may well be in the more vulnerable 60-plus age group, so how on earth is such a move going to help the situation? Surely it would actually be counterproductive?

Chris Santry
Chalfont St Peter, Bucks

We need a new attitude to death

We shall all, eventually, die. The Victorians understood about death – it was always with them. We have swept it into hospitals and care homes, and like to pretend that it’s something that mostly affects other people.

I’m in my seventies and in reasonably good health. I might live for another 20 years or more. But if I do it’s quite likely that my later years will be blighted by decrepitude, physical or mental or both. I don’t have a death wish but, given the choice, I would prefer to succumb to a short illness than linger on, being a burden to myself, my family and the state. I’ve never met anyone who looks forward to being in a nursing home, doubly incontinent, totally confused and unable to recognise their nearest and dearest.

Covid-19 causes a fairly mild illness in the young and in those without pre-existing illnesses. It probably kills proportionately fewer people than flu. It’s time we all learned to live with the prospect of our own mortality. Then we could view diseases such as the Covid-19 infection as just another part of life, instead of rushing headlong into a social disaster.

Susan Alexander
Frampton Cotterell, Gloucestershire

Experts are back

“Guided, for a refreshing change, by the advice of experts, the government has determined that Britain is still in the ‘containment’ stage of the coronavirus outbreak,” is the opening sentence of Tuesday’s editorial.

It is curious the the advice of “experts” could be ignored or even vilified when what they were referring to, such as lack of social care, was unlikely to affect members of the government. Covid-19, however, is no respecter of class or power and could, potentially, infect anybody from the Queen down to the humblest citizen. All of a sudden the advice of experts must be listened to and acted upon. Remarkable!

Patrick Cleary
Stonehouse, Gloucesterehire

Take your own advice Boris

Somewhat sanctimoniously, Boris Johnson has said in a No 10 press conference relating to the coronavirus that it’s very important that everyone should behave responsibly and think about others.

If only he could translate such sentiments into everyday life. Into everyday politics. Into everyday Conservative policies. If only. No chance.

Beryl Wall
London

No such thing as a free holiday

With regard to the Caribbean holiday Boris Johnson enjoyed recently with his now-fiancee Carrie Symonds (accepting the £15,000 accommodation as a gift from businessman David Ross) there seem to be two issues here. Firstly, when wealthy people make such gestures, philanthropy aside, they only do so in order to curry favour, expecting something in return, which for us lesser mortals would be considered bribery and corruption.

Secondly would he, in his position, not see that it would be inappropriate to be seen to be accepting such largesse especially as he hardly needed a free holiday given his own wealth?

Geoff Forward
Stirling

Not a draconian response

The coronavirus epidemic remains a pressing challenge for the global community. It is not a draconian measure to cancel large gatherings, sporting and cultural events and flights to mitigate the spread and impact of this virus. Governments should display great leadership and resolve to ensure that people have safe and affordable access to primary healthcare services and vital information, and to solidify mutual trust and cooperation with communities. These are the building blocks to redress the fabric of communities, economies and societies torn apart by this monstrous virus.

Dr Munjed Farid Al Qutob
London