Telling all over-70s to stay inside regardless of medical issues was always a sweeping, blunt answer to a problem requiring a more nuanced response.
Because a fit-as-a-fiddle 75-year-old who looks after themselves is probably at less risk than an obese heavy smoker aged 55.
Self-isolation for some and social distancing for all are sensible precautions to protect the NHS and save lives, as the slogan states. But treating identically the millions of septuagenarians and older age groups is, as doctors declared, “discriminatory and unacceptable”.
Evidence-based solutions should shape Government policy and the British Medical Association and Royal College of GPs deserve thanks for championing our senior citizens.
The mental health of pensioners is important, so a policy of setting free healthy over-70s should be adopted immediately, with the advice corrected to recognise that the wholesale lockdown was not necessary.
Tests shame
COVID-19 tests falling below 80,000 a day underlines how much the Government relied on 40,000 posted kits to pretend it topped its target of 100,000.
When Health Secretary Matt Hancock had no idea whether the mailed tests were done or not on the day in question, he appears to have deliberately misled us.
This is a serious matter of lost trust in a Government finally forced to admit its mistakes, particularly a fateful slothfulness on testing, resulted in unnecessary deaths.
Boris Johnson should apologise for his Government’s lies, damned lies and inflated testing statistics.
Still united
VE Day’s 75th anniversary will be a moment to mark our role in defeating Nazi Germany and a celebration of peace today.
In or out of the EU, close ties with our neighbours are proof the world can and does change for the better when more unites than divides us.
