ARE present modern societies too slack and complacent, as shown recently by the UK in its attitude towards the seriousness of the emerging coronavirus pandemic?

Worldwide audiences watched in horror and trepidation how the Chinese dealt severely with their population in attempting to mitigate what they felt was a serious threat to their country’s population and economy. This was replaced with a sudden national urgency when their own countries became infected and the world woke up to a serious situation.

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Now, fast forward and the UK finds itself in the same predicament without essential basic supplies to help the NHS or the general population. Complacent attitudes, thinking we are an island and so will not be at the same risk as other populations.

It is beyond my rationale to understand why the emergent coronavirus disaster of many months ago in China was effectively ignored by most worldwide countries except to be used as a means of filling in news items to be broadcast. Why, if most countries have effective scientists, experts and other knowledgeable individuals to determine that this virus could well become a worldwide problem due to its extraordinary properties and the lack of a vaccine to fight it, did they not have the basic items sourced and made readily available for distribution?

It seems to me that complacent attitudes dominated the UK hierarchy. The grandiose Cobra meetings were initiated and announced on UK media, somehow indicating our powers-that-be were on top of the situation. What resulted at those briefings? Judging of late, not much probably beyond enjoying cups of coffee and agreeing on lockdowns to separation of 2m when out etc. But nothing about supplies of basic essentials.

Surely, in the early days many months ago when the coronavirus made its appearance, a strategy for contingency plans could have been formulated by the grandiosely named Cobra, ready for a growing emergency in the UK under threat such as presently experienced with resultant tragic loss of life. Where were the orders to get basic emergency supplies for the NHS and the public?

The UK was late in recognising the serious situation and panic set in when, horrors of horrors, it found itself in an emergency. The buffoon was in his element with a valid reason to repeat and repeat mantras, justifying his flapping arms.

Surely a strategy involved sourcing proper protection?

This should have been at the first sign of China’s pandemic, which was effectively ignored worldwide by scientists till it started to spread. Instead, we see each country in panic mode trying hard to produce supplies of essential items to cope with their emergency only when the virus hits, resulting in lockdowns, restrictions, the public panic buying and so on. The phrase “headless chickens” comes to mind.

Talk of protecting the NHS is prominent and quite rightly so. But they need the equipment that should have been available at the first signs that China experienced. At least the UK could have set plans in motion for an adequate UK stock. Even basic hand sanitisers, face masks and anything else to help and set the population at ease and reduce stress could have been issued, if organised in good time when the virus hit the UK shores.

Even now, supplies at suitable public points, perhaps at the likes of libraries. The UK Government is throwing money about. How about throw it at something that will affect the whole population and at the same time help protect the NHS and show the world how it should be done?

W D Mill Irving
Kilbirnie