The headline news “Lockdown: Stay At Home To Save Lives”, by Mike Laycock (The Press, March 24) should send shivers down the backs of those who wish to self deny. The stark analysis is in the detail.

Mike Laycock’s end paragraph reveals the coda behind Boris and this chilling contemplation.

The paragraph reads:”But PHS (Public Health England) has stressed that only the most serious suspected cases are tested, and there may be many more cases of coronavirus than confirmed.”

You can bet your bottom dollar that there will be many many more cases that have not been confirmed until all of us have been tested.

That will be a shock. Stay safe; stay isolated; stay vigilant. If common sense is ignored then the worst case scenerio is one of ration books and a military lockdown. Its our choice.

Phil Shepherdson,

Chantry Close,

Woodthorpe, York

We still need to exercise - even in lockdown

We are urged on every side to stay at home during the coronavirus crisis, but less is being said about taking exercise.

It is true that for some people, getting exercise seems to entail driving long distances to beauty spots and mingling with other travellers.

This is clearly unwise. But I can see nothing wrong with exercise of a more discreet and local nature.

As I understand, exercise improves the body’s autoimmune system, as does exposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun. I am 76, and my autoimmune system needs all the help it can get.

I believe that in walking the quiet local streets whilst keeping my distance from others, I am doing no harm to them whilst doing some good to myself.

I think that amidst all the siren calls for us to stay at home, a call for discreet and sensible exercise would not go amiss.

David Martin, Rosedale Avenue, Acomb, York

  • Editor’s note: The current government advice is very clear: you can go out for a walk to get some exercise once a day so long as you keep at least two metres from anyone you might see.

This is the perfect time to ‘sort’ home and garden

The public are at last realising how serious the present situation is. However, for those who are already bored having to stay at home, let us face it - we have at last got plenty of time to get the house and garden (if you have one) sorted.

So, comb through all your clothes, and bag up all that you no longer wear; sort out the kitchen cupboards; defrost the deep freezer; say goodbye to all the weeds in the garden; sort out the attic; dispose of all the old Christmas decorations.

Then, when life returns to normal, you can be very proud of all you have achieved.

So cheer up and carry on, we shall never have a better opportunity to ‘get sorted’.

Barbara Saville, Askham Bryan