THE National on Friday contained two contrasting articles on the Covid pandemic. Gillian Mackay presented an overview (Caution and vigilance must stay top of the agenda) while another article reported John Swinney’s comments that the government is no longer working to suppress Covid infection rates to the lowest possible level (Change in approach to virus is signally, Sep 3).

That presumably explains why, when most European countries have a seven-day infection rate of between 100 and 200 per 100,000, Scotland, along with Georgia, Kosovo and Montenegro, has a level above 700 per 100,000. Young age and vaccination provide some protection, but Covid remains a disease that can be serious, possibly fatal, and the effects of long Covid are not yet understood.

READ MORE: Scotland is now taking a 'different' approach to Covid, John Swinney says

While the First Minister is having a parliamentary debate on vaccine passports, why has there been no open discussion on her adoption of the UK Government’s strategy to allow the virus to infect many people so that, along with vaccination, herd immunity might be achieved before winter brings people indoors and the NHS faces seasonal pressures?

With the virus widespread, is John Swinney aware that many people do not feel “able to socialise and live more freely”? Risk is a function of hazard and exposure, and although vaccination and advances in medical treatments mean that we can better fight Covid, the high prevalence of the virus means that the risks to health are now as high, if not higher, than during lockdown.

Mike Baldry
Haddington

AM I the only one who gets a bit fed up when I am given big numbers instead of meaningful information?

For example, I heard on television last week that 32,000 children were absent from school due to Covid-related issues. That is indeed a big number, but when you consider that there are approximately 700,000 school-age people in Scotland, 32,000 is less than 5% (less than 1:20). However, a deeper look at the statistics will tell you that there are routinely 7% of Scottish pupils absent from school on any one day (approximately 1:15). That is an absence of approximately 50,000 pupils. 32,000 is still a big number, but provide the context of the routine absence rate and Covid-related absence would be better understood and appreciated.

READ MORE: Gillian Mackay: We need more clarity around consequences of vaccine passports

We are also told from time to time, for example, that so many additional billions of pounds are being spent on the NHS. In fact, if we were to be given the full picture we would be told:

a) What is the problem that is being addressed, eg numbers on waiting lists, shortage of medical resources or equipment?

b) What needs to be done to address this problem, eg train so many doctors or nurses, build so many new hospital facilities, improve our training capacity by creating a given number of new training places in hospitals, universities or colleges, increase the number of MRI scanners by a set number of units?

c) What is the cost of providing such additional capacity?

d) How much is being allocated over however many years to cover this cost?

This would mean that over a period of time you would be able to see if the initial problem was being adequately addressed. This last point is what we are interested in, – IS THE PROBLEM BEING SOLVED? – not necessarily how much money is being allocated.

Please, please do not try to impress us with big numbers!!

Alex Leggatt
Edinburgh

FASLANE, that beautiful part of Scotland, regardless of its Royal Navy connections and installations, would remain still that beautiful part of Scotland when Scotland gets its independence and the Royal Navy has to disband all its activity and move house to wherever else in the Western world.

However, it seems Johnson and co have a Plan B. Namely, to set up a new “British Overseas Territory” where Faslane is, in order for it to remain as “operations nuclear”.

“Why?” you may well ask about this stupid, ill-conceived apparent “arrangement”. An arrangement it must be. But I doubt very much, in fact I know, it will never happen, regardless of their magnanimous reasoning the the Faslane base would be as a supporting role for Scotland’s own defence forces.

READ MORE: SNP conference to debate three year Trident removal deadline

What in the world are they thinking about in Westminster? The very idea of keeping Faslane as a British Overseas Territory might sound grand to Johnson, considering there are not a lot left of said territories for him to hang on to.

An independent Scotland is just that. All of it, including that far-outlying piece of Scottish territory called Rockall.

So Mr Johnson, go and play with your bridge notion toys and leave Scotland to defend itself in a way more suited to it as a northern country along with those other northern Scandinavian countries.

Scotland does not need your absurd offer of defence for its own forces. Read the very large print: KÈEP NUCLEAR WEAPONS OUT OF SCOTLAND.

Alan Magnus-Bennett
Fife