1. I’ve repeatedly commented on the pandemic. I’ve criticised the govt’s inept, confused response due to their underestimation of the danger. Meanwhile you believe the danger is exaggerated. CoViD has variable effects, from causing no symptoms to killing people ... https://twitter.com/clarkemicah/status/1323390905630470145

2. Uncontrolled/unmitigated spread will cause high numbers of cases. You only need a fraction of those to require hospitalisation for NHS services to be overwhelmed, meaning routine healthcare has to be reduced in order to cope. The long term effects of CoViD are worrying ...

3. So-called Long CoViD may give people chronic health problems such as heart or lung disease. This is all without considering the impact of death and bereavement where sadly the disease proves fatal. While it’s true the elderly and infirm are at most risk ...

4. ... when the virus spreads through the population unchecked, you’ll see morbidity and mortality occur in the young and healthy, purely as a function of the high numbers of cases. Unfortunately the prospect of rampant spread creating immunity isn’t likely ...

5. ... because antibodies appear to be short lived making it extremely difficult to achieve herd immunity, or near enough herd immunity, with an effective vaccine. All these facts are part of the daily experience of people working in the NHS.

6. They are people I know and speak to, many of them former colleagues. They see the suffering and tragedy caused by CoViD. That’s why I challenge the ideology that the danger is exaggerated. Tens of thousands of families have suffered and more will follow. You’re fortunate ...

7. ... not to have been affected by the virus as a disease, only to worry about the effects on our way of life. The tragic irony is that, if the govt had taken the dangers more seriously, these effects might have been less restrictive going forward ...

8. And I’m sure that outcome, ultimately, would’ve made us both equally happy. I sincerely hope one day we can discuss this in person, looking back, over a glass of wine. Till then, stay well.