Please stop vaping in public, going for my daily walk is hard enough without avoiding clouds of water vapour

Send your letters to letters@independent.co.uk

As we are all reminded about the importance of social distancing to slow the spread of the coronavirus, isn’t it about time vaping in public spaces was banned? The billowing clouds of water vapour exhaled from people’s lungs spread over a far greater distance than the two-metre separation that is being advised.

I’ve witnessed people, selfishly or simply thoughtlessly, indulging themselves in this habit while queueing to get into a supermarket and there’s simply no escape from the airborne particulates.

Vaping is arguably less unhealthy to the user than smoking is but the potential for cross-contamination of others seems to be far greater, and public protection is surely a far more important consideration at the moment than indulging people’s personal vices.

Julian Self
Milton Keynes

PM in intensive care

With coronavirus raging in the country and the future of the economy uncertain as a result, surely as in the Second World War, it is time to have a national government?

Valerie Crews
Beckenham ​

Whatever our political leanings, we naturally all wish Boris Johnson well as he is treated for Covid-19.

But prime ministers are notorious for their reluctance to relinquish the reins when they are ill. It seemed Johnson waited as long as he could before handing over (up to a point) to Dominic Raab. In our curious constitution-less state, is there a mechanism that would prevent him reclaiming power before he is physically and mentally fit? Does anyone know?

Susan Alexander
South Gloucestershire

Imbibing at the Beeb?

Is the BBC now sustaining its presenters with warm alcoholic drinks?

I noticed in your news report on Tuesday it had initially been reported that Bob Kerslake, a former head of the civil service, spoke to the BBC Radio 4’s “Toddy” programme about the prime minister’s condition.

At least we can remain reassured of the BBC’s impartiality as there is as yet no “toady” programme.

Ashley Herbert
Huddersfield

Rich bosses and meagre pay cuts

While I applaud all the people who take pay cuts (“Nationwide boss to take £228,000 pay cut during pandemic ‘to show solidarity with staff’”) I have to smile a little. My wife and I have a total pension fund of £300,000 and we are living very happily and comfortably. I tend to think these people will not suffer that badly for their “cut”.

Similarly, Premier League clubs are being pilloried for furloughing their non-playing staff. I’m sure many business are doing the same while paying their bosses excessive salaries and bonuses which could help the employees.

Jim Alexander
Address supplied

Please stop ignoring other crises

Reading the news and listening to the radio and watching TV, one could be forgiven for thinking that the conflicts and humanitarian crisis in Somalia, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Ukraine etc are all over.

Yes, the coronavirus crisis is an almost overwhelming threat globally, but unfortunately, across the world conflicts and crisis continue.

Men, women and children are dying from war and starvation, and we should not forget them.

We have a serious fight on our hands but that does not mean we should forget other people’s struggles and suffering across the world. And of course they are also having to cope with the impact of the coronavirus!

Iain Loe
St Albans