Don't escape to the country – you only risk spreading coronavirus there

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The remote Shetland Islands also have cases of coronavirus (iStock)

Those people running off to their second homes or jumping in campervans and heading to the hills should bear in mind that there is nowhere more remote in the UK than Shetland with a population of just 23,000. but at the time of writing they have at least 24 confirmed cases of Covid-19.

The chance of catching the virus is there wherever you are but following guidelines, particularly staying home, is the best way to protect oneself. Those charging around the country should ask themselves where they would they prefer to experience the disease, at home in familiar surroundings and among people they know or in a remote lay-by up a Scottish mountain?

Just in case they think they will be taken into hospital if taken ill then they should think again. Hospitals will find it difficult to cope and if doctors have to make hard decisions like choosing between treating me, a 74-year-old, or a younger person with children to care for, then I would expect the younger person to be prioritised – and quite rightly too.

John Simpson

Ross-on-Wye

A plea to second homeowners. While it is the most natural thing in the world to escape an area with many cases of coronavirus to your second home in the country, please consider the people who live there.

Bring your food with you and self-isolate. Please, do not visit local supermarkets and increase the risk of passing on the virus.

In north Devon, like most of the south west, we have few cases of the virus, as yet, but many second homes.​

Helen Edwards

Address supplied

Abuse must stop

Having read Chris Blackhurst’s Businesses and brands must step up or expect to be brought down (21 March), I concur and presume that Chris had not read the pronouncements of Wetherspoons boss, Tim Martin, about pubs and coronavirus, nor Boris Johnson's non-committal response!

However, it is not just self-serving businesses and over-anxious shoppers who are a threat to our wellbeing. In the last two days we have witnessed staff in two supermarkets as well as in our own village store being verbally abused by fellow shoppers. This behaviour is particularly unacceptable and should be called out at every opportunity. Even from a selfish point of view, how are you going to get your food if retail staff become infected or ill due to stress?

Grow up and listen to the advice of people who, we sincerely hope, know a lot more about the current situation than we do.

Chris Dixon

New Abbey

Test, test, test

My teacher daughter had a cough which stopped overnight. She is due to go to school for children of key workers, including those of NHS staff. Without a test, she has a dilemma. Go to work and maybe infect dozens of people via their children, or isolate, possibly unnecessarily.

Many face a similar dilemma. Some will decide not to isolate and some of those will have the virus. This is how we end up like Italy.

We need to test, at least key workers on the front line.

Alan Pack

Canterbury

Take heed

A large proportion of the population is not taking coronavirus seriously. Wake up and act responsibly, for goodness sake!

It should be front page news that we are just two weeks behind Italy in the progress of this pandemic and we can all help to slow it down.

We must not just carry on as usual, whatever age we are.

Helen Watson

Henley-on-Thames

Looking back

Looks like we’re back to food rationing and newspaper squares on string in the toilet.

How we have progressed since my childhood.

Michael Pate

Preston