Nick Ireland cited some previous pandemics to put the present coronavirus into perspective (Letters, Gazette, March 19). I have no wish to challenge the statistics or source of reference he quoted.

However, I think he has missed the point.

As he says, coronavirus is a “young upstart”. Is it realistic to compare statistics for coronavirus in its early stages with final figures for the others? I do not think so. Would he like to tell the Italians that there is no cause for concern there, where cases have rocketed in the short time since he wrote his letter?

Is it not perfectly reasonable to take stringent precautions to try to avoid cases and deaths on the scale of these earlier pandemics?

Panic buyers are not interested in statistics. They over-purchase to provide for themselves and their families, worrying about future availability. I do not approve of this practice, but perhaps it could be highlighted that having built their “hoards” they can revert to normal buying and the supply chain will catch up.

Denis McMahon, Barn Lane, Oakley