'Shut schools, mobilise army, and throw rule breakers in jail' - readers suggest next steps in fight against Covid

Experts and researchers said infections were doubling approximately every nine days, and early signs that areas with previously low rates of infection were now following trends observed in the country’s worst-affected regions were being detected.

These experts warned that a change was needed before Christmas, and if more stringent measures were to be implemented, it needed to be sooner rather than later as the current measures are “not sufficient”.

With confusion over restrictions in place in different parts of the country, and with mixed messages from the government which has led to public complacency and a suggested lack of faith in our leaders, we decided to ask Lancashire Telegraph readers what they thought the government should do next.

Many of our readers were calling for Boris Johnson and his cabinet to resign, while others think schools should be closed completely as children are the biggest spreaders of the virus.

However, some went to the extreme and said a national lockdown which included bringing in the army to guard the streets should be the way forward.

On Facebook, Andrea East commented: "Shield the vulnerable, let those who want to stay in, stay in and let the rest of us carry on as we want."

Whereas Crystal Norman said a herd immunity approach should be adopted.

She said: "Since this virus took hold back in March, if you look at the all the positive cases with the numbers we have had released, that means three quarters of the country has had the virus.

"I think now we should use herd immunity now, because it's costing more people lives, with mental health, cancer etc; people are losing their jobs their business, and their homes."

While Dee Pennington said: "I believe there is a virus, but with a 99 percent survival rate, and false positive tests, barbaric rules and back and forth answers from the government you can’t expect anyone to take it as seriously as it was.

"Look at Sweden, back to normal, no social distancing, no masks, no loss of jobs."

One user went further, saying: "Protect the vulnerable but let the rest of the country get on with things.

"People's mental health, businesses and children's education are suffering.

"This is said in the nicest possible way but if we don't there are going to be much more vulnerable people from loss of business, poor education and children living in poverty.

"The government are trying but it isn't enough to make the country tick like it needs to for the economy.

"Having said that, the younger generation will feel the effects of this for years to come.

"Also not at any point as a free country have we been allowed to vote on what is the best course of action.

"We are being told what we have to do."

Glynda Baxter was in agreement too, commenting: "Like every other coronavirus before it, it will run its course, and nothing will stop that.

"The responses have killed more than the virus itself."

However, Dorothy Inman said mask wearing should be compulsory in all public places, with no exceptions.

She added: "That includes all staff as well. Too many people are not wearing them."

While another wanted a firmer stance to be taken and said the government should 'bring in laws like on the Isle of Man.'

He said: "If you are caught outdoors when you are supposed to be self isolating then you get thrown in jail for a few weeks.

"That should stop people from being inconsiderate prats and risking the life of others."

Whatever happens and whatever the government decide, it looks likely that tighter restrictions will come into play over the coming weeks.

Earlier this month the whole of Lancashire was placed into the tier three 'Very High Local Covid Alert Level' with tight restrictions on household mixing indoors and outdoors and the closure pubs and bars not serving substantial meals.

At a full Burnley council meeting on Thursday, Councillor Mark Townsend said he was worried that even tier three may not be enough and more restrictions may be needed if residents do not improve their compliance with the rules.

He said: "It is regrettable that there are still far too many not in compliance.

"They need to buckle down or we are going to lose more lives and livelihoods."