MARK Smith (“Wearing masks is not the way forward”, First Minister”, The Herald, April 30) should realise that 50 per cent of infection spread comes from people who don’t know they have coronavirus and that’s why we all need to follow the Scottish Government’s advice to wear face covering when visiting shops or on public transport. There is a case for supermarkets and the like to refuse entry to those who don’t use face coverings.

There is no confusion over Ms Sturgeon’s clear press briefings and despite Scotland’s better record in tackling coronavirus she has refrained from the bluster that came from Boris Johnson, who on April 27 claimed “I know there will be many people looking now at our apparent success [tackling Covid-19]”. Many analysts estimate the true number of UK Covid deaths is 47,000, which makes it the second highest in the world.

In light of the key role of care home workers, it is disappointing that Matt Hancock can’t commit to ensuring care workers in England are paid at least the real living wage of £9.30 an hour as has been the case in Scotland’s publicly run care homes for several years.

Fraser Grant, Edinburgh EH9.

MARK Smith makes assumptions and generalises about peoples' responses to advice about this virus. I have worn a mask from the beginning of lockdown when in places, particularly in supermarkets, where social distancing is unlikely. I do not have any symptoms of Covid-19, I have not been tested, I could be a carrier, therefore I wear the mask to minimise the chance of spreading the virus.

I do not wear it when walking in the open air. I also wear gloves when shopping and I wash them in disinfectant when I return home and frequently wash my hands. Far from making me feel safe, the mask and gloves are a constant reminder of how serious this virus can be. I do not believe my behaviour increases the risk of infection.

Andrew Morris, Bishopbriggs.

NOT everyone was confused at Nicola Sturgeon's advice on masking the face, as Mark Smith claims. I'm clear. A scarf or bandana will not protect me from infection from others. But if I have Covid-19 or am asymptomatic then I will reduce the chance of my infecting someone else. This applies in situations where social distancing is difficult, for example, public transport, shops. Hope this helps.

John Clarkson, Irvine.

EACH morning I look forward to reading my Herald during my ever increasing lie-ins, especially the wide range of topics covered by your feature writers and must thank the many workers, staff, distribution personnel, newsagents and the legions of paper girls and boys who get the Herald delivered every morning. How I do agree with Mark. I think wearing masks will increase the fear factor, produce a Stasi-like reporting by some people and won't help to promote the increasingly friendly greetings of passing strangers and there is little evidence that face coverings help to stop the spread of the virus especially outdoors.

Our First Minister should have waited until the UK's Sage committee reaches a decision and as Mark Smith says, "I will be defying the government advice. I will not be wearing a mask in public".

Alan Stephen, Glasgow G44.

WITH academics and medical experts apparently agreeing that mass testing is the way out of the current lockdown, it's concerning that the UK and Scottish governments have been struggling to reach the daily targets of 100,000 and 10,000 tests respectively. Matt Hancock seemingly has just about reached the target in respect of England but Nicola Sturgeon reportedly is achieving only a 10 per cent success rate.

What is the point of Ms Sturgeon giving the public false hope that Scotland could be first to introduce measures to exit the lockdown when the road to achieving that is far from certain? The BBC, which has dumped Bargain Hunt for Ms Sturgeon's daily briefings should perhaps revert to the antiques programme. as it's far more informative and credible than Ms Sturgeon's daily dose of rhetoric.

Bob MacDougall, Kippen.

In 1915, Lloyd George left the Treasury and galvanised the new Ministry of Munitions within weeks, Beaverbrook did likewise for aircraft production in 1940, and Sir Bertram Ramsay both planned and implemented the evacuation from Dunkirk of 338,000 troops on around 1,000 vessels in a mere two weeks in May/June 1940.

In 2020, supposedly with 20/20 hindsight, why was no-one involved from early February in Covid-19 testing and PPE procurement in the top brass of the NHS, Public Health England, Care Quality Commission and their devolved counterparts (not to mention in government departments) apparently aware of these successful precedents in this “unprecedented” time?

And who on earth in present circumstances authorised transferring patients from hospitals to care homes without testing them?

John Birkett, St Andrews.