WE certainly are living through difficult and worrying times. In general most people of this country are supportive of the government and other authorities.

Of course, in an unprecedented situation such as this, not everything will go perfectly. There have inevitably been some things which, with the benefit of hindsight, could perhaps have been done better. However, shortage of PPE is not confined to the UK but is a worldwide problem. Nonetheless much has been achieved, not least the construction of Nightingale hospitals and the fact that the NHS has not been overwhelmed.

Of course, our medical and care staff have worked wonders in desperate conditions and fully deserve the accolades that they have received. There are signs that the infection rate and horrendous death toll are beginning to fall.

What doesn’t help the situation is the negative, destructive and often ignorant outpourings of people who think they can do better and who revel in running down the efforts of those faced with the herculean task of defeating the virus.

Some are contributors to these columns and worst of all are some journalists whose main object seems to be to find fault in order to promote circulation or their own careers. Their standing is at an all-time low and the inanity of some of the questions at the daily briefings is beyond belief.

Such negativity is an enemy whose result is to deflect from the task at hand and to undermine our collective effort to overcome the scourge of this pandemic.

Stoicism and steadfastness will be required in the coming months and whilst constructive criticism may sometimes be necessary, continual carping is definitely not.

JOHN H COWAN

Clowes Avenue, Southbourne