WHILE eating our breakfast, my husband and I were listening to the 8am Radio 4 news bulletin.

Mr Gove, the government minister, was being interviewed regarding the new restrictions being introduced on September 24 regarding Covid-19.

It was my birthday on the 24th and I always have a party in the evening of the nearest Saturday.

This year, due to coronavirus, I rearranged my “gathering” an afternoon garden party so that we could do spacing, which all guests were happy with.

I have now changed it to a series of coffee mornings, in our garden, and keeping to the remit of six people, so that we can still do our distancing. Every one is still more than happy with this much wanted arrangement.

As from the 24th, pubs, bars and restaurants have to close at 10pm each day to help minimise the spread of the virus.

I am not an academic, nor am I completely stupid.

However, there is a lot about life in general that I do not understand, and sometimes request clarification.

Therefore, I need a little help here in understanding the latest rule.

Does the virus wear a stop watch and only become infectious after 10pm?

How is closing these venues at 10pm going to help to stop the spread of Covid-19?

People will go out earlier, squash themselves in to the venues (pubs/bars), not do the required spacing, and most certainly, won’t be wearing face masks.

Restaurants are a more controlled environment, but they are still an enclosed area.

I do my own shopping and make occasional journeys out, but always wear my face mask and take as many precautions as I can. Life does have to go on in some form of normality.

The only way Covid-19 is going to be eradicated is if everyone takes notice that we are dealing with a very serious situation, which will not end unless we, Joe Public, the people of this country, young and old, abide by the rules.

Do we want another complete lockdown? No we don’t, but that will occur again, of that I am fairly certain.

Christine Luffman

Hollingbury