SIR – As a retired nurse with 30 years’ experience in the respiratory field, I was interested to read the piece by Steven Collins in last week’s paper on the subject of wearing face masks.

Do the general public need to wear face masks? In a word, no, not at present.

If we are adhering to Government guidelines, staying indoors and obeying the four reasons for going outside our homes, we are unlikely to meet anyone with the virus.

We should be observing the two metre rule for everyone’s protection.

These rules and guidelines are there for our safety.

People on the front line, dealing constantly with Covid-19 sufferers in whatever setting, have the most urgent need for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). These are the people most at risk of contracting the virus.

They need the most stringent protection possible.

CHRISTOPHER ROBBINS

Ledbury