The politics and practicalities of mask-wearing | Letters

Bob Hamblett suspects Dominic Cummings had an economic reason for the U-turn. Simon Fairlie worries about the psychological implications. Plus letters from Jonathan Myerson, Andrew Firth, and Margaret Deighan

Marina Hyde (Johnson has seen the light on face coverings'. Just not the toxic mask-ulinity, 14 July) takes the PM at his word that it's the scientific evidence" that has brought about his very late conversion. Until recently his government was quoting experts who said face coverings would give the public a false sense of security. One can imagine the lightbulb moment in the office of his special adviser: if the public are too scared to come out and spend to rescue the economy, give them what they apparently want - a false sense of security. Classic Dom.
Bob Hamblett
Maresfield, East Sussex

The reason I do not want to wear a mask is not because they are girly" (To get people to use face masks, we need solidarity, not shaming, 13 July), but because I find it disturbing to walk through a world where people's facial expressions are hidden. We are told that the scientific case for making people wear masks in public is now irresistible, but there is more to science than epidemiology. I have yet to see any analysis of the psychological and social impacts of people hiding their facial features, and treating fellow humans primarily as biohazards.
Simon Fairlie
Bridport, Dorset