The Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, has said people working in supermarkets, chemists, post offices, doctors' surgeries, hairdressing salons and nursing staff in hospitals will stay at work because they are essential to see us through this crisis.

Who could disagree with that? But there is an inconsistency here. This sector of the workforce has suffered the most from casualisation, wage stagnation, wage theft, and the stripping of penalty rates by Coalition governments in recent years.

I wonder if, when this crisis is over, the true underpaid heroes will be valued or, as I suspect, the captains of industry will be rewarded and they will be forgotten.

Many in our community haven't bought into the gravity of the health crisis as yet. Examples of inappropriate behaviour abound. Whether you're a grandparent who sees no problem baby-sitting the little ones as you've always done, or whether you're an elderly citizen who just can't give up your daily trip down the street for a newspaper (handing over cash to seal the transaction), or just someone wanting to visit friends, it's time to get real.

This crisis is genuine: conservative politicians and governments all around the world, those same people known for the tightest monetary policies, have suddenly embraced huge government spending programs.

They are incurring massive national debt to fight this crisis. There's no way they'd be doing that if the crisis wasn't real.

A petition is making the rounds calling for the resignation of Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director general who declined to declare the coronavirus outbreak in China a global health emergency.

Ghebreyesus failed to do what was right for the health and wellbeing of the global community; something that Li Wenliang, the Chinese doctor from Wuhan, had the courage to do.

For his serious failure, which is tantamount to dereliction of duty, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus should resign.

I don't wish to diminish the Commonwealth government's compassion in flying home the unfortunate people in Peru and other countries, but there is a query.

Albeit they will be quarantined/self-isolated and treated, if necessary, on arrival.

But will they be tested before leaving for Australia?

If not, the affected and non-affected will be on the same plane for up to 16 or more hours with virtually nil separation.

That is certainly not 1.5 metres.

This would seem to make transmission in flight a distinct probability.

The new rule is that we can only go outside to shop, or exercise, as a couple, a family of any size, or perhaps two friends.

This may well be necessary as a health measure in the crowded inner suburbs of Sydney and Melbourne.

But what about in spacious Canberra with its many parks and ovals? Will four people running round an oval, playing golf or tennis, or eight cyclists riding in single file where the required spacing is natural be a danger to either themselves or others nearby?

Our Chief Minister has the opportunity to tailor any new measures to be appropriate for the ACT.

Perhaps a less strict rule could be more appropriate here.?

I commend you on your editorial "World's poor will suffer most from virus" (canberratimes.com.au, April 3).

Conditions in developing countries, not least overcrowding and lack of clean water, are highly conducive to the spread of COVID-19.

Governments will not be able to financially prop up businesses or individuals through cash hand-outs. People, particularly in urban slums, may find it difficult to get food. As you say, governments may collapse.

It is critical to avoid a wider collapse of human civilisation around the globe. That was already on the cards because of climate change. Should we go to 3 or 4 degrees of warming droughts and flood will lower food yields.

If people are hungry they riot or migrate. They don't lie down and quietly die.

Life cannot return to "normal" when we come through the coronavirus crisis. We must direct fiscal stimulus funds to the shift to renewable energy. We are also going to have to make a long term commitment to reducing energy consumption.

We are fighting to preserve all life on earth.

All this social distancing and isolation has its moments. I have been watching video replays of the Western Bulldogs' 2016 premiership miracle again and again.

It is never enough. I keep expecting a different result each time based on the theory the Sydney Swans may be better for the run.

If you go for the Bulldogs, you'll know what I'm talking about.

If you don't, well you're just lucky.

Jack Kershaw is on the money (Letters, March 30). His proposed tram/bike/pedestrian bridge from Acton to Flynn Drive would genuinely add capacity to the public transport network rather than impede what exists.

By skirting the Parliamentary Triangle, one would think the entire Civic-Woden track could be executed using poles and wires, and without delay, as a post virus infrastructure project.

It also holds the very important prospect of delivering a travel time between Civic and Woden that is comparable to the existing rapid bus service.

Jack is also onto the money, as land-value-capture is indeed the only way that any expansion of the tram network could possibly break even financially.

It seems to me that Jack's proposal is just as useful to the West Basin Development as the currently proposed Stage 2a would be. We must be careful what we wish for.

The government has announced a $130 billion job protection scheme to protect millions of jobs.

The package has been widely welcomed.

COVID-19 has dominated the news to the exclusion of the sports rorts and French submarines which were newsworthy not so long ago.

Why not cancel both those contracts, saving the government $80 billion for the submarines and $200 million for sports.

Money not spent on these initiatives will go a long way to offsetting the $130 billion Job Keeper scheme.

We don't need submarines, which are bow-and-arrow technology in today's world (Christopher Pyne wanted them as a source of jobs for South Australia).

Nor do we need sports grants in today's stay at home environment.

I would like to thank infectious diseases expert Professor Collignon ("Disease expert questions decisions", April 2, p9) for his advice.

Exposure to fresh air in the open, and regular small doses of UV and Vitamin D while strolling in sunlight, is surely healthier than staying in confined spaces and breathing whatever is delivered by the air-conditioner.

As long as social distancing is observed "healthy outdooring" also contributes to peace of mind and gives us a chance to observe the habits of other animals.

This might keep us sane and healthy until a vaccine is available.

In the block of flats where I have lived for more than 30 years there is a communal area, including a stairwell at the top of which there is a fire door which is not required to be kept closed.

If it is closed you must touch it to pass. Many people, both residents and visitors, pass this door daily.

When I asked the body corporate to keep the door open I was told touching areas of the common property (and possibly becoming contaminated by the contact) was "unavoidable".

The door had to remain closed because one resident feared reptiles might enter the building.

I was advised to wash my hands.

This ignores the reality that for some people infection is a death sentence.

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