To think that whitty and vallance did not seem to agree with Boris today

[Frozenfan2019]

Interested to know if it's just me who thought their presentation and the way in which they answered questions today suggested that they were opposed to Johnson easing lockdown. He spent ten minutes saying how much progress we have made and how we are in a good position and then they seemed to basically contradict this completely and say that things are still bad, the numbers are still high, r is almost 1 already etc.

So aibu to think they would orefer it if lockdown continued?

[jellybe]

I agree. They clearly didn't agree with him.

[BruceAndNosh]

Whitty was very quick to put him right about it "being fine to have a BBQ"

Its ok as long as.....

[Bluewavescrashing]

Boris didn't warn people enough about keeping to the new restrictions. They realised this and spoke accordingly.

[user1471530109]

I thought they made it v obvious . I think we all knew the economy would win.

[ssd]

I agree

[PicsInRed]

Whitty and Valance are urging caution in the hope that people won't go and do anything stupid to just to "show that Cummings".

They seemed irritated by the journos trying to drag them into a political debate, their involvement in which would have completely obliterated their vital position of trusted neutral experts.

Both will perfectly understand the difficulty of balancing virus vs economy, given both impact mortality and outcomes.

[scoobdoob]

Definitely agree. They both made it very obvious and clear. What they said did not match Boris

[glitterelf]

They clearly didn't want to be there or be any part of the lies were being told. The science is being thrown out the window.

[Frozenfan2019]

*The science is being thrown out the window"

Unfortunately this seems to be true. 377 reported deaths today so we are hardly out of the woods. The lockdown was eased less than three weeks ago so surely it's a little early to know the full impact?

[ScrapThatThen]

It's a difficult judgement though, we are studying the science of the virus closely every day but feeling the incalculable harm of the economic and social issues resulting from lockdown looming from behind us, less closely watched and just as dangerous.

[FliesandPies]

I don't understand why they are still lending validity to the briefings by attending. It seems clear they are being used and it undermines their impartiality and credibility.

[Boxachocs]

I agree, I thought Patrick Vallance particularly highlighted the risks and clearly said 54000 new cases a week was not low enough.

[glitterelf]

We categorically have not met all five tests. Considering only last week we were being told by independent sage that if they held off until the 15th June before returning our children to school the risks would be reduced greatly. Since last week we've encountered jam packed beaches with little social distancing an increase in people breaching the rules and guidance due to Cummings. Where I live just today they released statements that we are not seeing a fall in numbers at all this is coming from the two hospitals in our county yet apparently the R is the same all over its utter bullshit.

[Frozenfan2019]

For the tracing system to really work it seems clear the numbers need to be lower. Otherwise it will be unmanageable. My husband, for example, works in a place where social distancing isnt possible and it's clear he and all his colleagues would have to self isolate if one of them had a positive test. Not a problem i this is highly unlikely but if there are 54000 people doing this every week and all the people they have come into contact with are included then that's a lot of people who are isolating without symptoms.

[Bluntness100]

This is difficult because ultimately they are medical/scientists so their focus is on that risk only.

Boris however has to look at a wider picture, he needs to look at the risk to people of staying locked down, now and in the future and balance it v what the medicine and science says.

The truth of the matter though is people have already ended lock down, let’s face it. Companies were already reopening,people going out. Not a lot of point in pretending otherwise.

[ShiningTor]

I don't understand why they are still lending validity to the briefings by attending. It seems clear they are being used and it undermines their impartiality and credibility.

I agree with @FliesandPies

[user1487194234]

The BBQ thing was very telling
Medical guy jumped in to try and repair the damage
And we wouldn't let them answer any ?s
Shambles

[custardbear]

It's not under control and it's going to get worse - Whitty and Vallance knowctgis snd think their message today resounded ' it's still bad and can really easily get out of control again
My kids are staying home, best we may do is pop over and see the in laws as birthdays coming up but in the garden with social distancing

[custardbear]

@shiningtor I think it's damage limitation maybe!

[IndecentFeminist]

The deaths announced today are just recorded today, not just in this 24 hours.

I agree they seemed to disagree. But they were playing their role in presenting the science and BJ was playing his...balancing the science with economic necessity and the broader picture.

[PicsInRed]

And we wouldn't let them answer any ?s

They made very clear that they, themselves, had made that decisions re: Cummings questions.

[IamChipmunk]

I agree Chris Whitty clearly thought 'FFS' when Boris said people could have a bbq...
And then jumped in to say it would be difficult to pass food and the need to clean the loo.
I worry Boris has opened the box now.
We are going to continue as we were here. Perhaps the odd visit to family for a short time in the garden.

Will not be partaking in a bbq unless its just us.

[CallmeAngelina]

So, we need to clean the loo after any visitor uses it; how's that going to work in schools next week, then?

[CallmeAngelina]

And we can't go inside other people's houses - apart from walking through them to get to the back garden. Oh, and going inside to use the loo.
It's a bloody farce.

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

Patrick Vallance ... clearly said 54000 new cases a week was not low enough

Just out of interest, does anyone know where this figure's coming from?

I realise they often pluck numbers from the air when it suits, but the actual daily published new cases over the last week come in at just under 19,000