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Covid

Will Boris keep us locked down for longer because he was so sick?

90 replies

Teddypops · 20/04/2020 14:06

Do you think that the fact Boris Johnson was so poorly will mean he will be against an early lockdown release.

If he hadn't have caught COVID would this be different?

OP posts:
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LilacTree1 · 20/04/2020 14:36

Yes, I think it would. It’s a real bugger that he got it, otherwise I think we might not be looking at so much trouble.

Before the usual frothers turn up, lockdown could at least have been relaxed a bit.

I also think we’re into sunk costs now - the government will feel they have to keep this up in the current form till at least late May, in order to justify it and avoid accusations of a u turn.

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Mamamia456 · 20/04/2020 14:38

I thought they took advice from Public Health England.

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JesusInTheCabbageVan · 20/04/2020 14:40

While I wouldn't wish it on anyone, I do think this was the only way he was ever going to take it seriously.

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Inkpaperstars · 20/04/2020 17:59

I don't think so, though it may have made him take things more seriously in general. The reason I don't think so is because from what we are hearing from the govt, the avoidance of a second peak is mainly a strategy to try and protect the economy.

I think they want to be able to ease lockdown and build business back up without interruption. They also see that a second peak and therefore a second lockdown will result in business being closed for longer overall.

My worry is that no matter what they do a second peak might be inevitable so if this is a strategy to lessen overall time spent in lockdown it may not work.

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LimitIsUp · 20/04/2020 18:13

It looks that way. The 5th criterion of avoiding a second wave - that's new isn't it? Apparently it is Johnson who is the main voice in cabinet sounding the note of caution about ameliorating some of the restrictions

A second wave is inevitable unless locked down in perpetuity

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meditrina · 20/04/2020 18:24

No, I don't think so.

It has been known all along that for some people it will be serious, and of those people some will die.

Yes it's a bit of a shock when you realise that the risk isn't just to other people, but I don't think that (transient) emotional reactions will take over from the actual numbers and 5 conditions when deciding about the future of lockdown restrictions.

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lljkk · 20/04/2020 19:54

The 5th condition is so wooly. It has no definition. "When we are sure..."

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Tiredoutteacher2020 · 20/04/2020 21:10

Why are so many people wanting lockdown to end so soon? Nearly 20,000 people have died (more than 20,000 if you include care homes). This number is still rising. About 500 people died today. That's like an entire village being wiped out in 1 day. An ex colleague has lost both parents to this, children have died, medics have died. Lockdown is shit, loss of jobs is shit but is ot shitter than your mum dying or your child?

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BigChocFrenzy · 20/04/2020 21:12

I hope government decisions about ending lockdown will be made on the basis of expert scientific and economic advice,

not about how knackered Boris feels after COVID

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SophieB100 · 20/04/2020 21:18

No
I don't think it will.
This is global, the WHO are against early lockdown.
Countries where lockdown is eased are being carefully monitored.
Some of those countries are having rises.
A second peak for us would be disastrous. See the bigger picture - it's more than Boris' having had the virus.

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SophieB100 · 20/04/2020 21:19

Sorry, to clarify, WHO are against early EASING of lockdown.

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rjebgf · 20/04/2020 21:22

I think being ill has made him acutely aware of the facts of covid. It will provide him with more info with which to make his decisions and hopefully this will be a good thing. Although he was hospitalised, several of his colleagues weren't so they have also will provide relevant information.

It is difficult to know when we should come out of lockdown and some people are in much shitter situations than other, there is a whole spectrum from people who are loving it, have money and no work to do and have fantastic homes and ground to people who are on the verge of killing themselves over it, are totally broke and desperate.

At the end of the day, we delegated power to the government and we have to do as they say, trusting that a committee of them have received the best possible advice from all sources. I don't really see any other alternative.

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Pixxie7 · 20/04/2020 21:50

I agree. However although with the best of intentions there are still so many people out and about doing good deeds, I think to some extent they are exacerbating the situation.

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DeathByBoredom · 20/04/2020 22:05

Sunk costs ... that's exactly where we are now heading. Good expression!

Boris is in no fit state to be running the country right now. Our problem is that noone else is either. And noone wants to be the bad guy who makes all the cowardly 30 + 40 year olds go back to work and tell the 70 year olds they have to stay at home

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Cary2012 · 20/04/2020 22:22

The government is advised by the scientists. I doubt the PMs illness will reflect on their decisions regarding lock down softening. There are many factors to consider, and the PM being one of many thousands hospitalised will have no impact on easing restrictions.

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PeterWeg · 20/04/2020 22:24

Bigger issue is delaying the lockdown has a disproportionate lengthening of the lockdown.
So, a 2 week delay to start adds 6 weeks to the lockdown.

Bojo delayed the lockdown for a month.

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Letseatgrandma · 20/04/2020 22:28

I agree it won’t look good if he’s been very unwell himself but makes immediate decisions meaning thousands need to go back outside, get ill and then not have access to the medical treatment that he got, then die.

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MashedPotatoBrainz · 20/04/2020 22:38

Boris will continue to do what Boris always does, follow the popular path.

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penisbeakers · 20/04/2020 22:49

"Before the usual frothers turn up, lockdown could at least have been relaxed a bit."

No it really couldn't.

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ApplePearStew · 21/04/2020 00:13

It is not about conditions that need to be met. Of course the conditions need to be met. Its about how we are going to do it. For example

Handwashing stations at train and bus terminals
A network of local community testing centres etc.

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LimitIsUp · 21/04/2020 00:27

I wonder if the government is holding off until they have amassed enough PPE for the second wave before they ease restrictions (and risk a growth in cases). There appears to be the ventilator & bed capacity atm, the limiting factor is the PPE with a lot of ongoing scrutiny over (avoidable) health worker deaths, and now the professional bodies / Royal colleges are backing those health workers who wish to refuse to work without adequate PPE

Once we have stocked up on sufficient PPE - perhaps there won't be the capacity ceiling to worry about and some restrictions will be lifted. They've got companies like Burberry on it now

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FiveFootTwoEyesOfBlue · 21/04/2020 00:31

I was wondering the same thing OP. Him getting so sick must change his perspective.

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caringcarer · 21/04/2020 00:38

I think it might. He knows just how bad it can be. I think we will remain in lockdown until mid June and then gradually lift a couple of things at a time. Maybe garden centres first, then DIY stores. I don't think schools will go back until September.

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caringcarer · 21/04/2020 00:43

There is not enough PPE now, so they can't release lockdown yet. They will need to stockpile for second peak.

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FliesandPies · 21/04/2020 00:55

I don't think it's made any difference other than to allow him to absent himself and let others make decisions and take the flak.

The one-liner they put out about him being concerned over any early lifting of restrictions - just a generic meaningless response

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