This press conference is bullshit

[Poetrypatty]

They're telling us it's really dangerous but nothing will change
I don't see the point except for making everyone more stressed than they already are.

Im not convinced. I think that there will not be a lockdown, but the reasons will be political, rather than based on any assessment of the situation with cases and hospitalisations. It would be the end of Boris and he isnt ready to relinquish power yet.

I think the decision will be taken out of his hands when the hospitals are full.

I agree @MasterGland

Too many of Boris's MPs don't want to protect lives, health, and the economy. Two years on they still fail to understand that their flavoured approach - the eugenics lite letting the bodies pile up high - is not only morally repugnant but it also damages the economy.

*favoured.

@tealightsandd well, that is interesting. Do you have a link to the polling? There appears to be strong chatter about not closing schools, where of course there are no covid precautions at all so I am surprised that there is strong support for a lockdown, the most effective part of which would be closing schools.

I have no personal opinion on this either way (except not wanting schools to close)

@100problems

Aside from the fact he got the daily cases wrong by x 10, I am struggling to see what's wrong with the sentiment.

As others have said, people are choosing to self-regulate or risk Christmas, which is clearly their priority.

The systems that were overwhelmed on Monday are rallying, volunteers are signing up and the signs are that people are taking the need for a third jab seriously.

Everyone I know is willing to have one at whatever time of the day, night or Christmas Day if that's what's available and are LFTing daily.

The real world is very different to MN world.

How are people LFTing daily? The school I work in is down to one full kit of 7 tests. We ordered more a couple of weeks back and they haven't come. I tried to order more for my household tonight. None available.

I mean, if you're going to scrap PCRs for household contacts of positive cases (of which there are lots in our school), you at least make sure that people are actually able to follow the changed guidance by getting their hands on the equipment they need.

It's clear to all school staff that if it is not already running through their school like wildfire that it soon will be, and there's nothing we can do to stop parents sending their kids in if they have a positive in their household. We are to take their word for it that they have done daily LFTs on their child. Half of them think it's too invasive on infant school age kids so will just lie and say they've done it. Many will send their kids in with snotty noses which could well be how they present with COVID for the first few days but because the government hasn't changed the 3 official symptoms then they don't need to get their kid PCR tested. Instead they're mixing with other kids and adults in school, many of whom will have vulnerable people in their household, or whose parents are NHS staff, who will then have to isolate once their child tests positive.

It is now beyond a joke. I'm frankly speechless at the last couple of days. I could deal with all that has come before this, although it's been hard. But don't hold press conferences telling people that this could be dangerous and overwhelm the NHS while simultaneously changing the guidance on testing, AND not providing enough LFTs, AND keeping schools as they are (no bubbles, no distancing etc)

Oh, AND while simultaneously telling the rest of the population to work from home if they can.....

@Tealightsandd

There would not be enough compliance for a state imposed lockdown now.

Wrong. Polls show strong public support. Perhaps because most people want to protect lives, health, and long-term economy - proactive action always tends to beat reactive panic.

Can you link to these polls please?

@ginnig

They want people to "lockdown" by compliance as opposed to been ordered too

Too late for UK, but this was the approach from day 1 in my country, that we’d be in for the long-run and it seems now we are. People don’t feel ordered still, and no lockdowns so far but we’re happy to do as we’re told (and get vaccinated!).

Have worked through it all, and not at home.

[quote MasterGland]@tealightsandd well, that is interesting. Do you have a link to the polling? There appears to be strong chatter about not closing schools, where of course there are no covid precautions at all so I am surprised that there is strong support for a lockdown, the most effective part of which would be closing schools.

I have no personal opinion on this either way (except not wanting schools to close)[/quote]
@MasterGland

inews.co.uk/news/politics/christmas-lockdown-covid-omicron-firebreak-rules-brits-support-change-plans-1353348

More than half of all adults would support firebreak

Some 51 per cent of Brits back a national two-week lockdown in December

Nearly two-thirds – 63 per cent – would support nightclubs being closed, while 64 per cent back large sporting events being called off to prevent the spread of the disease.

It looks as if the government is waiting until the schools break up. However - some schools are semi closed due to high numbers of student and staff sickness. Hopefully most will manage until the holidays.

Ah. So basically a little over half of people are fine for two weeks at home when they would be spending most of their time at home over Christmas anyway. So it isnt seen as a hardship. No doubt the 63% in favour of nightclubs closing have not been into a club for a good few years either. I am playing devils advocate here. I know we like to think that we will act in the best interests of society as a whole, but actually we struggle to do this when the numbers of people to consider become too large.

Where do you live @Scandisaurus ?

@shinynewapple21 Sweden

How are people LFTing daily?

Well, using the tests that in our Trust were ordered regularly and several weeks ago. Every staff member and child can get a new box every week. We had the NHS testing on site last week for anyone that wanted a PCR.

Clearly I can't speak for your Trust, although my sons school is also the same as mine, but ours has bent backward to follow rules, go beyond where necessary organise and mobilise testing

There's always folk that are like getting cats to walk in a parade, but even the least diligent are clamouring for test kits with the spectre of cancelled Christmas and school closure in january.

I washed more interested in the interview afterwards when the covid advisor to who said he's never been more than worried some this started than now

I find it extraordinary, that even this week no masks have been worn in the corridors and no one has asked students for wear them on class?
Such a small measure to take and again the whole ventilation issue is ignored..

@RobinPenguins

I don’t know, I think asking people to prioritise only what’s important to them is a good message. People have different levels of risk and different versions of what’s important in their lives. I’d rather this than a blanket lockdown.

Exactly this. For us Christmas and my son’s Boxing Day birthday is more important than plans we had for this weekend. We have canceled attending a football match and cinema at the weekend in order to prioritise Christmas. Once kids finish school on Friday lunchtime we will limit who we come into contact with and hope the kids haven’t brought COVID home Before then.

Conservative Party interests and in-fighting are being put above public health. It's an absolute disgrace. Any action taken now will be far too late. I know several people whose workplaces are now full of covid cases.

@Roundeartheratchriatmas

It’s to ensure people are in the right frame of mind for when the announce a lockdown/other serious measures.

I’m not trying to scaremonger - they will have had behavioural scientists advise them on how to get people to comply/win the public over.

Yes, last time they published a doc that said they wanted people to feel personally threatened. It's psychological terrorism. I'm not sure it will work again, people are wise to it. We all saw how "scared" they were at their Xmas party, didn't we?

know we like to think that we will act in the best interests of society as a whole, but actually we struggle to do this when the numbers of people to consider become too large.

British exceptionalism has sadly been a thing throughout this pandemic hence why we have a more damaged economy than the countries that took decent mitigation measures. Why we have one of the worse death rates and, separately, sheer numbers of dead, in the world. And why we're the red list country for many others.

But actually this time round, I suspect most people (or at least more than half) have simply learned from our past mistakes.

Failing to act proactively hits us all harder later on down the line. As we've experienced on several occasions over the last two years. Full hospitals alone is a potential risk to anybody. Young and healthy can get sick or knocked down by a car.

Self interest coincides with morals in this situation.

Our death rate is due to a combination of factors that include our older population, the amount of time we spend indoors, and the use of nursing homes.
The idea that we struggle to do what is in the best interests of a very large group of people is a human one, not a uniquely British one.
It is a psychological trait of humans, that we have compassion for and will act cooperatively to ensure the survival of the group. This affect is lost as the group becomes too large. Politicians know this all too well, as Stalin said "one death is a tragedy, a million is just a statistic".