To largely agree with government guidelines over Covid-19

[Plentyofshit]

I rewatched BJ on Andrew Marr yesterday. I’m afraid that everything he said made sense to me. I agree that there have been big mistakes - but - from what I can see - this hasn’t been the smoothest ride for any European country, particularly those that have been badly hit.

On its knees is a massive exaggeration. Prior to the pandemic I’d worked as a teacher for 20years. I had more TA support, resources, innovative leaning ideas available to me in recent times compared to 20 years ago.

They could have put in safety measures in schools a lot earlier. How has closing them helped.?
Closing them over the summer just means we'll have extra cases now along with seasonal flu. Should never have locked down at all.
If we'd kept open we'd probably have very few cases now and the economy wouldn't be fucked and our children's education wouldn't be fucked.

@Rosebel closing them saved my mums live, and the lives of potentially - tens of thousands of others. If it was wrong to close the schools, why was this strategy adopted by nearly every European country?

I think it was right to close schools initially as we assessed things like risk and spread.

But years 10 and 12 were too reduced in June and excluding whole years whilst others had ft access was not a good solution and luckily we are past that now.

@MarshaBradyo yes agree. I think closing schools was the right thing to do, and think reopening and exams handled badly, but I could see things were rectified when mistakes were made. To say the government don’t care about education is wrong. I think they care, but made mistakes.

So what if every other country did it? If the government care so much why haven't they provided hand sanitiser and other cleaning resources? Why the hell do teachers have to pay for it (and a lot of them are)?
We should have followed Sweden, they got it right.
The only reason they're trying to keep schools open now is because of all the children they let down before (and I blame the government for this because schools were given virtually no warning).
I do have some sympathy for Boris because he obviously didn't sign up for being PM in a global pandemic and I'm not sure anyone else would have done any better. However he is PM and the buck stops with him. A new strategy is needed because this one isn't working.

??? Sweden have a very low population density compared to us, and their approach has been controversial - with a far higher mortality rate than their surrounding countries. It’s impossible to say whether or not their approach has worked until the second wave is over. Their infection rate is currently rising again and there is always a lag effect. Our country is far more compatible to Spain/France - so we should look there, not to Sweden. You do realise that BJ is currently against a circuit breaker lockdown, whereas KS is in favour? @rosebel

'Sweden have a very low population density compared to us, and their approach has been controversial - with a far higher mortality rate than their surrounding countries.'

Exactly. Density population 24 per sq km as opposed the UK 280 per sq km (approx). Very relevant when we are talking about an infectious disease. Also they have a reclusive and compliant population. As opposed to some in ours. Until last week people on mn arguing it was all ott, deaths weren’t increasing so it had all been overegged. Seeming to not understand the delay between numbers going up then admissions, then deaths.

As if the pandemic isn't miserable enough to see some people's reactions from 'it's a dictatorship!' to 'they should have done more!' In a matter of days is depressing if not surprising.

Look to France and Spain if you want to back your theory.
Yes I know BJ was against a circuit break lockdown but I still think it'll happen. What do you think will happen?
Does BJ even have a plan?

What about putting untested patients into care homes?

'Yes I know BJ was against a circuit break lockdown but I still think it'll happen. What do you think will happen'

He'll probably see if targeted restrictions have any effect. If not then a national lockdown. Seems northwest council leaders think it isn't fair unless everyone does it 🙄.

@Rosebel I just agree wholeheartedly with everything @GetOffYourHighHorse says. It just seems like a more positive, selfless stance. To do what we can, work together, look after each other and stay safe. We shouldn’t use our anger against the government, or anger against the situation as a reason to ignore guidelines.

@Runssometimes the link you posted just takes me to a subscription page. Could you summarise it?

We shouldn’t use our anger against the government, or anger against the situation as a reason to ignore guidelines

I can multi task

I can be pissed off with the government AND obey guidelines...at the same time

closing them saved my mums live, and the lives of potentially - tens of thousands of others. If it was wrong to close the schools, why was this strategy adopted by nearly every European country?

That's a daft statement. You can't possibly know that. I think closing schools wasn't a ridiculous idea, especially as less data was available as to how and where it was spreading but you can't just make blanket statements without any evidence at all. It negates any sensible point you might go on to make.

If the government hadn’t stopped the standard track and trace approach led by public health in mid-March, they’d have less of the stench of death on their hands.

The comparison to Sweden is obviously ridiculous. Not only is their population density much lower and the capacity of their healthcare system much higher but the culture is completely different. People largely socially distanced voluntarily. There was much less of the 'Why should I wear a mask or avoid crowds I'm young and healthy?' attitude there. They've also had a higher death rate and similar economic impact to neighbouring countries so hardly a shining example of success. I'd be looking at South Korea. They had all the disadvantages going with an early outbreak and a crazy church who basically refused to pass information to track and trace. They still managed to control the virus, keep the death rate low and suffer a much smaller economic disadvantage.

'We shouldn’t use our anger against the government, or anger against the situation as a reason to ignore guidelines'

Yes. I can honestly say if Labour were in Government and they were doing what is currently been done, local targeted restrictions and the highest per million testing i would support them regardless of my political leaning. There is such an awful undercurrent of political point scoring under the guise of 'scrutiny'.

@notofthisworld If there had been no lockdown, the NHS would have been desperately stretched and she would not have got her surgery. Any delay and her stage 3 could have become stage 4. And if she’d been exposed to COVID too - I’m sure she would not be with us. Also sure my case is not unique, and for a sparsely populated country with such a high mortality rate as Sweden - I dread to think what could have happened here. I said to my DP back in Feb that I really fear for the UK and we are likely to get it worse than elsewhere due to our density, geography, high level of international travel etc.

[quote AllesAusLiebe]@Runssometimes the link you posted just takes me to a subscription page. Could you summarise it?[/quote]
Sorry! Here you go:
Study by King’s College London Found that only 11% of people in contact with someone who tested positive for covid are quarantining. And just 18% of people with symptoms are isolating, survey if 31,787, in July/August. Non-adherence most likely among those with a dependent child, lower socioeconomic status or key sector workers. It doesn’t say the proportion of those factors but clearly more support is needed to allow people to isolate. Low knowledge of guidance and how the virus spreads is a huge factor - see chart. Also came up because people didn’t know anyone who’d been seriously ill they underestimated the seriousness of Covid.

@Runssometimes that’s just shocking. So many people seem to have the “shield the vulnerable, let the rest of us crack on” or “lets do what Sweden did” - and it simply doesn’t work for our country. There has been so much negative press, and people freel they are well within their rights to flout rules.

#flount

#flaunt!!

My mum keeps saying there was a coalition government during the war. Perhaps people would listen to a coalition government? Or if the queen announced guidelines - or would they be more likely to listen to someone from Love Island...

plenty

You seriously think that people are disobeying the rules depending on who says them

Really?

Just about everyone i know votes tory....loathes labour and rule following varies from person to person, and I’m sure it would be the same in reverse

Sometimes i feel comments like that are projection....not in everyones case obviously as sometimes its just having a very low opinion of other people