Or is the "new variant of the virus" a smokescreen?

[Nipoleon]

I'm not normally a conspiracy theorist but I'm not sure I buy this idea that something has changed with the virus (beyond the normal mutations which we have heard about for ages now). Convenient as London plunges into Tier 3 - or possibly paving the way for an imminent announcement to stop people flocking home from London to rest of the country for Christmas. All sounds very suspicious to me. Chris Whitty's body language was odd to me during the press conference too. Something doesn't sit right here.

Well it probably did mutate, which is what viruses do ( herpes managed to jump from ape to human 3 million years ago because of this )
It gave Matt Hancock a handy scary narrative to justify the tier 3 restrictions. Unfortunately a lot of people think we are going to grow 2 heads then die and many others think it's a conspiracy theory.
If 2020 has taught me anything it is that schools most definitely need to stay open due to the lack of education most of the population have shown this year.

1. it was always going to mutate - its what viruses do.
2. yes it's a media hype because a) people are complacent b) the government feels more restrictions are needed and c) the vaccine is not the answer (yet) - it's a warning.
3. this thing has to run it's cause...

[quote Nipoleon]@toconclude If you read my posts, I'm not doubting the "mutation." I'm doubting the government's emphasis on it. From a quick google, and from what other people have written above about Newsnight tonight, it seems I'm not alone. I think this is a convenient over-egging of something which isn't that significant in order to soften bad news.[/quote]
Thats exactly my take on it. The government is in an absolute bind - they're in the process of announcing the latest tier misery, their own MPs are increasingly restive and the public are beginning to disengage from it all so the Govermment no longer look in control of the situation, which is always very embarassing for governments. So the timing is very convenient. Its not a conspiracy theory to say that. Its simply to acknowledge that governments can be completely unscrupulous in spinning events to suit themselves. So I'm not going to get worked up until we have more evidence, which will come. And if it turns out the government are spinning this, they will have done massive damage to public trust & engagement, which means worse outcomes in the longrun.

I dont think it's a lack of education that is the problem as often there are two ways of looking at things.

Ie, im healthy and fit and will not be choosing to have the vaccine, personally i would rather take my chances with the actual virus. Some would agree with me. I feel responsible and reasonabl. Some would call me selfish.

So often people who claim others are ignorant are ignorant themselves.

Our fears will shape our decisions and our behavior and our fears are different.

My fear is that we will look back on covid19 as those halcyon days as we deal with a virus with a much much higher fatality rate.

Yes it why there is a concept of spin doctors - particularly with all the school closures going on yesterday

Viruses mutate all the time. The fact that it's suddenly being pushed so much is more likely to be politically motivated.

Gov to the North: COVID-19 is out of control because you can't behave yourselves. Get it sorted or we'll fine the lot of you!

Gov to London: There's a new strain that's causing COVID-19 to spread quickly. It's not your fault, but please help us contain it.

@somewhereEast i agree with your take there.

Hancock inferred the new strain was responsible for the leap in cases. He has no evidence for that. I can only assume he said it knowing it would frighten a lot of people.

I don't think it's a huge leap that they are slightly exaggerating how serious it is to encourage compliance to the rules which let's face it, has dropped dramatically post second lockdown. Still government's fault for making them nonsensical of course.

I don’t think much about the government management of the pandemic has been good. I do know there has been ongoing review by public health experts as to why North Kent and a few other areas are seeing rapid growth, despite similar measures to other areas.
A marginally different strain that was more contagious would explain higher nosocomial rates.

It's got "Quick Boris, it's Matty here! Sorry to disturb you in Brussels, but the plebs are playing truant from obedience school, I need to say something to make them panic" written all over it.

Either that, or it's been in the government's book of "back up panic-inducing measures" since March, ready to be pulled out, like a rabbit out of a hat.

Another scribbling in the greatest work of government fiction since "Weapons of Mass Destruction", by the Rt Hon T. Bliar MP.

Do I believe there's a new strain? Yes. It's what viruses do.

Do I think that our esteemed leaders are overplaying it and scaremongering the population into not moving from the house over Christmas? Well, of course I bloody well do!

It'll work on the nervous. I'll carry on as planned.