To really not like the way the Government is doing next steps as a 'big reveal' on 22nd

[hastingsandchips]

There's something about this I think is very wrong, the way the Government is keeping us guessing about what's happening next, when it has such a massive impact on all our lives. Especially for small business. I think they should release information/plans as and when they know. Doing this 'we know and we will tell you on X day' to me is all about power and control.

Watch bed occupancy, that is the key metric, followed by levels of infection. Deaths mean beds being freed up, which is why it doesn't get much attention, bar crocodile tears. Once there is proof that vaccinations are reducing the number of people who need hospitalisation and the NHS can start working through the back-log of non-covid patients, I'd expect things to return to normal pretty quickly.

THEY DON'T KNOW THEMSELVES WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO.

Sorry for shouting but the op's view is so frustrating. I loathe the Tories and even I can see they can't win on this.

I think it is the best way of dealing with it myself. Give us a date on which they will.make a ' considered decision' and not just say stuff to make us feel better and then be forced to have to go back on it the next day.

Well the 22nd is two weeks before the 8th and they said they will give schools two weeks notice.

At least this way everyone knows when to expect something to be said rather than thinking it might be any minute.

Well cases per 100000 are below 100 here and R number is 0.7 to 0.9. Plus over 70s have almost all been vaccinated now. My 71 mum is being done today and is one of last. I can’t see what basis lockdown could continue.

That's good news GhoulWithADragonTattoo can I ask roughly whereabouts you are?

We’re in Kent so been in effectively in lockdown since mid Dec.

Possible announcements are already being leaked to the press to judge the public reaction.

I think YABU. Damned if they do, damned if they don't.

"We need certainty! But not like THAT!"

I'm fine with setting a date for the announcement of next steps but I just wish they would publish what measures and indicators they will be judging those next steps on. So for schools to open we need x, y and z. Then we would actually know if we were likely to hit those targets ahead of time instead of waiting like a bunch of lemons for a decision which could be anything, with no means on which to judge whether that decision is rational.

If they were to hint at a plan that wasn't good news, they'd be accused of fearmongering and control.

In the event that they didn't need to implement such a harsh plan, they'd be accused of fearmongering.

If they needed to implement a more extreme plan, they'd be accused of moving the goal posts and trying to control.

There's no pleasing most people.

I don't understand what else can be done. If they say as of 22nd you'll be able to to x or y a large amount of people will start doing it now

And it depends on the progression of the cases and hospitals surely.

@StareIntotheMaggotDrawer

They probably won’t know themselves until the 21st

True ^

snow

Then they would get into weeks of dealing with frothing indignation about making x conditional on y and the poor plight of people X, only to find closer to the time that w has thrown a blindsider and is now a key component. Cue more frothing at the mouth that people weren't given the full story, moving the goal posts, dear mongering etc etc. Indignation from people who think it was fearmongering sensationalism to even explain the X and y dilemma Vs similar accusations from people who don't think w should be mentioned either.

I think its partly incase they need to change their mind. And partly because people start the new rules before they should.
So when the Christmas thing came out. 1) loads of people I know started breaking the current rules because "well if I can do it in a couple of weeks what the big deal doing it now". And 2) when things didn't go as planned and the Gov had to change it, people really kicked off and mostly did what they wanted anyway.

Yes it feels insulting.... just like every other thing they've done😖🤬

I think it's awful but the entire way they've handled this whole thing has been diabolical.

I don't understand what else can be done. If they say as of 22nd you'll be able to to x or y a large amount of people will start doing it now

Not really if it's things like when schools will be back or when shops or hospitality will be open though. I don't want them to give a date necessarily but they should be saying how they will judge it, what the strategy is eg when there's hospital space or when enough have had vaccines or cases below a certain amount or whatever. Then we could have something to aim for, rather than this thing now of being kept in the dark.

@hastingsandchips

There's something about this I think is very wrong, the way the Government is keeping us guessing about what's happening next, when it has such a massive impact on all our lives. Especially for small business. I think they should release information/plans as and when they know. Doing this 'we know and we will tell you on X day' to me is all about power and control.

And this is what we've been told will happen in the 22nd - a road map out.

I'm not sure what else they can say beforehand.

It does feel a bit like they’re trailing a special week on Corrie; the big stunt in Britain’s Got Talent week maybe. It was the same with the daily briefings last year. You knew you were getting something big if they wheeled out Boris. Alok Sharma or Grant Schapps? It was safe to pop out and stick the kettle on.

Boris and Rishi are the equivalent of Peter and Carla in big draw turns. Sharma and Schapps are more your Brian and Cathy.

StillCoughingandLaughing

I think the Government has forgotten that they are working for us, not the other way round

Surely it’s a reaction to the negative feedback they’ve had for the incessant leaking we’ve had before every previous announcement which rendered the official statement largely pointless

But this announcement will also be leaked. And therefore will be another pointless announcement

I'm not expecting that any firm plan, with dates, will be unveiled on the 22nd (or the week of the 22nd, as it is now). It's a road map so I'm assuming that there will be some vague propositions within a loose timeline, qualified by some kind of "if the stars align" statement. I think if we receive any clear guidance, it will be for schools and that's all.

I think it would be more motivating for people if they had a clear goal? Whether it is based on the R number, case numbers, hospital capacity or vaccines.

Don't worry. They'll have leaked all for the great reveal before the 21st.

They aren't drip feeding for the fun of it. They are wait for SAGE etc to have all.of the data before they confirm which of the alternative multiple choices they are using to make up the whole announcement.

That departments, individuals, organisations choose to leak, guess, misinform beforehand is what has made all the confusion so inevitable.

But it wouldn't matter what Johnson decided to do. He'd be wrong!