Prime minister announcement at 12

[Hugglespuffed]

Is it going to be drastic changes? Or just 'work at home if you can'?

The COBRA meeting is set for 13:15.

I think this disease is being used to manipulate our society
Whenever there is any kind of a crisis people will try and game the situation, spin it in a certain way so that they can work it to their advantage, so yes without a doubt we are being 'experimented' on, but in a crisis everyone has an opportunity to gather information and draw conclusions, the government is watching how we react and we are watching what they are doing...
Your point about this being used to separate people, whilst we are all so closely connected electronically the lack of physical proximity little impact... do you not think?

Thank you @janinlondon Wonder how long it will take until the announcement?

Daily Fail has breaking news that Boris isn’t closing schools.

How could they possible predict that...?!

I am very pleased with today's decision. Closing schools will not help and will just mean small children infect grandparents who then have to care for them and also mean bigger children do not get vital GCSEs and A levels . It is the right decision to keep them open.

So... the children going to school won't be at increased risk of picking something up at school from the hundreds of kids around them that in turn go back home to their parents?

And those children magically won't have any contact with their grandparents just because the school isn't closed?

Regardless of open/closed, kids will have contact with parents/grandparents. I'd argue keeping them open exposes homes to more risk than keeping them at home. Whats the point in social distancing if your kids are all mingling and bringing germs home with them?

Leak from key members of Cobra??

“The strategy of the British government in minimising the impact of Covid-19 is to allow the virus to pass through the entire population so that we acquire herd immunity, but at a much delayed speed so that those who suffer the most acute symptoms are able to receive the medical support they need, and such that the health service is not overwhelmed and crushed by the sheer number of cases it has to treat at any one time.”

China’s strategy is looking to limit total infections to fewer than 100,000 and deaths to fewer than 5,000, at least in the medium term future (ie the next couple of years).

If the above is true that’s tantamount to a crime against humanity carried out by the British government against its own populace. Terrifying.

So what countries have actually gone into lockdown? I know Austria, Denmark, Poland and Ireland. Who else? Obviously Italy have as well.
Yesterday they were saying Denmark were the second country to do so.

MrKlaw, we can agree to disagree over this but the children will keep away from grandparents - that is the best way to protect granny.
Also if it is a toss up between A levels for a whole generation or a few vulnerable people dying then I am afraid A levels should win out.

Also if children are home parents will find collective settings for them to be cared for in groups which will be just as bad as schools for infections.

@xenia

Did you get your news from the Daily Mail?

@Xenia you responded to @MrKlaw but not to the many that asked what decision you’re even referring to?

@xenia, you can postpone A levels, you can’t bring loved ones back to life.

@Xenia
You can sit on a chair and write answers any time of the day or night, this year or next. They will all be in the same boat. We’re talking about saving people’s lives here.

it's obvious that the gov are managing this for worst case scenario. It's what BoJo said in his very first report. He could have chosen his words better but he said "we are aiming for 80%, worst case scenario".

He won't close the schools because the economy needs childcare. It's up to us to take care of ourselves and make our own decisions, you can follow what gov says if you wish. However, this won't be in most people's interest, just the rich, again.

Also if it is a toss up between A levels for a whole generation or a few vulnerable people dying then I am afraid A levels should win out.

What nonsense.

Cummings is obviously related to Bentham.

All this will be based on mathematical modeling of the dynamics of a novel virus spreading in a population. Decisions won't be made for the good of an individual but for the good of the population overall in the long-term.

But it’s not just a few old people is it ?
And tbh they matter so what if they are 80 or 90 they are still humans ffs

What about vulnerable children ? Those going through cancer treatment, immunocompromised, with cystic fibrosis or type 1 diabetes or heart conditions ?
Same for anyone else with conditions

A levels are not more important than lives. Are we really so inhuman towards one another now that things take precedence over life itself

Thank God we know better than the rest of the world, with their reactionary 'closing schools' and 'preventing mass gatherings of people.'

Let's hope Covid19 respects our intrinsic Britishness in all of this.

Wash your hands, forget about being tested, and hope for the best.

@xenia
Did you get your news from the Daily Mail?

Ha Ha Ha, Is the Pope Catholic?

@mycorona
Do JW not do birthdays?

My kids are already off if we don’t close schools I’m going to say I identify as Irish to avoid fines I think I’m not risking my family and having the threat of attendance orders thrown at me if schools remain open

Also, wtf: Also if it is a toss up between A levels for a whole generation or a few vulnerable people dying then I am afraid A levels should win out.

You think people taking an exam on time should be prioritised over actual human life?

Do we guess that you have a child of exam age?

I’m going to say I identify as Irish this made me actually lol

Also if it is a toss up between A levels for a whole generation or a few vulnerable people dying then I am afraid A levels should win out.

Oh don't be ridiculous. It's not a whole generation, it's one year group and universities/employers can cope with using mocks/predicted grades.

Not much you can do to mitigate death is there.