Raging at Boris Johnson's irresponsible response to Covid 19

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BJ said I must level with you, I must level with the British public: many more families are going to lose loved ones before their time

How fucking dare he. This kind of phrase belongs in a rousing speech where the public are asked to come together to do what we can to help prevent those deaths. e.g. not going to large events, doing social distancing.

Not one which says "business as usual".

There was a government adviser on the radio saying they've not banned sporting events because they're in the open and in sunlight.

What about those events undercover? Or after dark? If that's the case why aren't they banned?

They're saying they're acting on scientific advice, but they're adding a layer of interpretation which is about what they think is possible.

They lack faith in their ability to communicate what needs to be done to the population and they think we're all idiots who won't do it, basically. So they've taken the decision that they can't help people dying.

I don't know on what basis BJ and his government is making decisions, but it's not with our best interests at heart.

It's a "don't panic"'message from a government scared and disrespectful of the population, not leadership in a time of crisis.

Fucking raging.

They should be having a conversaition with the public.

Seriously? Do you think Brian from Bognor or Sophie from Slough would come up with a magic cure knowing exactly what to do?

Let’s be honest people are going to die premeturely and we are taking all the measures we have in our power to prevent what we are able ...is very different to let’s be honest people are going to die premeturely and that’s a sacrifice I am prepared to make ...now off you go.

These are the exact times you need leaders to say it clear and say it strong...oh hang on recent history shows us they are able to abidicate their mandate to lead (Brexit) - sorry everyone we’re f@cked!

@tim091 you're an absolute joy, aren't you?

@chatterbugmegastar Not sure what you mean, I am simply stating the cold truths that we can all see.

My main point being that there is no room for emotion in this. Cold, rational, level heads are needed, not wishy washy hand wringing "oh the humanity" weak, emotional "leadership".

@thepeopleversuswork Glad to have bought some merriment to you in these sombre times. If we can't keep our sense of humour then we are in trouble!

I think the fact that 5000-10000 people in this country already have it gives you a clue as to why containment is no longer possible. We now need to move into the managing it stage. Delay.

I think Ireland have closed schools too early. We will get there but it will be a bit later when we are closer to the peak.

For all those that defend BoJo saying he is following expert advice - do you think all these foreign experts have all got it wrong?

Chief scientific officer on radio 4 speaking calmly and with the evidence.

@Loppy10 switch on radio 4

There was a clear reason given yesterday as to why they are not shutting down events YET.

Not exactly evidence is it just more bleating on about what they are hoping will happen with the peaks.

It's fucking hard accepting that a lot of us are going to die. It's beyond our comprehension.

I agree peel once China is back to normal it will continue to spread again surely? It will only take one person to have it and they will be back to square one.

And that's the gamble, isn't it?

I do think Boris is useless. But we won't know if we are holding the line sensibly and other countries have moved too early or the angry people on this thread are right until it's all over.

I'm as scared as anyone else. But less inclined to think that our public health officials are stupid or venal.

My first response was that BoJo is a twat of the highest order. He's not the finest speaker in the land is he? FFS. I think they could and should have added more things to the strategy.

1. Outline what testing is available eg home testing. To enable monitoring instead of maybe 10k have got it.
2. Encourage home working - that costs nothing but makes an impact.
3. Banned large gatherings as Scotland has.
4. Explain more. Give the data. Don't treat us like idiots.

I thought that this article had good insight. If you don't trust the CMO - although I think that's crap to suggest he is just doing what BoJo wants. He has the high opinion of other experts.

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/12/verdicts-of-experts-on-governments-new-coronavirus-measures

@accessorizequeen do you not think that they gave us all the data in this 45 minute science and medical briefing?

No. And not enough interpretation/explanation of decisions taken.

@Nousernameforme you can’t win! First they aren’t giving us the data. Then they are bleating on. This is our chief scientific officer you are talking about. And he is bleating on??? His strategy is to lessen the peak. That makes eminent sense to me. That is going to depend not on him but on the people in this country listening and doing as they are told.

I agree - it's very unfair to describe a leading scientist in this way. I don't respect BJ. I have huge respect for the CMO.

Outline what testing is available eg home testing

I'm fairly sure that during the press conference, they said to look out for a high temperature and that if you could test your temperature at home, the figure to look for 37.8°C.

I'd say that's an obvious home test you could carry out. Why not start with that?

And people won't listen. Until there is a blanket lockdown like Italy you will still get your chancers convincing themselves it's just a cold and with no test to tell them otherwise spreading it around to all and sundry.

Why if they want to delay the peak as long as possible are we not locking down as that is a sure fire way to delay it . We lock down it fizzles out then come out of lockdown in a few weeks when its warmer and less winter bugs around.

@nousernameforme the chief science officer says this in response to that suggestion.

If you suppress something very hard, when you release those measures it bounces back at the wrong time so our aim is to try and reduce the peak, broaden the peak, not to suppress it completely. So because most people get a mild illness, to build up some degree of herd immunity as well, so that more people are immune to this disease and we reduce the transmission, at the same we protect those who are most vulnerable.

We lock down it fizzles out

It won't fizzle out. It has already mutated at least once and when it comes back in the autumn, it may have mutated again.

The whole point of facing up to it now is because it's inevitable that we will - either now or in the autumn, or even thereafter - and we need to both develop herd immunity and develop an effective vaccine.

The whole point of slowing it down now is so the NHS isn't inundated with dealing with both the regular flu season (average 17,000 deaths per year in the UK) and Covid-19, all in one go.

That's what was very clearly explained in yesterday's press conference and in the one before it.

But you are right. People don't listen.

There are already 2 threads on most active on about do they really need to stay home so no people won't listen.

If our ride it out wait and see plan is the best option then why has everyone else gone down a different path?

My point about slowing it down so the nhs isn't overwhelmed during typical flu/ winter bug season. Is that a lockdown would slow it massively so if it did pop back up it would be when the NHS isn't already under breaking point due to its usual increased winter traffic.

If a lockdown would slow it down massively, then that's what the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientist would have said.

What they did say is that the time may come, but not now. That timing is crucial. They made that point over and over.

Given that the former is both a medical doctor and an epidemiologist (so the behaviour and treatment of viruses is his area of expertise) and the latter is both a medical doctor and a pharmacologist (so the development of medicines and vaccines is his area of expertise), I'm inclined to believe they know what they are talking about.