Why the blind faith in the UK Government's strategy?

[alloutoffucks]

I see some posters on MN who wholeheartedly support what the UK Government is doing. But why the blind faith?

How can you look at how every other government is doing the exact opposite to the UK, that a few hundred scientists have written to the government saying they are wrong, that WHO are saying they are wrong - how can you look at all that and blindly have faith that the UK government is doing the right thing?

The virus has been contained in some countries. Lots and lots of scientists are saying it is still not too late here.

So why when everyone else is saying the UK Government is wrong, do some still have blind faith in the UK governments? Is it too scary to think our government has got it wrong? Or are you the kind of person who always thinks the UK government has got it right?

What makes you say it’s blind faith? People will have seen the rationale behind it and decided if they agree or not. It’s not like the current plan has no support from experts whatsoever.

We are an obedient people who love a Blitz metaphor.

@caroline yes true. There are some people who I suspect will always believe a posh bloke who they think is charming must be right.

What makes you think that nonUK governments have got it right? Have you seen the death rate in Italy? It’s 7.2%

We in France have just changed our minds and locked everything down, following Italy’s lead, do you know what our death rate was while we were taking same approach as U.K.? It was 2.2%.

I have concern we are cause the death rate to go up towards where Italy’s is. I’m not worried so much about the virus spreading a bit faster as I am about having many many doctors and nurses and medical suppliers sitting at home on their hands while people die because we’re in a “lockdown”.

Because we don't actually know if a "right" way. Maybe our strategy will mean less deaths. Of course there is going to be some deaths.
The government are listening to scientists. I don't see why we should automatically assume they've got it wrong.

What makes you say it’s blind faith? People will have seen the rationale behind it and decided if they agree or not. It’s not like the current plan has no support from experts whatsoever

This ^^

For me it’s not about blind faith but an agreement that we are doing the right things for the point we are currently at. This is all happening quickly and advice will change and evolve.

Interesting to read these replies.
I work for a scientific company. I know the understanding of science in the UK amongst the public is pretty poor. Some of these comments just confirm this.
Maybe blind faith is the wrong phrase? Maybe it is a very poor education system around the science curriculum?

U.K. death rate to date is 1.2%. How is the Government causing extra deaths? You’re six times more likely to die of the virus if you are Italian than if British.

I got my figures from the WHO 14 March situation report #54 if any one wonders about that.
www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200314-sitrep-54-covid-19.pdf?sfvrsn=dcd46351_6

You have no idea of the UK death rate when we are only testing those in hospital. Unlike any other government.

Because the UK was embroiled in a culture war before covid19 came along. Just as the US is. People are going to back their man until the bitter end.

IMO most of those criticising the govt's approach are either naturally nervous types who are determined to panic come what may, or Tory haters who have not spotted that the govt is just acting on the best scientific advice it can get, regardless of whether this involves following other countries' lead or not.

Alloutoffucks....you are not really displaying that scientific acumen you were bragging about.
The difference in testing protocols just makes the difference more stark. Italy is testing more widely even the people with mild cases. U.K. is only testing those sick enough to be in the hospital. So if all things were equal, we’d expect a higher death rate in UK than Italy, right? Because the mild ones who will definitely live ARE being counted as cases in Italy but they’re not in the U.K.

And yet, six times more likely to die if you’re Italian compared to British.
Look at the numbers of cases versus deaths in the Who situation report. It’s all there in black and white. The stark facts.

that a few hundred scientists have written to the government saying they are wrong

Have you seen that the ‘few hundred scientists’ are not experts? That it might as well have been ‘the public has signed a petition’. twitter.com/alastairjt/status/1238940672276783105?s=21

Why do you think that the government’s strategy is down to poor understanding of science, when it was scientists who explained it? You can criticise the approach, but their reasoning was carefully laid out.

I don't have blind faith. I have a very opened-eyed, critical approach to the government's strategy, which makes sense to me.

"Faith" does not rely on facts.

We are only testing the cases requiring emergency admissions - so our death rates should be higher than other European countries but they aren’t. Even when adjusted to earlier points in the pandemic.

Exactly right Grumpy.

Because the alternative, that they have got it wrong and are risking the lives of hundreds of thousands of people that we love, is too horrible to contemplate.

Saw this video, thought it was Interesting m.youtube.com/watch?v=nl6tTwxzCi8&feature=youtu.be

Why do these posts always come across as X is wrong, I am right & if you believe them & not me you're an idiot?

I'm not a Tory supporter but I don't think the govs approach is necessarily wrong. We can't avoid deaths clearly but my understanding is they are trying to push the virus back until we have more ventilators, infrastructure to treat the higher number of people affected. How can anyone know the correct approach until after the event?

The rationale given is credible, but there are a lot of unknowns. And there will be different stages of response just as in other countries. Of course we will all be anxious and not sure who or what to believe.

People are trying to replace Brexit arguments with this.

In all honesty, there is a massive disinformation campaign at the moment to persuade people that it's just fine to keep kids at school.

At least 3 threads just today on here asking this - if they get too many 'no's, they start a new thread.

I don't know anyone in rl who doesn't want the schools shut.

I agree with the UK’s approach. I also agree with the way other countries have dealt with it too. This is because I know that conditions in different countries are different. The approach they’ve taken in China would never work in the U.K. the approach they are taking in Italy is premature in the U.K. It’s not about blind faith, quite the opposite. Those who think we can contain it are the ones with blind faith.

So when people say "because we trust scientists" you say you work for a science company and we must all be stupid and not actually understand it

You're hostile on the other threads and you're hostile on this thread.
I have worked for GSK and I know how seriously patient focus is. I trust sir Patrick.