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?

Ah, I see. Because you work for a company that does science, you’re a cut above the teeming hordes of scientifically illiterate idiots who are clearly incapable of applying their brains to the available information?

This virus really has brought out the worst in a lot of people.

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

Disinformation campaign? It would be really, really helpful if people who disagreed with approaches didn’t assume that the ‘other side’ was acting in bad faith.

Can’t we just all assume that everyone is scared, no one wants people to die and we’re all trying to make the best of a terrible situation.

Alloutoffucks....you are not really displaying that scientific acumen you were bragging about.

This ^^ 😂🤣

The virus has not really been contained elsewhere. There are going to be second and third waves, and they're not going to be insignificant. I can see the logic of wanting to avoid as many waves of infection as possible.

I don't feel like I'm blindly accepting anything, I read what I can and I am also torn between 'wft, this is ridiculous, I am staying in' and 'well it does make some sense'. Not knowing what to do for the best is really making me very very anxious. The one crumb of comfort is that this is NOT Boris dictating what is happening, it is him actually listening to experts. I fucking hate the guy but I will suspend my disgust for the moment.

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

I work in a school & have kids in a different school. Not everyone wants schools to shut.

Teachers of vulnerable students are very worried about what happens to them when schools shut.

I have science A-levels & a science degree. I know nothing about pandemics

Just because other governments are doing things different,y doesn’t make our approach right or wrong. There are so many social/cultural factors involved too.

Have a read of this, written by (as he describes himself) “a researcher focusing on infectious diseases, I have a background in public health research and epidemiology.”

medium.com/@michael.g.head/uk-response-to-coronavirus-why-i-think-its-appropriate-b5d748b2c16

I listened to the information provided by Sir Patrick on Thursday and formed an opinion given this information- thats not "Blind faith". I seriously don't know what the alternative is that people are searching for? In an ideal world we'd all have been able to bunker down for 3 months before there was even a case in the UK until this had passed and shut our borders- every single one of us but that's not possible and then what happens when we start opening our borders and someone brings the virus with them.... all back to square one.

Maybe everyone locking down now is the best solution if we had enough beds & resources to treat everyone & could actually contain it. But we don't

British deaths have only just started. They will increase dramatically over the next week.

Just 1 week ago, Italy had 3000 cases and 107 deaths

This thing can and will explode here this next couple of weeks.

This thing can and will explode here this next couple of weeks.

It will. And it is planned for that more stringent measures will be introduced at the appropriate time.

I have some experience of isolation behaviour. I was kept in a hospital room & not allowed to leave out of my choice initially & if I did I had to wear a mask. All the doctors & nurses & dinner ladies & porters who came into my room had to put on a mask & use hand gel. Not everyone did that, often because they forgot. When I could go for little walks I would sometimes move my mask aside because I couldn't breathe & it was so hot.

I think the measured response to the virus by the UK Govt is right for this country at the present stage of the outbreak.
Chris Whitty the Chief Medical Officer is a highly qualified epidemiologist. I’d rather listen to his advice than, someone who works for a scientific company, like the OP.

this was over a period of 4 days I think. How can people sustain isolation for months?

We all know there will be a stricter lockdown at some point. Part of the issue is not when the restrictions start but when they stop. If they are relaxed too early the second wave of infection can be bigger than the first.

The impression I got from the press conference was that they are trying to avoid this bigger second spike by delaying lockdown now so there is a better chance of it being sustained through the critical part of the first peak.

There is no good option just a least worst one.

They did say in the press conference that lock down (or self isolation I can't quite remember) was imminent but they had to time it right (to spread to curve).

Sir Patrick's extreme model of total shut down for months is catching on. Other countries are taking further action to stop a peak. They are shutting schools in certain areas only or if there have been cases or for a few weeks.

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

And the list is growing longer - relatively few British scientists and I can't quite see the relevance of the latest additions:

349. Rui Qi Choo, Doctoral Researcher of Applied Linguistics, University of York
350. Marilyn Vihman, Language and Linguistic Science, University of York
351. Tamara Bastianello, PhD student, Department of Language and Linguistic Science, University of York
352. Ilenia Bregoli, Senior Lecturer in Marketing, University of Lincoln

Don’t forget there are scientists who don’t believe in man-made climate change and scientists who don’t believe in evolution.

‘Scientist’ does not mean ‘authority’.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/mar/15/epidemiologist-britain-herd-immunity-coronavirus-covid-19

This is a very interesting article about why herd immunity is a illusory promise at the moment, from a prof in epidemiology of infectious diseases, it's actually a very good article altogether as he identifies that you personally should take action rather than waiting for government to tell you what to do.

2000 more cases in Spain and 100 more deaths in the last 24 hours.

@Nearlyalmost50 Thank you.

I am assuming the additional signatures added at numbers 300 odd to the letter are not the original 200 scientists. So you are being disingenuous. Signatures after a letter had been published are ones of support.

the original 200 scientists.

Who are not experts.

I have to have faith that they are doing the right thing because they know a hell of a lot more than I do. But....from BBC today, new measures taking place in other European countries in addition to what they have already done

Austria has banned gatherings of more than five people, has expanded the list of countries it restricts entry to, and has closed schools and most shops

People in Spain have been told not to leave home, except for buying essential supplies and medicines, or for work

Romania is about to declare a state of emergency

The Czech Republic is likely to declare a quarantine for the entire country, and has already closed its borders

Slovakia has also shut its borders
Italy, the worst-hit country in Europe, began a nationwide lockdown on Monday

France has shut all schools, cafes, restaurants, cinemas, nightclubs and non-essential businesses - but its local elections are still going ahead

..................

The UK - we are going to ask the elderly to self isolate in a few weeks.

Surely these other countries have also taken the best advice available to them? Even the WHO have heavily implied we aren't being aggressive enough in our tactics.

Time will tell. I just hope it is the right choice.