So basically the government are removing themselves?

[princesstwinkle]

So Boris has just tweeted what I presume is going to be announced later. To me it is the government removing the responsibility from themselves so that they can blame to public when a second wave occurs. All very vague and unhelpful!

OP and @nellodee I agree with you. So do Nicola Sturgeon, opposition leaders and possibly some of the Cabinet.

WTF did tweeting become a replacement for the government giving proper guidance and talking to people

They're also doing that. The PM is addressing the nation on TV this evening. I also expect that the guidance about whether you can see family and friends outside your immediate household and changes to the types of businesses that can open will be updated.

I was very pro lockdownat the beginning and annoyed at people flouting. But... There only actually been a couple of thousand died who have been over 60 and most of these have had underlying issues.
Who knows how long the virus will be here. We cannot go in lockdown forever. Some countries haven't and have had good results from their approach.

What is irresponsible though is keeping the borders open all this time and allowing the virus to get out of control in nursing homes.

A second wave is pretty much certain to hit, which is why we can’t keep the country on ‘lockdown‘ until that happens.

If we kept the country in lockdown there wouldn't be a second wave. In fact the virus would probably eventually die out. I'm not saying that we can continue with lockdown for ever but that doesn't mean it wouldn't work.

This isn't just about people taking personal responsibilty, they are reliant on other people doing the same and I can't see how that can happen in such a densely populated place as the UK.

It looks like they're moving to the Swedish model which only really works because of the difference in population density. We still have covidiots here but it's much easier to go about your day and avoid them. I can go to a supermarket because the busiest they ever get is like 10 other people, so there's room to still socially distance despite the idiots. I can pick my child up and drop off while maintaining social distance because most kids have different start and finish times, so you don't have the school gate gathering that you get in the UK. But ultimately we are still totally dependent on others staying home when they're sick. And even in responsible Sweden people on low wages are ignoring that advice and continuing to work because they need the money.

If we keep the country in lockdown there may not be a second wave of Covid deaths, but there won’t be much of a country left either.

Not sure 2m matters, France use 1 meter, Germany 1.5 I believe.

Stay alert to the virus being out there, but as adults we are going to have to start making risk assessments for ourselves as a vaccine isn’t coming well not for a while anyway. I see nothing wrong with the new message

IF you are someone that wishes to stay home & can afford to do so or work from home, then do that nobody will drag you from your home,

We will however get much more info at 7pm this evening, but people will bitch and moan no matter what the government do

If we kept the country in lockdown there wouldn't be a second wave. In fact the virus would probably eventually die out. I'm not saying that we can continue with lockdown for ever but that doesn't mean it wouldn't work
How long is "eventually" though. Lockdown is not economically viable for an extended period of time, I was thinking we would get a gradual time table like Ireland and even that is at huge cost to the economy.

I don't know why anyone would call the Swedish approach sensible.

Sweden have 8 times the death rate per million population as their nearest neighbours, Norway.

It is very vague. I hope the briefing today won't be equally vague.

Sweden have 8 times the death rate per million population as their nearest neighbours, Norway.

Exactly. I don't think that we are following them anyway though and don't get why people have decided we are. Bars, restaurant, cafes, schools are still shut here and likely to remain so for a least a few more weeks,

Massive second wave here we come, thank you Boris the granny killer

@P1nkHeartLovesCake IF you are someone that wishes to stay home & can afford to do so or work from home, then do that nobody will drag you from your home

I think that depends on how accommodating your workplace is...

The one good thing about the Swedish approach is that they're honest. The government have acknowledged that they failed to protect care homes and that people have died as a result, and they've apologised for that failure. They're not trying to pull the wool over peoples' eyes like their UK counterparts.

Everyone saying, wait until 7pm and the slogan will be explained?

The point of a good slogan is that it doesn’t need further explanation.

@KaptenKrusty you are not just risking yourself. But thats ok, i guess.

I am so so so glad i live in a country that has a sense of the common good and is willing to take personal sacrifice to ensure others well being. I am happy not to live in a country that spouts the rhetoric of 'personal responsibility' to hide self interest, and claps for a health care sevice elected politicians are in the process of dismantling.

Some in the UK are so hypocritical that they sneer at Trump and vote for Boris.

How long is "eventually" though. Lockdown is not economically viable for an extended period of time, I was thinking we would get a gradual time table like Ireland and even that is at huge cost to the economy.

I'm not suggesting it is economically vaible. I was just countering the point that it was inevitable whatever we do. It isn't and what we do will also effect how bad it will be. There needs to be a balance as if 100,000s of people die that won't be very good for the economy either.

Imagine a world where adults took responsibility for their actions and consequences.

The message needs to change. The vast majority of deaths are 65 plus. Care homes are increasing the R rate and honestly I think we need to ring fence these homes, not let it distract us and not lock down the whole of the economy.

The teaching unions are using this pandemic for their own ends and to flex their muscles. I see a backlash if they start demanding unrealistic safety measures.

I think Hancock is also on his last legs and could be replaced by Gove.

Imagine a world where everyone was an epidemiologist with a side interest in virology and hadn’t elected a government to act in the best interests of the general public.

@Bathroom12345 not let it distract us and not lock down the whole of the economy.

And do you have any family members in a care home that you are willing to sacrifice?

Do people think that we can just sit in our homes for the next year Or maybe until a vaccine is found!! If one is every found I expect convid19 will mutate so hard to keep up.

Of course there will be a second wave, more of us need to get it, so that there is herd immunity!!

The lock down was to flatten the curve to stop the NHS being overrun.
I’m n

Sweden have 8 times the death rate per million population as their nearest neighbours, Norway.

And yet we still don't know whether in the long run, Sweden are just closer to herd immunity so will be better protected from other waves as time goes on. There are experts (not just armchair ones) saying it's likely the death toll will be roughly the same everywhere as the months/years go by, it's just some countries might have slowed that down more significantly than others. It's far too early to tell whose strategy has been the best one.

OP I can't stand Boris but I'm so relieved to think of the country opening up. We need to trust people to be responsible and get the economy moving again to avoid much worse damage up ahead. I can't wait to get out and about more (whilst keeping my distance from others!). There are so many vulnerable people who aren't likely to be killed by the virus but who will suffer terribly if there is a prolonged recession. They matter too.

Hancock is collateral damage. It’s Johnson who is most likely to be replaced by Gove.

It’s a quick summary poster not detailed guidance. The guidance will be issued in due course which will put the message in context.