Prof. Van Tam

[itsgettingweird]

Wow. He's just made a brilliant clear statement on the daily update.

Hopefully he's allayed many fears and also explained to people why having the freedoms must remain within the guidelines.

What did he say? Not got it on here.

He basically explained how Covid is like a spring in a box.

We can lift the lid and it will uncoil slightly but it won't uncoil completely - eg keep the R gown.

He explained that people have a responsibility. It says you can meet 5 people with social distancing. So you have to think about number of contacts.

You have to think that meeting 5 in the morning, 5 afternoon and then another 5 in the evening that it's 3 times as many contacts and increasing risk of transmission.

He explained that they give advice about doing x or y should keep R down. They give various scenarios and mathematics modelling.

He is being clear that we are still at a very delicate point - as is said before but we can keep it down if we don't do more than what the government are saying is safe.

He also keeps saying "IF contact tracing is in place" then R will remain below 1. I think that is the main point of contention.

A - it isn't in place, B - there are still too many cases for it to be effective and C - the government have just blown the necessary trust for it to work properly.

everything nellodee said

Nello I agree. I think thought he is being very clear and very straight about what we have to do.

I think his calm manor and clear explanation is very good. He's telling it straight. Empathising.
Being truthful.

I like him too. Although in my head he's the same person as the English rugby coach.

Oh he sounded a bit cross about Dominic Cummings. Is he cross about what he did or the questions?

SockYarn, I hadn't thought of that, he is like him isn't he.

Definitely a dig at DC there!

Also he said “these data”. I love him.

I think that's a bit damning of Cummings.

I loved his response to the Cummings question- clearly unimpressed by him!

I love him- an excellent analogy about the spring on the box too.

I think his calm manor and clear explanation is very good. He's telling it straight. Empathising. Being truthful.

These are the things that have been identified from the start as being effective and the UK has just tried them for the first time.

Wow he's wasn't subtle on his opinion.

Of course he can't say he disagree with what he said but that was a clear message and a pointed look at the camera.

Even more impressed now.

What I liked was he was very clear that science is involved. Government have been given a range of models and they've decided what to do.

But yes as said above he's made it clear this relies on track and trace.

Sock yes

@1forsorrow

Oh he sounded a bit cross about Dominic Cummings. Is he cross about what he did or the questions?

Probably both.

He did sound as though he was telling the government to get it right where test, track and trace is concerned.

Let's hope the government listen.

He used to be an Army Cadet instructor back in the day, I'm sure I've got some pictures from Annual Camp back in the early nineties

I loved it when he said "don't tear the pants out of it" in response to saying don't think meeting 5 people means 5 people at a time 3 times a day.

Damn. I missed those camps

I've always liked him. He has a great was of just being simple and clearly is quite a logical chap. Basically what we're saying is ok as long as you all do it sensibly. If you start to take the piss we're in the shit, it'll be worse than before so don't take the piss, everyone simmer down and just behave yourself. The decision is ours 😂. Amazing!

Even before he was asked his opinion on leaders following the rules, he'd already alluded to his disapproval of the DC situation by describing how people bending the rules and 'fraying the rules at their edges' will be where the danger lies.

As well as “data” he said “stadia”. Of all the people who do the briefings he is the most trustworthy, and believable.

As well as “data” he said “stadia”. Of all the people who do the briefings he is the most trustworthy, and believable.

He’s at the top of my SAGE leaderboard.

As well as “data” he said “stadia”. Of all the people who do the briefings he is the most trustworthy, and believable.

Totally agree

Hope this doesn’t mean he’s barred from future briefings though! Dame Angela was very clearly critical of the government the other week and she’s not been back since!!