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.

Although in my head he's the same person as the English rugby coach.

Ha. I knew he looked familiar! I've been annoying my husband for weeks trying to remember where I'd met him!!

What was the question about Dominic Cummings? I was supervising one if the teenagers lighting the BBQ.

Is it very wrong to have a little crush on the Prof??? He shows exactly what's missing from govt - clear information and leadership. Across the board I think the scientific experts have been fabulous - always providing very clear explanation & not dodging the difficult questions.

Can't remember the actual question secret but someone asked about polls and Oliver Dowdens opinion. He tried to cut off PVT. he answered that case closed etc. Then VT said he'd answer science bit. And ended with something along lines of saying what he thinks about the rules.
Then delivered his speech about they are for everyone. For good if everyone. They are very clear, have always been clear and apply to everyone

You could have cut the atmosphere. I - very immaturely - wanted to clap and cheer

I didn’t catch it all but he stood out as speaking well and being very clear.

...and his Dad is Penfold from Dangermouse, I have this on good authority...

I should counter that comment by also pointing out that I am a huge fan and like him even more than lovely Whitty!

His comment about Cummings has made my day. Thanks Prof.

Fantastic, he has made my day.

It was a marvellous answer to the question. He said three times "In my opinion" and the wording was very clever to be construed either way - but I fear we will not see him again as a result

If you can find it on the iplayer, it's around 4.46pm.

He was fab.
( only caught a bit on the news. )

Even if he’s never seen on briefing again, JVT will be able to know thAt he stood up and said it.

He has his own 3 line slogan: the rules are clear>they were made for all>and apply to all.

Brilliant yang

Love JVT.

His takedown of blowhard Robert Peston was legendary

He has his own 3 line slogan: the rules are clear>they were made for all>and apply to all

Someone should make t-shirts!

Sorry to gate crash the Van Tam love in.

I just read that he was asked the reasonable question 'after 10 weeks of lock down who is still getting the virus?'

And he answered 'good question - we don't know'?

Please tell me I am wrong?

Haha love that link you posted.

I love Van Tam. I really like Chris Whitty too but I'm sensing that he's going down the government path of whoring himself to people please and gain fame.

I remember that they got rid of Jenny Harries for weeks when she said something that they didn't agree with, now she's returned less trustworthy which is a shame.

BJ Trump silenced the scientists the other day. No need to say anymore on that.

I really believe that we're in for a second wave which will be worse than this one although I don't agree with not living our lives either

@itsgettingweird

Didn't Johnson always say we could have our cake and eat it - (about another issue for which he was famed for talking bullshit)?

Yes then in answer to that question, he said, the elderly and the obese.

And he answered 'good question - we don't know'?

Please tell me I am wrong?

He said we know what TYPES of people are susceptible (elderly, chronically ill & obese).

And he answered 'good question - we don't know'?

Please tell me I am wrong?

He chose to answer his (imagined) question of 'who is most at risk from the virus' instead.

My theory for why he refused to get into the details of to statistical trends by location, industry, etc at this point is because they were probably briefed beforehand not to dwell too much on personal data being gathered through testing, because public compliance with the Test and Trace system relies on the public being completely comfortable with the data the government are gathering on them through the testing system.

There have been quite few media reports about the Test and Trace privacy notice that was released on Thursday so I can understand why they would be wary of remind people of all the personal information they're tracking given they want people to self-report.

Also, there's the fact the government is trying to get people back to work, so stating the obvious, that it's people working outside their homes who are still catching it, would hinder that objective.

@MrsCaplan, that can't be true. Gove is Penfold and he isn't the Profs dad.

Forgive me if I sound unreasonable but if we are testing 120,000 people each day and recording 2,000 as positive (1.66%) won't we be building up a detailed profile of those that are still getting the virus - and shouldn't the Govt/NHS be publishing that data?

Like we were told at the start of all this that all those dying had pre-existing medical conditions. Then later on I read 90% had pre-existing medical conditions. And I read the % of people over 65 who had died and it was obviously a large part of the total deaths.

So it would be nice to know who is being identified now as new positive cases - by age groups / ethnicity / medical condition or whatever.

That would help us all to self assess our personal risk. Which is what people are going to have to start doing to get back to any level of 'new normal'.

Noextremes sorry to say that's exactly what he said. Concerned me too.

I've said before they need to break data down to no in care homes, hospitals and wider community.

But then again they've managed to suddenly not be able to say how many people have been tested in the number of tests for a week now.

Was it me or was JVT showing a bit of a lockdown larding out today?