Where are the scientists?

[StealthPolarBear]

Very odd

[madasamarchhare]

Let’s hope they don’t let Boris out on his own! Who knows what he’d come out with when put on the spot by journos!

[SophieB100]

I learnt a lot from that briefing - Matty loves Chester zoo and unlike shops, when zoos close, animals still need staff to look after them. Who knew?

[SecretSpAD]

More empty posturing from Mr Hancock

Think he sees Boris as his role model.

Is this bunch of twats really the best we can do in this country?

[Oneteen]

I think it was obvious that Boris has decided to take responsibility and not follow the scientists... My opinion is that Chris Whitty has been good but Patrick Vallance was initially making statements about herd immunity. I think face masks have been brought in which effectively isn't following the science according to Patrick Valence...but its obvious they cut out infection. I think Vallance was looking long term eg control of the virus over the next 2 years whereas tighter controls earlier on could have saved lives.

The government have made mistakes but I think the science advice was awful too...

[Frazzled2207]

I thought yesterday’s was one of the worst of all’s
Did you notice how they have changed the slides to make it look like hospitalisation have gone down when actually they’ve gone up?
So for one stat they used the whole of the UK and another the UK minus Scotland strangely enough.

I am so angry at pretty much all of it (except for the actual clinicians and care workers who as far as I can tell are doing a sterling job). What I find most baffling of all though is that it’s now June and they basically still don’t know where pockets of infection are happening. A lot of talk about the R rate going up in the NW. OK but NW is very big. WHERE exactly in the NW are cases going up.
How do they still not know this.

[Oneteen]

Too much effort with reacting to the virus instead of being proactive... They should have watched Dr John Campbell who all along stated that countries needed to be proactive.

However I'm disgusted with WHO this virus was in China in November and they have not reacted quick enough.

[SophieB100]

@Frazzled2207
I was glad that Sam from Sky picked up on the different slides, "cherry picking" the most positive ones was how he put it.

They think we're stupid. First of all, they drop the slide about the alert level, then they drop others, to suit their agenda, that things are improving.

I only watch it for the scientists - they're the ones I listen to, although I agree with PP that they've made mistakes. At least they're more credible than the government. Track and trace was "vital" a couple of weeks ago, now it's "just part of the overall package". The R rate was key - now we must realise that it isn't that crucial overall. Just sick of the mixed messages.

[Baaaahhhhh]

How do they still not know this

They do, but they are not going to report local issues on a national level, it would take forever. This is why we have to stop these briefings, and move to localised management.

[madasamarchhare]

I think the briefings are important. We are going through a pandemic which is nowhere near it’s end. I think the government do need to stand up and be answerable to the public and the journalists. I do also agree they pick and choose their slides and the info they share to put on a more positive front in order to reopen the economy. I prefer to listen to the scientists as I trust their views although I appreciate they haven’t always been right.
Boris, Rishi and Dominic Raab as more senior members of the government should be leading more briefings. Matt hancock looks more and more agitated and more out of his depth the longer this goes on.

[Oneteen]

It's a shame Jeremy Hunt wasn't HM... Ive always felt that Matt Hancock is shifty..

[Crunchymum]

Choosing between Jeremy Hunt and Matt Hancock for HM is like choosing between being stabbed or shot!!!

[SecretSpAD]

Choosing between Jeremy Hunt and Matt Hancock for HM is like choosing between being stabbed or shot!!!



Though to be fair Jonathan Ashworth isn't very impressive either.

What concerns me most is that the govt seem to be banging on about the R number in isolation when talking about local lockdowns. You also need to take into account the prevalence, or level of infection, that is in the area. It doesn't matter if the R number is 0.1 or 10 if there is little infection in the area your risk of catching it is low anyway. Conversely, if the prevalence is very high then even with a lowish R you still have a higher risk of catching it.

Now it's been a number of years since I've done any proper epidemiology, so I may be wrong....but it just doesn't seem like they have a clue.

[SophieB100]

Regarding the R rate, yesterday they said it was between .7 and 1.

Where is it at 7? It appears to be much higher everywhere.
This is from The Sun (yeah, I know) but the same is in other papers, but I copied this one because it was clearer.
If you scroll down, you can see charts that show where it was, and how it is creeping up.
I don't know why they told us it's at 7 in some areas?
www.thesun.co.uk/news/11798146/north-west-south-west-localised-lockdowns/

[StealthPolarBear]

The R will come with a confidence interval.

madasamarchhare I completely agree they need to be regularly and reliably answerable to us and the daily briefings should continue.

One question I've always wondered, why is foreign secretary seen as one of the more senior roles?

[Delatron]

I agree this needs a more localised response now. Tougher restrictions on the areas where infections are higher. Loosening in other areas.

Looking on the Zoe app we are in an area with a very low infections rate. I’ll still follow all the rules but it can help shape decisions on things like whether to send your child back to school etc.

[starrynight19]

Frazzled2207 exactly this. How can we be confident they can pinpoint where these isolated cases are when the narrowest point is a whole region.
We are just not ready or able at this point to lockdown locally as we have no idea where the incidents of infection are occurring.

[FliesandPies]

Choosing between Jeremy Hunt and Matt Hancock for HM is like choosing between being stabbed or shot!!!

Yes! Hunt is having a high old time now sniping from the bushes, acting as if his time at Health wasn't a dreadful catalogue of antagonism, deprivation and skullduggery.

Though to be fair Jonathan Ashworth isn't very impressive either.

Ashworth isn't Health Secretary.

[Crunchymum]

@FliesandPies he is shadow health minister?

[FliesandPies]

Yes, Crunchymum, I know that.

[SecretSpAD]

@FliesandPies yes, true. I was just doing my usual,civil service thing of trying to be equal in my criticism

Now that I've cast off those shackles I can actually admit in public that I'm a leftie - but I still don't rate the shadow Secretary I'm afraid. However, Kier Starmer.......

[FliesandPies]

Fair enough, SecretSpaD he's not going to set the world on fire but seems solid and sane which I'm happy to settle for at the moment!

Starmer - I have high hopes but we've got a long haul with this current nightmarish bunch..

(Congrats on your lovely news by the way )

[SecretSpAD]

@FliesandPies yes you're right. I can't think of any labour MP who would give Matt Hancock a run for his money at the moment. A few years ago Ben Bradshaw....but they've been out of power for so long and the Corbyn years were such a car crash.

I have hopes for Kier Starmer and if he keeps Yvette Cooper in a good role he will do well. My husband has a lot of respect for Ed Balls too - and hopes he finds a way of getting a seat again.

[SecretSpAD]

Oh and thanks. Though this being MN I'm sure that there are people who just use it as confirmation that I'm a troll 😂

[FliesandPies]

Does Ed Balls want to be an MP again? He seems to be enjoying himself!

[SecretSpAD]

I've no idea, but there are apparently a lot of people who want him to become one again, so who knows.

Personally my brain is still bleached after the gangman style on strictly!