What would you like the govt to talk about in daily briefings?

[zafferana]

Since MN is something that is read by journalists and, I presume, people who work in government, what issues have you been waiting impatiently to hear about in the daily briefings?

Mine are, in no particular order:

• a proper plan for the reopening of schools in Sept for ALL children
  
  
• child care/holiday clubs and activities for the summer holidays
  
  
• outdoor sports clubs - things like cricket, football, rugby, outdoor swimming pools and lidos
  
  
• ditto gyms, health clubs and pools
  
  
• hair salons and barber shops
  
  
• playgrounds and other outdoor leisure equipment
  
  
• holidays - in particular UK holidays of the SC kind what would allow for social distancing.

[TakemedowntoPotatoCity]

Schools, schools, schools.

Proper legal protection for ALL employees faced with childcare difficulties due to covid over the next few months.

[nether]

And when talking about opening schools in full, to all pupils, to include shielded DC in those arrangements. So they are not left wondering 'what about is?'

All means all, so even if it has to be a bespoke arrangement it included in the same announcement. No child left behind.

Recasting track and trace with one of the commercial apps, on a decentralised system, where no personal data is retained beyond the minimum required for infection control and process audit.

2m spacing maintained outdoors, with specific reason that the over 2 million shielding need this - remember how hard it was to rarely go out - don't make it impossible for them to go out at all now. But individual businesses can set lower spacing, which must be clearly,stated on entrance to premises. Queues outdoors on pavements to remain 2m away from passing pedestrians.

Shielded people who cannot WFM to be furloughed indefinitely (until end of shielding) with right of return to previous role. Businesses explicitly allowed/encouraged to employ 'shield cover' on a temporary basis. Shielded furloughed workers to get same redundancy protection as those on maternity leave.

Improve shielding hub, so there is a grocery support option though which supermarket delivery can be secured without having to have a food parcel.

Exam boards to look at arrangements for both 2021 and 2022 (if schools not fully open in September) for GCSE, A level,and equivalents as a matter of priority as soon as 2020 qualifications are issued

[zafferana]

I'd also like to hear them address the urgent reopening of public toilets.

[TheCountessofFitzdotterel]

Schools.
If we are unlucky enough to get a winter second wave can they guarantee remote learning and pastoral support for ALL children not just the ones whose schools have got their arses in gear?

[conveniencestore]

Why are NHS staff still being managed using pre-coronavirus sickness policy? They are still triggering the excessive sickness policy if they have been ill more than 3 times this year. Considering they were working without adequate PPE for several months during a pandemic, which led to many of them getting ill (with coronavirus and other illnesses) and having been working under extreme stress, this seems inhumane and short-sighted. Especially when they have to stay home in the event of any symptoms in order to be responsible. So for example a bout of norovirus in January, coronavirus in March and now they cannot take any sick leave for the rest of the year without triggering an excessive sickness investigation? Are any other sectors treating their employees like this? I have a relative who has been terrified to call in sick despite being unwell.

[conveniencestore]

Also, a lot of people are mentioning schools. I would ask what the government are going to do to get the numbers of coronavirus infections down low enough so that schools can go back safely in September. Opening Primark and pubs etc is actually meaning it will take longer for the actual number of infections (not the R number) to be low enough to safely ensure our children can go back to school. Be careful which restrictions you want lifting if actually your priority is for your child's education to resume in September. We will have several months when we could be driving down the infection numbers so low that normal school will be safe again.

[Tuemay]

Ditto Schools and when I can hug my mum and have a cup of tea with her in her lounge

[zafferana]

Good point @conveniencestore. I cannot understand the urgency of opening Primark and Nike when our DC can't go back to school. The priorities are so messed up. Who the hell NEEDS to go to the pub? Or to buy clothes in a shop, as opposed to online? No one. But DC do NEED to get back to school ASAP.

[ohthegoats]

They've totally lost trust. It needs a complete overhaul.

Once a week, no bullshit, Johnson every time - with the necessary other ministers there too, scientists there too. At a desk. Live journo questions direct to appropriate minister, no bullshit response, no someone else butting in.

[conveniencestore]

@zafferana - thanks. A lot of the issues people are asking about on this thread are dependent on having a low total number of cases in this country. If that can be achieved then the other things follow (schools, seeing relatives etc). The problem is priorities. If the government want us to be out spending our money on clothes and food and travel, that will inevitably mean it will be longer until ALL our children can return to NORMAL school and longer until we can visit our vulnerable elderly parents and grandparents.

[ohthegoats]

I would ask what the government are going to do to get the numbers of coronavirus infections down low enough so that schools can go back safely in September.

Yes that. Everyone is having a moan at and about schools - what you should be moaning about is the fact that schools aren't safe. Not that they aren't open fully.

Why aren't they safe? What isn't the government doing?

[Redcherries]

I'd like them to give the shielding group more information, as Boris is taking the briefing tonight there is hope he may address us today, if not we should get something during the week.

Is Shilling being extended - Employers need this information, there are shielded booked into work from July 1st, if shielding is extended there needs to be time for employers to organise cover and for employees to try and now gently adjust to being away from their homes.

If shielding is extended will the people unable to work from home receive furlough and employment protection, as mentioned by PP.

If Shielding is extended what is the eventual exit plan? A certain number of infections maximum per day? Minimum death levels? What are they basing it on so that we can at least keep up with how our situation is progressing against the virus and weekly changes.

When can we sit in the garden with people, if I can go for a walk passed 50 people why can't my best friends sit in my garden and drink wine with me? Ditto for those that have family they want to see.

If shielding is extended they need to make it understood to employers, and the general population, just because we can go for one brief walk a day we still should not shop, work, go to the zoo etc etc. This seems very misunderstood and shielded people are being pressured by employers, family and friends who think we are no longer shielding due to being able to save a bit of mental and physical health with one walk a day.

[zafferana]

Yeah, you're right @conveniencestore! It's all contingent on us getting this flipping virus under control. Unnecessary reopenings in the meantime mean it will be much harder to fully reopen schools and see our loved ones any time soon.

[PicsInRed]

They're opening shops to prevent mass liquidations, then mass redundancies, then mass home losses and mass mortgage defaults, then a couple of banks failing, then the seizing up of the commercial paper market, then more liquidations etc etc ...

I bet Rishi Sunak doesn't sleep well right now - the shoes he's found himself in. 🤔

Of course school desperately need to be opened. But the run on effects of closed schools, whilst severe in the long term, aren't as ...immediate...and the unions are being complete pains in the arse about it blocking moves to reopen, so the govt are limited in that respect.

[ThePittts]

All schools re open ASAP
Public toilets re open
Hospitals, start treating people again, maybe use the nightingale
hospitals for any covid patients

[conveniencestore]

yes, I know about the economic pressures. But everyone earlier in the thread was pushing for answers about schools and seeing elderly relatives. That all comes down to low overall numbers of infections in the community.

[ohthegoats]

and the unions are being complete pains in the arse about it blocking moves to reopen, so the govt are limited in that respect

They've done bugger all. Schools opened further exactly as the guidance said they should. Unions are being used as scapegoats.

[conveniencestore]

After all, if the country really was ready now to come out of lockdown or at least have a large relaxation of lockdown restrictions, how come infections are still not predicted to be low enough in September (3 months away) for children to go back to school normally? Other countries have much lower number of infections and so schools are going back. Why is the government not expecting to be able to reach this situation by September?

[PicsInRed]

Unions are being used as scapegoats.

If that's true, perhaps the unions should lay their cards in the table and publicly tell their members that the unions support immediate return to work.

[SinglePringle]

What are the plans for those still Sheilding? People with cancer etc? Are they expected to remain home until they die / there’s a vaccine?

IF IT’S SAFE FOR SHOPS TO OPEN, WHY AREN’T THE JOURNALISTS LIVE IN THE ROOM AND WHERE ARE THE SCIENTISTS?

[PicsInRed]

IF IT’S SAFE FOR SHOPS TO OPEN, WHY AREN’T THE JOURNALISTS LIVE IN THE ROOM

To be fair, this is an excellent point.

[SinglePringle]

I mean, we know why, don’t we @picsinred. Harder to mute someone sitting opposite you.

The Daily Briefings have become a Party Political Broadcast on behalf of the Tories and I think journos should boycott them until they are allowed in the room.

[ohthegoats]

perhaps the unions should lay their cards in the table and publicly tell their members that the unions support immediate return to work

They do support a return to work. When it's safe to do so.

Don't be cross at a union supporting the safety of its members. Be cross with the government that has acted in a way that means our schools can't actually be safe yet.

[ohthegoats]

The Daily Briefings have become a Party Political Broadcast on behalf of the Tories and I think journos should boycott them until they are allowed in the room.

That.

[conveniencestore]

@SinglePringle, actually it's not particularly safe, that is the reason.

The total number of infections in this country is actually still quite high and if the R number isn't much below 1 then the total number of infections is not really falling. That is why schools might not be able to open properly even in September and that is why some non-economic activities are still restricted, such as press meetings (including the daily propaganda meetings held by ministers).

I think the question everyone earlier in the thread should be asking instead of when can I see my elderly relatives, when can my children go back to school, when can public loos reopen, when can I go to the hairdressers, when can I go for a swim - instead they should be asking when will the total numbers of infections be low enough so that it will be safe enough to do all those things and what is the government doing to ensure that happens?

I am very very worried that the government is not planning on any measures to ensure the infection numbers will be low enough in September for children and young people to resume their education. That is 3 months' away! It should be possible in 3 months - it is not inevitable that infections levels will necessary be high in 3 months.

Other countries are doing those normal things now, but we are being told that we won't even be able to send our children to school properly in 3 months' time.