What would you do if you were put in charge tomorrow

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Just that really. There seems to be so many conflicting views on everything. I don't think the government are doing a great job but whenever they do anything somebody somewhere is up in arms. Yesterday it was he night time economy lobby, earlier in the year it was the travel companies.

So what would you actually do to try and sort this utter mess out.

Look at what they have done successfully in Italy and pursue those ideas.

I say this partially to answer comments about how realistic ideas might be.

If the Italians are capable of planning, costing and implementing a successful plan of test and trace and re-opening their schools then I think we can potentially do this in Britain.

It would require political commitment, a degree of imagination (the Italians have explored re-purposing buildings) and financial backing. But it would be possible.

@Notfeelinggreattoday

So many if these things people have suggested would bankrupt the country and the economy Comparing nz measures , a country similar size with about 6 million people to one with 67 million ??

The furlough scheme on the face of it has saved jobs. However when it comes to an end many will still lose their jobs. The eat out to help out on the face of it saves jobs, gives security to ordinary people. But its true intended purpose was to siphon public money into private hands. And not the pockets of workers. Its like HSBC, its no better ethically than money laundering, but its legal because its sanctioned by the state. Ultimately by the end of this it will be proven to have saved very few jobs. All it will have done is given larger businesses support to cut back on staff and restructure to a more profitable model. The changes to how and where we work were already taking place. Smaller companies will still go to the wall. The people that furlough most benefitted are shareholders. Added to that the government balance these interests with that of other players such as huge commercial property owners. Neoliberalism has bankrupted Europe, and the USA.

@randomer

I don't think the government are doing a great job but whenever they do anything somebody somewhere is up in arms.

What do you think they have done well?

So Rishi Sunak comes over as very charming and personable (and Boris can play that card too).

Furlough was important. It is a real dilemma how to a) pay for it and b) extend or not extend it.

EOTHO was widely described as a success (until case numbers rose and it was asked whether EOTHO had helped spread infection).

The government did eventually lock down (albeit a bit reluctantly) and numbers would have been even worse if they hadn't.

Schools are open.They don't feel very safe,but they are open and that is a huge boon for many people (less of a boon if bits keep shutting suddenly, and there needs to be some more safety measures and better testing to stop this).

Lots of U turns. Is that weakness, or being responsive to public outrage, or a bit of both?

The Queen's addresses to the nation were heartening (even though I'm not a monarchist and she's not the government).

Um.

Decent testing. Test for all known symptoms and not just the three we do. Regular testing for nhs, care workers, teachers.
Half school sizes, class in half week with increased homework. Repeat lesson for each half. Use of communal buildings etc where possible. Childcare in same bubbles not education, but can do homework etc for those that need it.
Wfh where possible
No meeting in houses - outside is ok
Rule of 6 to be 1-2 other households, but under 10 exempt
No need to deregister if child or someone in household vulnerable
More transparent reporting - e.g. numbers of people being tested, numbers of schools/classes affected, care homes affected
Fines for non isolation - financial assistance to isolate if necessary
SD and table service in all pubs/restaurants - don't close at 10 - can't see will make a difference
Masks to be worn or lanyard showing exempt
In absence of testing, most measures are fucked apart from a lockdown anyway

And obviously lockdown fucks everything too!

Sack Dominic Cummings.

@herecomesthsun

Look at what they have done successfully in Italy and pursue those ideas.

I say this partially to answer comments about how realistic ideas might be.

If the Italians are capable of planning, costing and implementing a successful plan of test and trace and re-opening their schools then I think we can potentially do this in Britain.

It would require political commitment, a degree of imagination (the Italians have explored re-purposing buildings) and financial backing. But it would be possible.

This is true except we are far behind on the planning here.

I think test and trace has been so cocked up that the trace is fairly pointless now? The test is what needs to be ramped up.

Trying to think of what we can do from now on rather go back in time.

I expect everyone knows by now what I would do (and probably want me to shut up banging on about it but hey ho).

So... A belated Australia and New Zealand island advantage approach. This isn't going to go away anytime soon. Realistically we're looking at around another year even if a vaccine gets approved very soon. We'll have to wait for enough doses to be manufactured and distributed.

Instead of continuing with a year of in, out, in, out, dragged out shit, we do two - three months proper lockdown. WITH closed borders. Proper quarantine where necessary for essential travel, i.e. freight and asylum. Then we ease lockdown - but keep borders shut. We could then begin our economic recovery and a return to normality (albeit with temporary restricted travel).

I don't expect we'll do this. There's too much focus on instant gratification and short-termism, not enough foresight.

Oh forgot to add a revision of the rule of 6 that currently allows 6 from different households to meet up indoors or outdoors. Just seems kind of bonkers to me.

Should of sacked Cummings at the time as you need to lead from the front and by example. What he did was did not lead and set a bad example for all, you only have to read the comments on here by people that since the Barnard Castle trip think rules are open to interpretation.

I would do quite literally whatever it took to sort out test and trace so everyone could get a test and results within a day or two max. Until this is sorted and there is quick turn around of results I don't see how we can keep the virus in check at all

Declare hunger games.

May the odds be ever in your favour.

Focus all My energy on testing... people are more likely to go get a test with a symptom if they know they can get a test that day and results the next... waiting 3 dats to get a test and then 4 days for a result is a week lost at work.. people will
Stop bothering

Do what they’re doing in Italy with widespread rapid testing at a local level. Result in 30 minutes. It’s not perfect but it seems to offer a better balance than our system as the turn around is too long

Sack Dominic Cummings.

Give myself a turn at furlough

@Afibtomyboy

If you are vulnerable, then shield and we will support you. Otherwise... everyone else completely back to normal.

If we can do that, great, and I’d support it. But I’ve yet to read anything credible explaining how this can be done.

How will you protect care home residents with Covid running rampant?

How will those needing Chemo be safe going to hospital if Covid is spreading like wildfire?

Maybe there are ways to achieve what you’re proposing, but how?

It’s the equivalent of saying “it only we just crossed our fingers and made a wish, everything would be just fine.”

@Afibtomyboy

If you are vulnerable, then shield and we will support you.

Otherwise... everyone else completely back to normal.

Exactly this. 👆

@Afibtomyboy

If you are vulnerable, then shield and we will support you.

Otherwise... everyone else completely back to normal.

Probably this

I wouldn't have defended DC as that was the wrong thing to do and has damaged the public's respect for the rules.

Cancel Brexit

Afibtomyboy
If you are vulnerable, then shield and we will support you.

Otherwise... everyone else completely back to normal.

This.

I'd have a decent track and trace system in place, use someone like apple who have more than a little experience in tracking people.

Instead of furlough people should be paid to stay at home if they have symptoms or have been contacted by track and trace.

Provide FREE decent face masks that people can wash and reuse.

Give the PPE contract to a company that again, knows what's it doing and has a proven track record.

Cancel BREXIT

*A plentiful supply of tests is included in the decent track and trace

@fewming
@boobybum
@wedidntstartthefires

What is it with all these vacant responses. You’ve no idea how to achieve this. It’s as banal and meaningless as a Miss World contestant parroting that she wants “world peace” as though it’s a refreshing new insight.

@Derbygerbil the arrogance in your tone is staggering, considering your only contribution to the thread has been to whine about others' lack of detail!

I would do as I said and lift all restrictions. I would take all reasonable precautions with vulnerable people (including care home residents) - as with ANY virus. Flu continues to kill more people even with an active vaccination program, but nobody is proposing disruptive measures for it.

I also don't accept that Covid will spread "like wildfire". Cases are spiking but thankfully hospital admission numbers do not correlate. If it does get out of control, personally I'd move Covid patients to the Nightingales and free up hospital space to treat other patients as normal.

Finally, I'd only impose extreme measures on the healthy majority WHEN the worst starts to happen, IF it does. That's the only time it can ever be justified. I don't find it preferable to tank the economy and deliberately inflict harm, on the basis of speculation and fear.

There's my answer. Whether you find it acceptable or not I honestly couldn't give a monkeys.