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Original poster

To think Macron is ridiculous

465 replies

Dongdingdong · 22/12/2020 07:11

These poor lorry drivers are very isolated anyway due to the nature of their jobs. The chances of them catching this new super strain and transmitting it are even slimmer than most people’s very slim chances. Macron’s decision to close the border is a hysterical overreaction and no doubt politically (Brexit) motivated. Open the borders and let them through!

OP posts:
StormzyinaTCup · 22/12/2020 08:22

I'd put money on it that it has been in the EU for as long as it's been in the U.K.
It's no coincidence that the hotspots in Kent (with the exception of Swale) when this strain started were Dover and Ashford and it has rippled outwards towards London and surrounding areas. The virus is clever but it's not clever or unique enough to decide 'ooh I'm stuck on this island, I need to mutate in a port town and spread myself across to Europe'. I expect you will find that it's mutated in the EU (as elsewhere) along a similar timeline and has been moving freely backwards and forwards between the travel hubs since about October. However, because we have 'called it' it's our fault (apparently).

Agree with PP Macron is being a child.

MajorMujer · 22/12/2020 08:25

@StormzyinaTCup have you got scientific evidence that it has been in the EU for as long as it has been in the UK ?

MrsMiaWallis · 22/12/2020 08:26

@StormzyinaTCup

I'd put money on it that it has been in the EU for as long as it's been in the U.K. It's no coincidence that the hotspots in Kent (with the exception of Swale) when this strain started were Dover and Ashford and it has rippled outwards towards London and surrounding areas. The virus is clever but it's not clever or unique enough to decide 'ooh I'm stuck on this island, I need to mutate in a port town and spread myself across to Europe'. I expect you will find that it's mutated in the EU (as elsewhere) along a similar timeline and has been moving freely backwards and forwards between the travel hubs since about October. However, because we have 'called it' it's our fault (apparently).

Agree with PP Macron is being a child.

This makes complete sense, although the MN hive mind won't like it.
HelloMissus · 22/12/2020 08:27

I’m a remainer both politically and pragmatically but this move by Macron is ridiculous.
And If it’s to stop the new strain spreading, why is all to be sorted so easily and quickly?
Either the French are worried rightly and intend to seal their border semi-permanently or they’e not.

MajorMujer · 22/12/2020 08:28

@MrsMiaWallis Hive Mind ?! Get over yourself.

GetOffYourHighHorse · 22/12/2020 08:28

It was identified here as we do extensive genome work which the EU doesn't. I bet it came from Europe, it was only a couple of weeks ago France had numbers in the 30k region.

Totally understand banning holiday makers and travelers for business, but not freight.

Macron is an arsehole, this is of course tied in to Brexit and is a perfect opportunity for him to stamp his little feet.

MrsMiaWallis · 22/12/2020 08:29

@HelloMissus

I’m a remainer both politically and pragmatically but this move by Macron is ridiculous. And If it’s to stop the new strain spreading, why is all to be sorted so easily and quickly? Either the French are worried rightly and intend to seal their border semi-permanently or they’e not.
Exactly.
GetOffYourHighHorse · 22/12/2020 08:30

'It's no coincidence that the hotspots in Kent (with the exception of Swale) when this strain started were Dover and Ashford and it has rippled outwards towards London and surrounding areas. The virus is clever but it's not clever or unique enough to decide 'ooh I'm stuck on this island, I need to mutate in a port town and spread myself across to Europe'

Exactly.

ragged · 22/12/2020 08:30

MNers have been clamouring "Close the Borders!" since January.

notimagain · 22/12/2020 08:30

Macron is a tosser I''m no fan of Brexit but his "I want my cake and to eat it" comment

If that appeared in the UK media can you give me a source for that in the original language if possible please....not the version as translated

MrsMiaWallis · 22/12/2020 08:30

@GetOffYourHighHorse

It was identified here as we do extensive genome work which the EU doesn't. I bet it came from Europe, it was only a couple of weeks ago France had numbers in the 30k region.

Totally understand banning holiday makers and travelers for business, but not freight.

Macron is an arsehole, this is of course tied in to Brexit and is a perfect opportunity for him to stamp his little feet.

And this.
walksen · 22/12/2020 08:30

"The virus is clever but it's not clever or unique enough to decide 'ooh I'm stuck on this island, I need to mutate in a port town and spread myself across to Europe"

Hard to take anyone seriously when they imply that viruses have any form of intelligence.

Surely macron is using french sovereignty and closing the borders to protect or at least slow down the spread of the new strain in France. Plenty of posters have said closing the borders I'd what we should have done.

HmmSureJan · 22/12/2020 08:30

@StormzyinaTCup

I'd put money on it that it has been in the EU for as long as it's been in the U.K. It's no coincidence that the hotspots in Kent (with the exception of Swale) when this strain started were Dover and Ashford and it has rippled outwards towards London and surrounding areas. The virus is clever but it's not clever or unique enough to decide 'ooh I'm stuck on this island, I need to mutate in a port town and spread myself across to Europe'. I expect you will find that it's mutated in the EU (as elsewhere) along a similar timeline and has been moving freely backwards and forwards between the travel hubs since about October. However, because we have 'called it' it's our fault (apparently).

Agree with PP Macron is being a child.

I think you're right.
Notonthestairs · 22/12/2020 08:30

It's ok for Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, etc (too lazy to list all 40) to introduce restrictions but damnit I am offended by France doing it too.

The border will be resolved by testing.

HelloMissus · 22/12/2020 08:31

And if France doesn’t already have widespread infection with this mutation already, I’d be surprised.
They just haven’t done the research that we have.
Otherwise how do they account for the enormous increase in infection numbers despite restrictions remaining in place?

Pffft.

StormzyinaTCup · 22/12/2020 08:31

It was identified here as we do extensive genome work which the EU doesn't. I bet it came from Europe, it was only a couple of weeks ago France had numbers in the 30k region

Yes, I read similar too that we have been doing extensive genome work that is not being done to the same degree (if at all) in other countries.

Barbie222 · 22/12/2020 08:33

I don't blame him. We created a situation with the schools where it was quite likely that a variant would evolve that moves quickly between kids. I doubt it's come from abroad. It could have happened anywhere in the UK but it was more likely to happen here than anywhere.

MrsMiaWallis · 22/12/2020 08:33

Hard to take anyone seriously when they imply that viruses have any form of intelligence

🤣 i don't think she meant that it had actual sentience

MrsMiaWallis · 22/12/2020 08:34

@Barbie222

I don't blame him. We created a situation with the schools where it was quite likely that a variant would evolve that moves quickly between kids. I doubt it's come from abroad. It could have happened anywhere in the UK but it was more likely to happen here than anywhere.
Wow. Tying it to schools opening in the UK is a bit far fetched. Why only in Kent? Does the virus only evolve in the grammar system?
Kaliorphic · 22/12/2020 08:35

StormzyinaTCup I agree. The location is pretty bloody obvious.

GetOffYourHighHorse It was identified here as we do extensive genome work which the EU doesn't

And this too. 💯

StormzyinaTCup · 22/12/2020 08:38

Wow. Tying it to schools opening in the UK is a bit far fetched. Why only in Kent? Does the virus only evolve in the grammar system?
🤣

FlossieTeacakesFurCoat18 · 22/12/2020 08:40

@GetOffYourHighHorse

It was identified here as we do extensive genome work which the EU doesn't. I bet it came from Europe, it was only a couple of weeks ago France had numbers in the 30k region.

Totally understand banning holiday makers and travelers for business, but not freight.

Macron is an arsehole, this is of course tied in to Brexit and is a perfect opportunity for him to stamp his little feet.

Exactly this. It was identified here not because we're the only ones who have it, but because we're world leaders in this kind of research. But if course that doesn't fit in with the self-flagellating "We deserve everything we get" attitude so popular at the moment.
CherryRoulade · 22/12/2020 08:41

@StormzyinaTCup

I'd put money on it that it has been in the EU for as long as it's been in the U.K. It's no coincidence that the hotspots in Kent (with the exception of Swale) when this strain started were Dover and Ashford and it has rippled outwards towards London and surrounding areas. The virus is clever but it's not clever or unique enough to decide 'ooh I'm stuck on this island, I need to mutate in a port town and spread myself across to Europe'. I expect you will find that it's mutated in the EU (as elsewhere) along a similar timeline and has been moving freely backwards and forwards between the travel hubs since about October. However, because we have 'called it' it's our fault (apparently).

Agree with PP Macron is being a child.

That’s simply not true though.

Medway was the first hotspot where a mutant strain was identified. No working port there. It clearly spread (and has been tracked daily) from North Kent through to East Kent and only now really seeing huge nosocomial rise in south Kent coast.

Unlikely to be anything to do with ports and more to do with poverty, non-compliance with safety measures (The Farage effect) and large households.

ChloeDeckTheHalls · 22/12/2020 08:41

[quote MajorMujer]@StormzyinaTCup have you got scientific evidence that it has been in the EU for as long as it has been in the UK ?[/quote]
The new strain has something in common with the strain of minks infected in Denmark (where the new strain has also been found in people) and this is one area that is being looked into further currently, by scientists.

www.euronews.com/2020/12/19/what-we-know-about-the-uk-s-more-infectious-coronavirus-strain