To think Macron is ridiculous

[Dongdingdong]

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!

[quote LynetteScavo]**@LunaLula83* He bought down the age of sexusl consent to 15*

Really? [/quote]
No, the age of consent was already 15. Macron reinforced the law which makes it easier to prosecute people who break it.

@ragged

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

We probably should have done that, eh.

Interesting article here on our genome facilities and funding.

www.genomicsengland.co.uk/about-genomics-england/

Macron is trying to act in the best interest of his people. Not something that our politicians are renowned for

What happens if they discover the new variant was imported into Kent from France? An apology? Doubt it.

The worst moment has been a French commissioner who stated it was a shame we had left the EU, as they could have helped us if we hadn't. Talk about xenophobic. Does that mean the French will not help any other country in thre world unless they are part of the EU? Well that's just a lovely attitude.

But the numbers have doubled in areas with the new virus, and went up even during lockdown. In France, the numbers fell during lockdown, and are steady now. Just under 6000 new cases yesterday. That doesn't suggest France is having an issue with a more transmissible variant... So it's not unreasonable to assume it's not widespread in France and to take steps to keep things that way. Their numbers would like like the UK if it was.

Macron is scared because he doesn’t want to lose the next election. As long as he is President of the Republic he has immunity from prosecution, unlike some of his ministers who are already being investigated for mishandling the Covid crisis. I am not Brexiteer but you have to stick up for your country and I am also never buying French produce again, not that they produce anything nice anyway, just stinking cheese and old-fashioned wine. The Spaniards have much better quality.

Macron is trying to act in the best interest of his people. Not something that our politicians are renowned for

Is that you Macron?

@StormzyinaTCup

Interesting article here on our genome facilities and funding.

www.genomicsengland.co.uk/about-genomics-england/

Macron is trying to act in the best interest of his people. Not something that our politicians are renowned for

No one is doubting this expertise, the european cdc says so too.

As i said, 'drivers will be returning to their families across europe, its only reasonable to ask for testing, so pls get on with it and the ban can be lifted.

There is so much British exceptionalism on this thread and it’s really pathetic to watch. Stop blaming other countries and just own up to the fallibility already.

@JingsMahBucket It’s pathetic to watch people who I assume live in the UK denigrating the country that they are lucky to call their home.

It’s pathetic to watch people who I assume live in the UK denigrating the country that they are lucky to call their home.

Yep.

Yeesh. Xenophobic nationalism is not a good look @Splodgetastic.

@JingsMahBucket

There is so much British exceptionalism on this thread and it’s really pathetic to watch. Stop blaming other countries and just own up to the fallibility already.

What fallibility? Do you mean we should all agree that of course the reason the Covid mutation appeared in Kent is because we have a Tory Brexiteer govt?

If so, then we know the new strain didn't originate in europe?
No not at all. We don’t know either way yet. Do read that article I attached and have a read around the subject. It’s very interesting.

[quote Splodgetastic]@JingsMahBucket It’s pathetic to watch people who I assume live in the UK denigrating the country that they are lucky to call their home.[/quote]
No one denigrating their country, just the Tories who are in power.

@MrsMiaWallis oh no... We should have all been mightily prepared for China to start a pandemic in 2020...

Yeesh. Xenophobic nationalism is not a good look

No it's not. Fortunately that's not what's happening here. Read what's on the page, not what you assume is on the page.

Utterly ridiculous. This new strain will be ALL OVER Europe already.

Macron is a fucking tosser but I have long thought that

I do feel the British do the “right” thing. We reported this new strain as we picked up on it early. Countries like China find a new virus and cover it all up. No repercussions. I’m proud to be British but we are a very honest country compared to many and it does end up with very unfair results

[quote Splodgetastic]@JingsMahBucket It’s pathetic to watch people who I assume live in the UK denigrating the country that they are lucky to call their home.[/quote]
We have been born lucky by geography , it is true.

That does not mean a corrupt and negligent government should not be held to account or criticised for failings that have cost thousands of lives whilst lining their own pockets and those of their cronies.

@JingsMahBucket I am not a xenophobic nationalist. If you don’t like the U.K. though you are free to go elsewhere.

So much EU red tape we can't even develop our own mutant viruses now we have to rely on imports.

PM introduced a new tier ostensibly because of mutant strain. PM should have been prepared for action taken by neighbouring countries.

It will be resolved through testing.

But obviously I will never set foot in France again or buy anything which has been transported through French ports.

@ChloeDeckTheHalls

If so, then we know the new strain didn't originate in europe? No not at all. We don’t know either way yet. Do read that article I attached and have a read around the subject. It’s very interesting.

I have but i don't see the UK offering its expertise to other countries.

Surely, if we identified in September, we should, by now, be pooling resource across europe and testing previous positive tests?

Germany has just extended its travel ban into January.

Hang on a minute. Our gov report in national and international media that they've found a new strain which is endemic in London, spreading at a horrifying rate and needs the entire country to change its plans over a national holiday, and Macron is being an idiot because he wanted 48 hours space to establish the facts and put safety measures in place? So New Zealand are lauded for shutting borders for months, but 48 hours to assess things is petty?

Any other govt would have been able to see this coming from various countries. I'm more annoyed by the lack of foresight (again) by the Johnson crew which seem unable to predict and mitigate what every Joe Blogs in the street can see coming with their eyes half shut.

[quote Splodgetastic]@JingsMahBucket I am not a xenophobic nationalist. If you don’t like the U.K. though you are free to go elsewhere.[/quote]
Always the retort made by Xenophobic nationalists

@FingonTheValiant

But the numbers have doubled in areas with the new virus, and went up even during lockdown. In France, the numbers fell during lockdown, and are steady now. Just under 6000 new cases yesterday. That doesn't suggest France is having an issue with a more transmissible variant... So it's not unreasonable to assume it's not widespread in France and to take steps to keep things that way. Their numbers would like like the UK if it was.

The Eu has funds to help member countries in event of crisis. The UK voted to leave the EU and therefore no longer benefits from that fund. Interestingly just before the 2016 referendum the UK government blocked a payment from the EU to Cumbria to help rebuild after the Storm Desmond flooding. The local authorities have been trying to make up the difference ever since by cutting local services.