Things go wrong in other countries, too

[avenueq]

I don't think it's helpful how irate people get about the UK government's failings. Yes there are plenty but this is a whole new situation and there are plenty of other countries making mistakes.
Before you ask - I'm not from the UK, but that means I have insight what happens elsewhere,
So to start -
The Eu has been slow in vaccine acquisition

In Austria, vaccinations could not start yet in some areas as not enogh needles (!) had been ordered

Countries with the most severe lockdown did not necessarily solve the Problem (Spain)

Countries who had supposedly excellent track and trace also had a second wave (Germany)

Anyone got other examples?

The anti-UK stuff on here is astonishing and I think must be the work of bots. We have rolled out the vaccine very fast, and much more effectively than most of Europe.

Track and trace was never going to work in Europe. No big country has used it successfully to get anywhere near R=1.

Death rates are going to be broadly similar everywhere in developed countries, and it's not all to do with how "good" the Government is. Many parts of Africa with little no to infrastructure have had virtually no deaths from Covid, purely down to weather, geography and population demographics.

What's the point?

The UK government has not only failed in their reaction; communication has been abysmal. Totally inept. We're a laughing stock.

It doesn't really matter what happens elsewhere.

The fact is that the trust between the Gov and citizens is broken in this country; if that's wasn't the case we would see news being received very differently.

That's the work of years of a Conservative Government, which has systematically defunded the big pillars of our society, in healthcare and education, and requires women to provide proof they were raped before they can claim CB for a third child.

They deconstructed our society and didn't know we were going to hit a pandemic which required everyone to act as one. They did this.

Totally inept. We're a laughing stock.

Who is laughing?

Didn't someone mistakenly inject 5x the vaccine into patients in Germany?

Merkel blocked ordering more vaccinations so now the EU doesn’t have enough.

France managed a grand total of just over 500 vaccinations on the first day. We did over 100,000 in the first week (over 14,000 per day) in comparison.

What other western countries sent 11 million kids and teachers into schools in September with effectively nothing more than hand sanitisation?

I think the idea that the UK is a laughing stock is interesting as I doubt that people in other countries really are interested in what’s happening in the UK. My relatives abroad ask when they phone, as they don’t know. It’s our exaggerated sense of self importance that makes us think people in other countries are even paying attention, when they’ve no doubt got more relevant issues taking up more space in their minds!

You’re on a hiding to nothing here with that comment OP. People on MN are revelling in slagging off everything that is done in this country. Of course it’s not been all done correctly and Boris and co will have serious questions to answer afterwards but posters here simply won’t accept that anything is done right here. It’s like a competitive gloom competition.

France insisting that the EU order a substantial number of Sanofi vaccines which are now delayed until the Autumn, leaving the EU short.

I think people are fearful and blame government but in truth this is a highly unusual situation, it's evolving and unpredictable things happen. The world is a very different place to the one it was the last time we had a pandemic on this scale, we are much more mobile and densely populated globally. Containing and controlling the virus whilst limiting the fall out in terms of economy, health, education etc was always going to be an uphill battle.

Few governments have managed things perfectly or even well but they are just humans doing the best they can to keep multiple plates spinning. It really isn't in their interests to screw things up so I have no doubt the mistakes are not deliberate sabotage to serve some secret agenda. I don't think another party would have done any better in the UK and of course it remains to be seen how things play out long term.

@mrshoho Germany for one

I was thinking exactly the same until recently. However I do believe the Government letting people mix at Christmas was wrong and we are now having to sacrifice education for it. I do think that is a failing by our Government.

From another country's perspective, we aren't laughing at you as we have our COVID issues. Every country does. Mine has dealt with somewhat better, but that be a mix of of planning, luck, and consequence. From what I've noticed every government's response has its passionate detractors.

Germany did the same for Christmas

But the difference with countries such a Germany is that the rules and messaging have been completely clear. Kids went to online schooling before Xmas in Germany. Rules are decided and they are applied. There is no flip flopping and last minute u-turning.

Teachers and working parents have been treated disgracefully by Boris et al. There is no justification for sending kids to school for one day then closing them. It's the most appalling example of mismanagement. If that was the only mistake of the pandemic it may be forgivable. But this is off the back of late initial lock down, failed track and trace and uturn over Xmas plans.

Germany employed tens of thousands of people to track and track, back in May. Their government did not had billions to their mates with dodgy credentials to try to implement the scheme.

This is the worst leadership I have ever experienced as a UK citizen, by a country mile. It is a sorry example of populist government. Party leader elected on personality and MPs and cabinet ministers only selected if fully in support of the PM (and not because they are qualified for the job). It's an embarrassment and a disgrace.

Agree that Europe is broadly in same situation

I wonder if other European countries mixed at Christmas? I can't find any information about it.

@herethereandeverywhere you're very much mistaken about Germany. There have been changes and disagreements between the states etc
Their track and trace at one point only picked up 25 % of cases

AvenuQ

German kids had temperatures taken and mask wearing (since they went back to school in June).

In Italy (Lombardy) they have different colours for different days to represent what they are allowed to do. Red, orange and yellow days which seem to change at random. My lovely Italian teacher friend thinks it's bonkers!

On the plus side teachers and pupils have all worn masks, teachers are given FFP3 masks and they've even knocked down walls in schools to make classrooms bigger to ensure SD.

I'm not a bot and there aren't adequate words to express my feelings of rage toward this government

AvenuQ: I didn't say track and trace found everyone? I said they didn't waste tens of billions handing it to friends! Track and trace worked well there until October time.

I don't give a fuck about how this country or that country has handled it.

This country has been an omni-shambles from the start.

Yes, vaccines will save us from disaster by Easter and might just save the government, but it doesn't excuse 12 months of disastrous governance.

@ofwarren

I wonder if other European countries mixed at Christmas? I can't find any information about it.

They did in many countries. In Spain up to 6 were allowed to mix inside (and still are).

@herethereandeverywhere not in all states