Prime Minister to make an announcement tonight at 5 p.m.

[Calmandmeasured1]

The Express reports:
"No indication has been given as to why the briefing has suddenly been called, however, it comes less than 24 hours after false reports in the German media caused alarm by claiming the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine was ineffective among over-65s."

It could also be to make the announcement about hotel quarantining for those entering the country. I would imagine both subjects.

@GetOffYourHighHorse

I must admit I thought he would be a lot more animated and gritty . Technically with his background he should run rings around Boris .

[quote donewithitalltodayandxmas]@thedancingbear its not gibberish at all , do you really think either Corbyn or Johnson or anyone thought oh I know we are due a pandemic this will happen in the next term. [/quote]
No-one could've predicted exactly when it would happen, but yes, pandemics are a fact of life,

The Asian flu in the 50s killed 20000 people in Britain, and the spanish flu in 1918-19 many more. This is GCSE history. Educate yourself.

The government had completed a round of planning for a potential flu pandemic but implemented none of the recommendations.

@GetOffYourHighHorse

'No threats, no police , just a great sense of collective responsibility.'

So the footage we saw early last year of people being forcibly removed from their apartments was all fake?

'Collective responsibility' in China. They've brainwashed you well. I wonder if the Xinjiang re-education camps have a great sense of collective responsibility too.

Well I lived there for 12 years, no brain washing, just stating what I have seen, what restrictions were in place and what the effects were. It sounds, however, much more palatable to say I am brainwashed rather than consider action taken by the Chinese and sacrifices made by many, many people. I cannot comment on Wuhan as I didn’t live there. I lived in a city of 8.5 million, 94 cases, no deaths and last reported cases was end of Feb 2020. My dh’s factory never closed, office staff stayed home for about three weeks, testing with symptoms was mandatory, travel between provinces was prohibited- all of this contributed to the lower case levels. There is a greater sense of collective responsibility and individuals were prepared to make sacrifices for the benefit of the whole. I see much less of that here with 1000 reasons why I can’t self isolate or what the rules don’t apply to me.

@AnyFucker

Starmer is now calling for schools to open ?

Ffs, he is more contradictory than BoJo. He just shouts for the opposite of everything.

Where is the link about this?

He looked absolutely exhausted. And he took responsibility

I guess that depends on what we feel "responsibility" looks like, and for me it's more than a few mewling soundbites, or (as a PP said) making a fool of himself at PMQs

In theory the eventual stitched up public inquiry might offer a few answers, but I'm not holding my breath - and in any case Boris will be long gone by then and enjoying the payback from the cronies whose nests he's feathered

@wanderings I think fact furlough was introduced until april was a good indication.
Also we have been told 2 weeks notice for schools now so time for them to prepare.
But I am so sick of companies that will only take something seriously if they are forced like wfh or poor covid.
I think waiting on vaccine and how that goes before they say too much and we have budget due which will address business and other factors.

Technically has any country managed an efficient track and trace ?

[quote donewithitalltodayandxmas]@chomalungma he hasn't done that well , surely you can see that?
Rather than just throw an insult at someone point out when he has challenged well that would be better.[/quote]
If you watch PMQs, you will see exactly what he's said and asked for.

He's asked for local track and trace to be implemented because national track and trace doesn't work very well.

He's asked repeatedly about the self employed and company directors.

He's asked repeatedly about ensuring people will self isolate.

There are real issues. And Boris dismisses them

[quote donewithitalltodayandxmas]@ShanghaiDiva really no threat? They are all compliant just because ? Not because of how country is run and different culture.
And also people were locked in , lockdown was very strict , that would not be accepted here [/quote]
Honestly- we complied because we were scared. Nobody knew what this virus was that was moving beyond Wuhan.
I wore a mask because it was the right thing to do: to protect others.
I am aware how strict the lockdown was as I was living there.
Restrictions were exceptionally tough in Wuhan, but not aware of any lock-ins where I lived in. Certainly, if you were self isolating then a pink tape could be placed across your door so anyone would be aware you had tried to leave, but not welded in.

@ShanghaiDiva

Do you think the number of deaths in China was an accurate figure then ? Nothing covered up in that respect ?

@Unsure33

Technically has any country managed an efficient track and trace ?

China, HK, South Korea

@shanghaidiva I agree on collective responsibility but we all see the footage and we are all aware of the differences between china and many other countries and it wouldn't work everwhere,lets not pretend that it is nor run very differently over there.
But yes I am sick of reading why people here must shop in pairs , not wear a mask properly, having parties, are bored so going for a browse ( nothing against the geniune people who really do struggle) and then these same people are often the ones saying why haven't we followed nz , aus, china etc

'must admit I thought he would be a lot more animated and gritty . Technically with his background he should run rings around Boris'

I know! He just looks nervous all the time and out of his depth.

@ShanghaiDiva and there you go here you could not put pink tape over someones door as would breach data protection amongst other things
Track and trace also better in countries you mentioned as again people are happy for goverment to have more info about them, here people don't tend to like it.

@unsure33 we will never know if accurate figures and same with other countries , even those reporting are reporting slightly differently.

@LacyEdge

“Okay folks—I’ve given it my best shot, but alas I must tell you that I am incapable of running a country. I am therefore handing the reins to a government of national unity and shall sally forth unto a Tuscan villa post haste. Toodle-pip.”

To put a more positive spin , I am pleased how well vaccinations are going and hope this continues

'Honestly- we complied because we were scared'

Scared of been carted off. As myself and others have said we did see alarming footage of enforcement and removing people. Was this fake? Why has the CCP refused access for the WHO into the wuhan institute of virology? I mean that was strange having an virus institute researching coronavirus in the very same place the outbreak started 🤔. Not much 'collective responsibility' if you ask me..

[quote Unsure33]@ShanghaiDiva

Do you think the number of deaths in China was an accurate figure then ? Nothing covered up in that respect ?[/quote]
I think the data for my city is reasonably accurate as it came from my GP. If cases had been substantially higher it would have been evident in the medical community as the govt would have closed private clinics as they did at the start of the pandemic.
I am sure the numbers are higher that reported, not necessarily through a cover up, but because many cases were probably dismissed at the beginning as flu. Who checks for a new virus when an 80 year old dies of ‘flu’?
I think it would get very hard to cover up hundreds of thousands of deaths. I have friends in various provinces and you can see life is normalish. My dd’s School had all kids back by June, sports competitions resumed last year, shops and restaurants all open etc. At dh’s company they worked from home for three weeks last year and there has been no home working since.
Things which are not normal: international travel restrictions, coming down hard on any outbreak, discouraging travel over spring festival next month and wearing masks on public transport.

@Unsure33

Technically has any country managed an efficient track and trace ?

Oh look, a windmill.

Anyone would think that they only thing they are planning is a mass resignation, so that none of them will have to deal with rebuilding lockdown-ravaged Britain

I wouldn't say a "mass" resignation, but yes, I'm certain that those best placed to monetise what they've created will be off the instant it suits - also that they'll be planning their own futures a darned sight more thoughtfully than the country's

[quote donewithitalltodayandxmas]@shanghaidiva I agree on collective responsibility but we all see the footage and we are all aware of the differences between china and many other countries and it wouldn't work everwhere,lets not pretend that it is nor run very differently over there.
But yes I am sick of reading why people here must shop in pairs , not wear a mask properly, having parties, are bored so going for a browse ( nothing against the geniune people who really do struggle) and then these same people are often the ones saying why haven't we followed nz , aus, china etc[/quote]
Yes, it is run very differently over here. I understand that, but so many things could have been better:
Testing people at the beginning rather than telling them to stay at home.
There are three elements to pandemic control:
Isolate: yep we did that
Test : too late
Track contacts: handled very poorly.

[quote Unsure33]@itsgettingweird

Is starmer really calling for schools to open ? I don’t quite understand that at this point when figures are so high .

He has supported the government at most stages ( I watch pm questions when I can)

Then afterwards changed his mind so I am not really clear about what he wants .[/quote]
I read it earlier.

Admittedly that doesn't mean it's exactly what he said or how he said it but he does seem to always be challenging to keep ahead but imo with the wrong things.

I've been impressed with his support though to get things done even when he said he'd do them differently. He's been good at recognising time fighting and debating is time wasted. I'll give him that!

missed most of the thread but it seems silly to compare China and our response. we are 2 completely different set ups, not to mention electoral systems and freedoms eg freedom of speech!

Although a quick google doesn't call any results for any media on him saying this. Just about him calling for closures at beginning of jan.