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Original poster

Erm....Boris WTF are you talking about?!

183 replies

PopcornandPretzels · 08/03/2021 16:55

Hi,

I'm watching the Coronavirus briefing and I can't believe what I'm hearing!

Boris was saying that we saw what happened with other countries, we haven't been far behind in terms of a second wave, we've seen this before etc, as though we all know where this is heading, I.e, a 3rd wave!

He's talking as though this is inevitable! Have I missed something? Have vaccines been announced as useless?

These countries that he's talking about, the ones which we have always "followed in the past", don't have a vaccination programme like ours, so why is he speaking like this?

I feel really angry. He will have scared a lot of people talking like this.

OP posts:
Original poster
PopcornandPretzels · 08/03/2021 17:50

Just to be clear, which I wasn't in my OP, I am not one of those who thinks, we've got the vaccine so everything is great, let's open up everything now etc. I believe we need to go steady and yes, we do have a long way to go, but the way Boris put it (to me) it sounded as though he was saying that even if we stick to the road map, the 3rd wave could easily be on it's way.

OP posts:
MarshaBradyo · 08/03/2021 17:52

@PopcornandPretzels

Just to be clear, which I wasn't in my OP, I am not one of those who thinks, we've got the vaccine so everything is great, let's open up everything now etc. I believe we need to go steady and yes, we do have a long way to go, but the way Boris put it (to me) it sounded as though he was saying that even if we stick to the road map, the 3rd wave could easily be on it's way.
Cases will go up but did he or anyone distinguish between cases / hospitalisation and deaths?
BungleandGeorge · 08/03/2021 17:54

It’s the same message isn’t it? If there’s a third wave it’s due to people not behaving rather than due to the government opening up too early or mismanaging the pandemic or due to ineffective test and trace (which should be able to cope with the current low numbers)

nordica · 08/03/2021 17:56

It was very specifically in response to a journalist asking something along the lines of now that things are looking so great with infection rates going down, can't we just relax the restrictions quicker than the road map the other week set out. So he was explaining why that wouldn't be a good idea at this point...

It does sound like the vaccinations are really helping already in preventing cases and hospitalisations but cases have also been brought down with lockdown, they wouldn't have gone down without it. And it's likely the lifting of restrictions will make cases go up again... we just have to hope it doesn't lead to too much serious illness and hospitalisations, of course.

peak2021 · 08/03/2021 17:56

BungleandGeorge yes I agree, Mr Johnson will blame someone else. He fails to acknowledge all the children he has fathered (allegedly).

Pootle40 · 08/03/2021 17:57

Do we care if there is another wave so long as severely ill is much lower and subsequently deaths? I am confused

lljkk · 08/03/2021 17:57

We'll hit 150,000 covid deaths in the next 8 days

Google says cumulative Uk death from covid total = 125k (as of today)

25k in next 8 days would be +3000/day
Last Friday UK death toll was 250(ish).
I don't think we're gonna hit cumulative 150k in 8 days.
If UK stabilises at 250/day, we'd need 1000 days to get to 150k cumulative.

nordica · 08/03/2021 18:00

@Pootle40

Do we care if there is another wave so long as severely ill is much lower and subsequently deaths? I am confused
Yes because that's the recipe for the virus to mutate to a more vaccine resistant variant, especially in a partially vaccinated population.
Pootle40 · 08/03/2021 18:01

@PrincessNutNuts but 60,000 people haven't died OF Covid since we started vaccinations. Sorry every time I see this I have to correct it. 60,000 people in the UK have died since we started vaccinated who had a positive Covid test in the last 28 days.

We don't even know how many that contributed (to any degree) to their death.

That's why data interrogation is important. That picture has been painted for a reason. Effectively what's happening is by leaving out a few key facts they can influence any which way they want.

Acesulfame · 08/03/2021 18:01

If we open up, cases will go up. It’s inevitable. What matters is whether hospitalisations also increase beyond capacity. That is the only thing that matters.

KisstheTeapot14 · 08/03/2021 18:08

One point I think has been missed by the politicians is that vaccines don't - as far as we know - protect against long covid.

This can effect children and adults alike.

As someone with CFS I would say - please don't underestimate this.

It hasn't had enough air time as we are still fighting death/severe cases. The clinical lead for NHS (Horizon special - what do we know about Covid) says even if you get mild Covid - take it seriously and rest for 3-4 weeks (as much as you can - not rushing back into work for example) as the virus can be doing invisible damage and the best hope of limiting this is rest to let your body heal/fight the virus as effectively as poss.

Trust me you don't want CFS/Long Covid (very similar symptoms).

Had CFS for 7 years now and it has changed many aspects of my life. I do about 50% of what I would have before. Socialising, work, gardening and other hobbies. Lockdown didn't seem so harsh to me as many things I have already curtailed.

This is not a woe is me post - I am actually very positive and glass half full.

It IS a don't end up like me post! If one person reads this and takes preventative action that's good enough for me.

If lots take heed and we all protect each other as much as poss - we may never know how many lives we save from chronic illness by doing that.

Keep patient and keep safe out there. I'm going to be distancing and mask wearing even after the vaccine - until community rates are really low. That might be a long time yet.

Cuesday · 08/03/2021 18:12

This article is bloody depressing - apparently B Johnson has no idea what he's talking about: uk.yahoo.com/news/first-minister-wales-branded-boris-142715017.html

wanderings · 08/03/2021 18:12

He's trying to justify the snail's pace of lifting lockdown and to keep the public terrified and obedient, as per the usual agenda. Nothing like mentioning a third or fourth wave to scare the long-suffering public who are on the brink of rebelling.

Springingintospring · 08/03/2021 18:15

He was chatting a lot of shit today, he was just not on the top of his game I think, I wouldn't take it to mean anything

LunaHeather · 08/03/2021 18:16

I was in a similar boat to you for about 12 years, possibly longer as I might need a second nap in a minute so maybe I'm not out of the woods yet.

But there is NO WAY I would advocate lockdown. The damage from that is a billion times worse than the results of my chronic illnesses, and, yes, if I extrapolate that and imagine that 70% of the working population have my issues, it is still not a reason to wreck lives, livelihoods and personal freedom.

Brunt0n · 08/03/2021 18:17

You need to get your hearing tested

LunaHeather · 08/03/2021 18:17

Sorry, I thought
I had quoted Kisstheteapot in my post.

Delatron · 08/03/2021 18:18

What @wanderings said

He knows full well there is lockdown fatigue now. We can sit on a bench with another person woo hoo.

Once all the over 50s and vulnerable have been vaccinated (and one dose does give a high protection) where is his argument for keeping us locked in until June? Ah a third wave and mutant variants. Despite last summer being fine and low cases without half the population vaccinated!

I guess the hospitalisations and deaths will be the ones to watch.

loretta81 · 08/03/2021 18:18

I think the government are probably very concerned that people will not stay at home now. People are looking forward to having more freedom soon and the return of schools plus vaccination might make people think it is safe to let their guard down. I imagine this is why the messaging is so cautious.

Lovingspring · 08/03/2021 18:26

The vaccines haven't been shown to reduce transmission. If the virus levels are high, even if people are asymptomatic, there is a bigger risk of mutations.

PerkingFaintly · 08/03/2021 18:27

@KisstheTeapot14, thank you, thank you for that clip!

I wanted to get up and dance at hearing they're going to study crossovers in cause and treatment between Long Covid and ME/CFS... Hurrah hurrah!

Except, of course, I have ME/CFS and walked to the washing line earlier, so am now lying down. Grin

Also, what you said. People, you don't want this condition. If resting for three weeks when you have Covid staves it off, do that. I know you think you don't have time to be rest... but three weeks' enforced rest vs losing your life as you know it for the next umpteen years... it's a no-brainer.

NoMackerelInSwindon · 08/03/2021 18:28

BJ is 100% planning for failure, but 100% confident in success.

I predict 100% of posters will read my post.
I predict 100% of posters will not understand it.

Its a military, strategic kind of thingy.

MarshaBradyo · 08/03/2021 18:32

It was very specifically in response to a journalist asking something along the lines of now that things are looking so great with infection rates going down, can't we just relax the restrictions quicker than the road map the other week set out. So he was explaining why that wouldn't be a good idea at this point...

Ok makes sense

FourTeaFallOut · 08/03/2021 18:41

Boris has a herd of back benchers resolute in their determination to move faster than the plan which is laid out, along with a number of sections of the population which agree them.

I think these briefings are usually about controlling the narrative. I think the plan is sound and we'll see good progress because of the vaccines, certainly far fewer hospitalisations and deaths. However, given the number of unvaccinated people in the population we will see climbing case figures with each unlocking. And he can point to Europe and their climbing case figures as they have also relaxed the rules.

I didn't see the briefing but it sounds like another exercise in calibrating expectations.

PuzzledObserver · 08/03/2021 18:49

@Lovingspring

The vaccines haven't been shown to reduce transmission.

Yes they have. It was all over the news a few weeks ago - both AZ and Pfizer reduce infections by around 2/3.