Whitty warns: Its not over

[palacegirl77]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-56334902

Not surprising when you look at the Spanish Flu model. Need everyone to get those vaccines!

@marshabradyo I suppose a specific example would be the calls from SAGE for an October lockdown which I believe were supported by Chris Whitty. On the whole I’ve felt that when SAGE and Whitty have aligned and the government have persisted down a different path that their advice has been ignored. Granted that’s not Whitty specific but I can’t recall when I’ve felt his direction has been as far off course as the governments.

Tell a lie, the whole ‘masks are useless’ thing at the beginning of all this was a massive error of judgement (given their known benefits and recommend usage during original SARS and MERS outbreaks). I say error of judgement as I understand the shortages at the time led to the campaign against personal procurement but it was massively misjudged regarding longer term consequences and public perception.

So there’s going to be a resurgence of a respiratory virus in the winter months? Especially among those who haven’t been vaccinated? Well I never.

Obviously this entirely predictable course of events isn’t sufficient justification for locking down the entire country for a fourth time. We can all agree that, right?

[quote Cornettoninja]@marshabradyo I suppose a specific example would be the calls from SAGE for an October lockdown which I believe were supported by Chris Whitty. On the whole I’ve felt that when SAGE and Whitty have aligned and the government have persisted down a different path that their advice has been ignored. Granted that’s not Whitty specific but I can’t recall when I’ve felt his direction has been as far off course as the governments.

Tell a lie, the whole ‘masks are useless’ thing at the beginning of all this was a massive error of judgement (given their known benefits and recommend usage during original SARS and MERS outbreaks). I say error of judgement as I understand the shortages at the time led to the campaign against personal procurement but it was massively misjudged regarding longer term consequences and public perception.[/quote]
People could have made their own masks fairly easily, and these could have been used a lot more if supported. Most of us are still using fabric masks.

The parties that have called for restrictions to be eased ASAP each time never seem to address the health aspect whereas it’s at least acknowledged vice versa. I can’t bring myself to put trust in people who have no answer to the health aspect except for ‘deal with it’; doesn’t exactly convey a lack of bias.

They never seem to address the economic implications of an uncontrolled pandemic virus either. Mind you a large number of them were also members of the ERG and they weren’t particularly worried about the economy then from what I can remember.

@HermioneWeasley

So there’s going to be a resurgence of a respiratory virus in the winter months? Especially among those who haven’t been vaccinated? Well I never.

Obviously this entirely predictable course of events isn’t sufficient justification for locking down the entire country for a fourth time. We can all agree that, right?

If the government goes back on its word this ends on 29 June the fall out will be catastrophic

The government never promised it would end on the 21st June.

This is why they shouldn’t put dates on things. They say one ‘from and no earlier than’ and people hear it as giving their word it would end.

Although tbf Boris did go all ‘crocus of hope’ and ‘one way road to freedom’ later on in that press conference.

One dimensional thinking, doom and gloom, wants zero covid etc etc

So many with so little relevant education making unedifying and uninformed commentary!

He has been one of the rational voices through this. Calm, dignified and attempting to parse some multi factored data into simple messages. It's not as though he has much control over how viruses present, he can only try to make the data more accessible to people who, a year ago, may have has absolutely no knowledge whatsoever about statistics, epidemiology, virology and group behaviours.

He is right. It will be over. Sooner if we stop clamouring for a quick get out and don't start breaking lockdown because we are bored, fed up, anxious etc.

Self employed, no work for weeks, very little for a year, no local friends and all my family live in other countries or 100+ miles away. DH works away, vital infrastructure work, so it's been just me and the dog ...

@RafaIsTheKingOfClay

The government never promised it would end on the 21st June.

This is why they shouldn’t put dates on things. They say one ‘from and no earlier than’ and people hear it as giving their word it would end.

Although tbf Boris did go all ‘crocus of hope’ and ‘one way road to freedom’ later on in that press conference.

Oh yes they did and if they decide the police state is here to stay at the behest of SAGE and Whitty there will be rioting Compliance is dropping anyway

Still no they didnt

@Cornettoninja

I’m happy that Chris Witty understands the consequences of restrictions and lockdowns and the economic/health relationship. If we’d followed his recommendations/advice throughout instead of trying to make the virus fit into our economic and social ideals until there was no other option but to act I believe we’d have had a much easier ride than we have done.

The parties that have called for restrictions to be eased ASAP each time never seem to address the health aspect whereas it’s at least acknowledged vice versa. I can’t bring myself to put trust in people who have no answer to the health aspect except for ‘deal with it’; doesn’t exactly convey a lack of bias.

This exactly.

They have no credible answer at all

@Girlmama3

It’s pregnant women who will be at risk. We are advised not to have the have the vaccine unless high risk.

Are we supposed to separate ourselves from everyone else until we’ve had the baby and have been vaccinated?

Yes, this needs to be looked at. There are pregnant women working in schools and other people l-facing roles who have no protection whatsoever.

If the advice of Chris Whitty and SAGE had been followed as recommended, thousands fewer would have died, and the restrictions that we have had would have been for a slightly shorter period. In particular four weeks of restrictions in mildish October would have been much easier to live with than the four weeks in November we had.

I trust him, will never trust any of this current government.

@Girlmama3

It’s pregnant women who will be at risk. We are advised not to have the have the vaccine unless high risk.

Are we supposed to separate ourselves from everyone else until we’ve had the baby and have been vaccinated?

Surely anyone currently pregnant now knows it’s in the middle of a pandemic and choose to continue anyway.

What does whitty mean by “vaccine not worked” ??
Thought the studies all showed that the current vaccines prevented death, even if they didn’t prevent catching covid

@Beaniecats

He just can't help himself can he. Probably terrified his time in the limelight is coming to an end

FFS. How ridiculous.

They didn't promise restrictions would end on 21st June. It was more an if the preceding targets are hit then we should be ok for 21st June.
We have a long way to go yet. Schools aren't fully open until the end of the week.

I think this is about Scotland bringing a date for outdoors meet ups forward .

He's just saying now schools are back and we have a park for easing lockdown planned out let's not spoil it by having meet ups before they are official .

Perhaps particularly with schools going back people may be planning sleepovers etc or get together with the families of their children's friends .

I’m not discounting myself when I say this, but it’s obvious that people are hearing/reading what they want to.

I can completely understand why CW feels it necessary to spell out the cautions when the government narrative leans towards optimism. The art of striking a balance isn’t one the current cabinet are any good at. There’s simply no way to guarantee anything until we’re living it. That goes for economic recovery as well as health.

@herecomesthsun I don’t disagree and had a fabric mask at the time myself but don’t forget this was at a point in time the general public were losing their shit over toilet paper. Given that climate I can understand why it was advised even if I don’t agree with it.

@megletsecond

They didn't promise restrictions would end on 21st June. It was more an if the preceding targets are hit then we should be ok for 21st June. We have a long way to go yet. Schools aren't fully open until the end of the week.

So ...we stay in lockdown forever? Ok......

@megletsecond

Yes, WFH. So I can keep out of the way.

That is easy for us to say as I am wfh too but so many people struggling

This is Chris Whitty’s moment of fame.
He was always mediocre.
Of course he doesn’t want it over and will milk it as long as he can.

So ...we stay in lockdown forever? Ok......

Yes because obviously the only two choices are unlock on 21 June or stay in lockdown forever.

Couldn't possibly imagine what other options there might, really difficult one that.

@QuidditchQueen

This is Chris Whitty’s moment of fame. He was always mediocre. Of course he doesn’t want it over and will milk it as long as he can.

Oh yes and unfortunately some are completely taken in by him.

@QuidditchQueen

This is Chris Whitty’s moment of fame. He was always mediocre. Of course he doesn’t want it over and will milk it as long as he can.

Mediocre? Hilarious!

FWIW he hates every second of this.