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Original poster

Whitty warns: Its not over

207 replies

palacegirl77 · 09/03/2021 11:54

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

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

OP posts:
Beaniecats · 09/03/2021 19:36

@titchy

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. Hmm

What justification is there for a continuation of restrictions with low rates and a vaccination programme. None, absolutely none
ChameleonClara · 09/03/2021 19:44

@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.
This sort of remark is completely embarrassing.

I'm sure you are a leading light in your field Hmm

southeastdweller · 09/03/2021 19:44

"“Look at what is happening in continental Europe at the moment where a lot of countries are going back into rates going up and having to close things down again.”

But they haven't vaccinated as many people as we have!

What a prick.

ChameleonClara · 09/03/2021 19:47

There are clearly some posters who are struggling, their belief that covid was going to evaporate on 21st June seems very strong. I think though for most people what Chris Whitty is saying is pretty obvious - we are moving forwards but need to take care we don't repeat of last year's massive fuck up.

cantkeepawayforever · 09/03/2021 19:48

@ChameleonClara

There are clearly some posters who are struggling, their belief that covid was going to evaporate on 21st June seems very strong. I think though for most people what Chris Whitty is saying is pretty obvious - we are moving forwards but need to take care we don't repeat of last year's massive fuck up.
Exactly this.
southeastdweller · 09/03/2021 19:50

What justification is there for a continuation of restrictions with low rates and a vaccination programme. None, absolutely none

I agree. We need to be moving faster with the unlocking. And I also think he's justifying the disproportionate measures over the past twelve months because what else can he do?

megletsecond · 09/03/2021 19:52

Oh yes, I'd love to stay in lockdown forever 🙄. I've spent a year with my bloody kids driving me up the wall, such fun.

MarshaBradyo · 09/03/2021 19:56

@ChameleonClara

There are clearly some posters who are struggling, their belief that covid was going to evaporate on 21st June seems very strong. I think though for most people what Chris Whitty is saying is pretty obvious - we are moving forwards but need to take care we don't repeat of last year's massive fuck up.
It’s more to MPs than a message to the public.

He will be asked to brief rather than see it as having to step in. Re SAGE and Whitty I’m not sure if he aligns with statements, he usually is speaking as CMO alongside government rather than as together with SAGE. But maybe there was a statement.

Re pp talking about mediocrity how ridiculous 🙄 do list your contributions.

MedSchoolRat · 09/03/2021 20:09

Whitty strikes me as a very kind & very competent man. I'd never doubt his motives or priorities in slightest.

Actually that is a good description of the members of SAGE who I know well enough to chat to. Kind, earnest, competent.

None of them have big egos, either unlike the average MNer

titchy · 09/03/2021 20:13

What justification is there for a continuation of restrictions with low rates and a vaccination programme. None, absolutely none

Well if the numbers spike or there's a new variant that the vaccine isn't effective against that would be justification for a rethink, or at least a slowing down of the opening up process. Things are looking positive so far so hopefully it won't need amending, but I don't have a crystal ball. And neither do you.

titchy · 09/03/2021 20:15

@southeastdweller

What justification is there for a continuation of restrictions with low rates and a vaccination programme. None, absolutely none

I agree. We need to be moving faster with the unlocking. And I also think he's justifying the disproportionate measures over the past twelve months because what else can he do?

He hasn't decided the measures. You're pissed off and making CW a scapegoat. HE HAS MADE NO DECISIONS ON WHAT GETS LOCKED DOWN OR WHEN. Write to your MP if you're not happy with the decisions THE GOVERNMENT HAVE MADE.
sleepwouldbenice · 09/03/2021 20:16

@ChameleonClara

There are clearly some posters who are struggling, their belief that covid was going to evaporate on 21st June seems very strong. I think though for most people what Chris Whitty is saying is pretty obvious - we are moving forwards but need to take care we don't repeat of last year's massive fuck up.
Exactly But as usual many completely unqualified idiots who haven’t got a clue about infection rates, vaccine effectiveness etc, and of course haven’t actually bothered reading or listening to what he actually said, know so much better
UnshakenNeedsStirring · 09/03/2021 20:19

@vera99 Burying your head in the sand and ignoring his advice wouldn't be a clever thing to do. He is right, sadly

wanderings · 09/03/2021 20:30

last year's massive fuck up. Which was the government's fault, not the public's. The government practically ordered us to "eat out to help out", and I'm certain Saint Boris will be saying "spend spend spend to save the economy", with the subtext "while you can, before I'm forced to snatch it all away again", while once again blaming the public. I'm very glad I did do things as much as I could last summer, and that I didn't hide away, before Saint Boris and his cronies snatched it all away, for an inhumane amount of time.

And if we don't get the promised unlocking on 21st June, I think there will be riots this time, even if Saint Boris and his merry men try to "prepare" us by laying the doom and gloom on thick beforehand. They have already reneged on "we cancelled Christmas at the last moment, but there will be significant normality by Easter, see your loved ones then." That's as good as been snatched away. People are fed up with the U-turns and broken promises, and will not stand for it much longer, as they watch their jobs and families' mental health crumble around them, while the wealthy politicians who are isolated from these realities are pontificating from their podiums.

Whitty strikes me as a very kind & very competent man.
Perhaps some people thought the same about Tony Blair, and other slick and smarmy bastards, before he showed what a liar and rogue he really was.

SonnetForSpring · 09/03/2021 20:32

@MedSchoolRat

Whitty strikes me as a very kind & very competent man. I'd never doubt his motives or priorities in slightest.

Actually that is a good description of the members of SAGE who I know well enough to chat to. Kind, earnest, competent.

None of them have big egos, either unlike the average MNer

I can't actually believe how over confident some posters are about their scientific knowledge and analysis. Absurd. Really is beyond belief.
Beaniecats · 09/03/2021 20:37

@wanderings

last year's massive fuck up. Which was the government's fault, not the public's. The government practically ordered us to "eat out to help out", and I'm certain Saint Boris will be saying "spend spend spend to save the economy", with the subtext "while you can, before I'm forced to snatch it all away again", while once again blaming the public. I'm very glad I did do things as much as I could last summer, and that I didn't hide away, before Saint Boris and his cronies snatched it all away, for an inhumane amount of time.

And if we don't get the promised unlocking on 21st June, I think there will be riots this time, even if Saint Boris and his merry men try to "prepare" us by laying the doom and gloom on thick beforehand. They have already reneged on "we cancelled Christmas at the last moment, but there will be significant normality by Easter, see your loved ones then." That's as good as been snatched away. People are fed up with the U-turns and broken promises, and will not stand for it much longer, as they watch their jobs and families' mental health crumble around them, while the wealthy politicians who are isolated from these realities are pontificating from their podiums.

Whitty strikes me as a very kind & very competent man.
Perhaps some people thought the same about Tony Blair, and other slick and smarmy bastards, before he showed what a liar and rogue he really was.

Well said I think time will show Whitty and his ilk are not quite the heroes people perceive them to be
LaurieFairyCake · 09/03/2021 20:39

Anyone who thinks Whitty is 'mediocre' should really watch the vaccination lecture he gave at Gresham college about 3 weeks ago - it's on YouTube

What a thoroughly decent person he comes across as.

I'd ride him like SeaBiscuit given half a chance.

I've heard he's single too...

MumofPsuedoAdult · 09/03/2021 20:48

@Elderberry84

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that people with local friends and family were finding this easier, am having a really bad day.
I hear you, I'm having a really bad day too. My family are also all abroad and I haven't seen my parents for nearly 2 years having not been able to travel to them last summer. Lockdown 3 has been an absolute killer and I don't think I can do this again.
DenisetheMenace · 09/03/2021 20:52

vera99

Professor Gloom and Doom. Great and the good epidemiologically speaking but as advisers they advise and politicians decide.“

Yep, that went brilliantly last year, didn’t it 🙄

Don’t know how Whitty, Vallance (spelling?), Van Tam et al keep their cool with the twats of the self-appointed CRG.
They’re professionals, I guess.

DenisetheMenace · 09/03/2021 20:55

Beanie at

Well said
I think time will show Whitty and his ilk are not quite the heroes people perceive them to be“

Just remind us all of your contributions to humanity, will you Beaniecat?

Alternatively, just bugger off.

sleepwouldbenice · 09/03/2021 21:17

@DenisetheMenace

Beanie at

Well said
I think time will show Whitty and his ilk are not quite the heroes people perceive them to be“

Just remind us all of your contributions to humanity, will you Beaniecat?

Alternatively, just bugger off.

Exactly
Ethelfromnumber73 · 09/03/2021 21:18

@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.
@QuidditchQueen I'm assuming that your performance in your chosen career is absolutely stellar for you to judge CW as 'mediocre'. I know some people who have worked with CW and he is extremely well respected in his field- as you might expect from a CMO
HarveySchlumpfenburger · 09/03/2021 21:22

LOL at Witty being mediocre.

The whole data not dates thing seems to have been undermined by releasing a road map with only dates in it. I suppose whether that’s a big comms success or failure depends on what their aim was.

TheHouseElf · 09/03/2021 21:36

I can across an interview (long) with a guy called Geert Vanden Bossche PhD today, who is a Vaccinology Expert. I'll put the link for YouTube at the end, but it is a long video (1hr 48).

Basically he's saying that we are at the edge of a tsunami of a 3rd wave that has been caused because of lockdown and the mass vaccination programme. That the virus has been put under "pressure" because of that, and so had mutated into variants which are now more infectious etc. He says those who are now partially vaccinated (ie first jabs only with many weeks/months before the next jab) should be put into isolation, as otherwise if they catch Covid again, they will have it a-symptomatically, which enables the virus to mutate again, and pass it onto younger people.

Look: I'm not clever enough to know most of the stuff he's talking about, and I'm not endorsing it, but as someone who's in the next batch of vaccinations ages, I found it really interesting (and a little daunting). It certainly has given me even more stuff to think about.

If you're interested, checked it out - in the comments there are some timings if you want to just look at particular sections.

Beebityboo · 09/03/2021 21:37

@LaurieFairyCake

Anyone who thinks Whitty is 'mediocre' should really watch the vaccination lecture he gave at Gresham college about 3 weeks ago - it's on YouTube

What a thoroughly decent person he comes across as.

I'd ride him like SeaBiscuit given half a chance.

I've heard he's single too...

After a thoroughly shit day I am absolutely howling at this Grin