Breaking News Boris press conference tonight 14/05/21

[Whichjab]

So, is Monday under threat? Change to school masks or hugs?

@Vintagevixen

It's the hospitalisations/deaths that are key as opposed to positive tests and they remain low.

We have a successful vaccination programme and all those in the most vulnerable groups have been offered/given vaccines.

New variants are talked up to stoke the fear. Unlocking is the correct thing to do.

Absolutely agree. As long as deaths and hospitalisations remain low, there is absolutely no need to keep restrictions any longer than is absolutely necessary. I am already not holding my breath for 21st June though

And is there a competition between the journalists as to who can ask the stupidest question?

Sounds like it (Indian variant) will just slow things down but hopefully not fuck it all up completely if vaccine does it’s job. But all a bit of a guessing game sadly.

"Let's exercise caution and common sense"
sounds like a good call, mind you it lays the blame with us if we do have 'bodies piled high'

@warmup

Basically 'we have no idea what will happen with this variant, we don't have the data, we think it will spread more rapidly but let's just crack on regardless'

But he's not saying 'crack on regardless', is he (well, they, it's not Boris making these decisions in a vacuum, obviously).

He is very clearly saying that at this stage they are proceeding with caution and asking everyone to be very careful while they monitor the data.

He is also very clearly saying that there is soem risk to the June date - no-one can reasonably say if it doesn't go ahead that they had no warning, it is being stressed repeatedly.

Have to see how it pans out I guess!

I know it's harsh, ut I think we do need to be approaching things more regionally now.

If places like Bolton - where vaccine take up is shocking - are able to open up on monday, just think how quickly that variant is going to spread.

The roadmap should go ahead but just saying wishy-washy things like 'think twice' about doing blah blah blah is going to have zero impact on citizens of those places who already suspicious of the vaccination programme.

So there is the potential that on 21st June there could be some additional easing of restrictions but not as fully as previously announced?

Tbh, I was never of the belief that after then it would all be back to normal anyway (as in 2019 normal)

If there are further more gradual steps but we don't go backwards and go back to more restrictions, I can live with that

@Whoarethewho

The young unvaccinated thrown to the wolves again looking like our vaccine going further away so the over 50s can get their second jab sooner. The borders should have been shut ages ago this Indian variant should have remained in India.

No one is being thrown to the wolves. It’s better for everyone that the more vulnerable are fully protected so that hospitalisations don’t rise.

Anyway, it’s unlikely the 30’s 1st vaccinations will be delayed as they are being offered Moderna and Pfizer whilst the majority of the over 50s - 60s and group 6 had AZ. I imagine they will be using the stocks of AZ which were supposed to go to the 30’s but now aren’t.

Can you see there has been a major bust-up? Where is Vallance? That Sky presenter has just slaughtered him!

@warmup

Basically 'we have no idea what will happen with this variant, we don't have the data, we think it will spread more rapidly but let's just crack on regardless'

We already know that it's more transmissible than the last variant (that was already more transmissible than original covid) and we know that we screwed ourselves over by not taking prompt action in January - March 2020 and September to December 2020.

But we're going to carry on regardless for a few more weeks and let it really embed itself in a few more locations instead of taking any precautionary action.

Why are they shortening the break between jabs to eight weeks? Loads of research seems to say that 12 weeks is preferable? Have they found new data?

Whitty interesting there. Basically schools opening have caused the spike

@happyface42

Predicted this would happen. Who are we now protecting now the elderly and vulnerable have been vaccinated? We are destroying our children's lives and what for now? The vaccine was out ticket out of this mess and if that won't 'protect' us what will? We have no other option but to get on with life now as carefully as we can but I refuse to lock myself or my children away again. I realise he hasn't come out and said we are going back into lockdown but that's what will be next because this virus isn't going away.

I agree. Heads in the sand again until it's out of control. I'm hoping all the people vaccinated already will make some difference to the last time, but there are still all the children unvaccinated. It's a worry.

I don't understand why this isn't being addressed locally.

Bolton has very specific problems. The Indian areas of London its also spreading aswell. So address this at source.

Rather than on a uk level. This just spreads fear and business doesn't get up and running. Damaging our economy.

I am pretty sure that stage four is now for all intents and purposes cancelled.

God, that take up rate is shocking. Community leaders need to get out fast and help. If people aren’t listening to the government then surely they will listen to their leaders.

'Set fair'??? We're not talking about a bloody yacht race! "We'll know a lot more in a couple of weeks" when it's too late.

@Oblomov21

I don't understand why this isn't being addressed locally.

Bolton has very specific problems. The Indian areas of London its also spreading aswell. So address this at source.

Rather than on a uk level. This just spreads fear and business doesn't get up and running. Damaging our economy.

Glasgow as well.

Is the second dose tweaked for the new variant, or is it just to be given sooner because two doses gives more protection?

Two doses = better protection

Ooh, good question Alastair.

Is it 8 weeks gap now for everybody or just over 50s?

God, that take up rate is shocking. Community leaders need to get out fast and help. If people aren’t listening to the government then surely they will listen to their leaders.

Agree, but why haven't their leaders been doing that all along?

8 weeks for groups 1 to 9

Chris Whitty just said, regarding high rates 'we are not there yet' Freudian slip?

So a read out speech telling us little. Then waffle. No acknowledgment that red status for India should have been earlier, nothing to get quarantine actually happening with government support for those on a low income.

Easter holidays, more people travelled abroad, some brought back a variant of the virus. It's not as if no-one had warning of Easter, the date for 2021 was set over 250 years ago.

The Tories have over 300 MPs, almost every one of them would be a better Prime Minister.