Johnson Press Conference

[Claudethecat]

Is he just trying to nudge up the booster numbers, or is he genuinely concerned?

Turning to Covid, I want to update you on our progress,and, in particular, on these storm clouds that are gathering over the continent

A new wave of Covid has steadily swept through central Europe and is now affecting our nearest neighbours in western Europe.

Our friends on the continent have been forced to respond with various degrees of new restrictions, from full lockdowns, to lockdowns for the unvaccinated, to restrictions on business opening hours and restrictions on social gatherings.

We don’t yet know the extent to which this new wave will wash up on our shores, but history shows we cannot afford to be complacent.

Indeed in recent days cases there have been rising here in the UK, so we must remain vigilant.

Because there is one lesson we can draw from the current situation in Europe.

Those countries with lower vaccination rates have tended to see bigger surges in infection, and in turn been forced to respond with harsher measures.

While those countries with higher vaccination rates have, so far, fared better.

This shows us once again that if we want to control the epidemic here in the UK,and if we want to avoid new restrictions on our daily lives, we must all get vaccinated as soon as we are eligible.

@HarrietPierce

Dr Mike Galsworthy follows Ron Burgundy - GBeebies News *@ChewyBB* · 3h PM tells press conference it is unclear how new wave of Covid in Europe "will wash up on our shores"

Germany +19k cases
France +13.5k cases
Italy +7.5k cases

UK +𝟯𝟲𝗸 cases.

Johnson lets the virus rampage and then blames other European countries.

Well it is hardly Boris' fault that the delta variant first found in India is so much more spreadable than the previous versions and so the percentage of the population that needs to be vaccinated to slow down its spread is close to 110%.

@reesewithoutaspoon

Is Boris worried. Yes he is Worried about the cost to his mates? Worried about his popularity ratings? Worried that the plebs arent spending and pushing growth?

Is he worried about people dying?
"Let the bodies pile up Boris" isnt worried about that one iota. You're just a financial unit to this government. your only worth to them is what you can produce and the taxes you pay and them holding onto power.

But Keir Starmer took the knee.

@MercyBooth

Chris Witty was reiterating about how important it is that people get their vaccines. HE must know about the access issues on the ground. Why is he colluding with them in the blame shifting.

Because a government will always choose the experts that support and justify their policies. Plenty of experts disagreed with the government and the handling of the pandemic too, but for obvious reasons, you wont see their views being given any air time.

Despite Boris’s weasel words, I think he’ll find Europe is following us in their cases - not the other way around. Don’t forget, a few weeks ago, these same countries were being held up —especially by the media— as prime examples of how to contain C19. “Look how good and compliant the Germans/Austrians/Italians etc are about wearing their masks!” In the end, it seems the only weapon having any impact is the vaccine.

@MercyBooth

YY *@Roselilly36* There was no way the Matt and Gina thing only started in May............they were seeing each other last Christmas IMO Then there is the fact that Boris and Carrie had a friend over last Christmas etc.

Have some sympathy. If you had to spend Christmas with Boris you'd need more than one friend round.

Don’t forget, a few weeks ago, these same countries were being held up —especially by the media— as prime examples of how to contain C19. “Look how good and compliant the Germans/Austrians/Italians etc are about wearing their masks!” In the end, it seems the only weapon having any impact is the vaccine.

True. And also them following. I still think the booster is key to getting through winter ok so if it takes storm clouds and waves then fine.

@reesewithoutaspoon

Is Boris worried. Yes he is Worried about the cost to his mates? Worried about his popularity ratings? Worried that the plebs arent spending and pushing growth?

Is he worried about people dying?
"Let the bodies pile up Boris" isnt worried about that one iota. You're just a financial unit to this government. your only worth to them is what you can produce and the taxes you pay and them holding onto power.

That's all we are to every government. Difference is this particular shower of shites don't bother hiding it.

Care home residents not being able to be discharged from hospital wont be helping either.

@jgw1

Stealth boast

Hmmm if you had your friend round, would he not try to shag them?

This article from 3 weeks ago has aged particularly well:

The most frustrating aspect of our poor Covid performance is that, with relatively little effort, it could have been so different. R is hovering just above one. It wouldn’t have taken that much to bring the transmission number back below one, reversing our upwards trends. Looking green-eyed to our comparable continental neighbours highlights the alternative reality we could have been living in had we continued with masks in indoor public spaces, begun to vaccinate our children over the summer, and taken measures to improve ventilation in our schools and workplaces.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/21/britain-covid-numbers-plan-b-data

If Covid could have been contained with so little effort, why have we lost so many lives and wasted nearly two years on getting it under control.

[quote Sadik]@Claudethecat agreed - I'm also in Wales and of course we have ongoing mask wearing, WFH if possible, and covid passports now extended to more places.

I'm amazed that there hasn't been more comment about this in the media, given that our rates have been considerably higher than those in England for some time.

That's not a dig at the Welsh govt, I think they're doing a perfectly good job in difficult circumstances, and it's hard to see what else they could have done given all restrictions gone in England. But it does beg the question as to whether Johnson's Plan B is actually going to do much good even if they do bring it in.[/quote]
I agree.My guess is schools, indoor mixing in people's homes, and maybe pubs is driving the spread in Wales(and maybe Scotland?). Which does suggest Johnson's plan B won't be enough.

Also, if JVT and Prof Whitty publicly disagree with Government policies, I don't think they would be able to retain their positions; we would presumably end up with crackpot ghouls in their place and everyone would be worse off.

There is a skill in navigating the Powers That Be and remaining in post.

There is an ethical argument for adopting a compromise for the greater good, so as to influence public policy for the benefit of the nation, especially if you have a shrewd idea you are the best person for the job,

Inevitably, some of this will be happening.

I disagree It undermines trust. I have no trust in public health anymore

FWIW, pretty much all the models show that cases in England in December should be lower than they are now. There will be ebbs and flows (e.g. local outbreaks) but the general trend is expected to be downwards.

The potential “risky” period is January onwards when we may start seeing waning of immunity in the 20-40 year olds. It is the 20-29 age group that has generally been driving the direction of the pandemic.

Of course, as we know from prior experiences, the models are often very far from reality but it is probably the first time all the projections appear so consistent.

I think this two month covid cycle also needs to be investigated more. It’s happening all over the world, irrespective of many of the measures in place. I’ve C&P just one article, but Google it as there’s loads of examples out there.

messaging-custom-newsletters.nytimes.com/template/oakv2?campaign_id=9&emc=edit_nn_20210901&instance_id=39307&nl=the-morning&productCode=NN&regi_id=46758422&segment_id=67747&te=1&uri=nyt%3A%2F%2Fnewsletter%2Fe397e2c7-fcc0-506f-8e49-81df222b71a5&user_id=3ac92c4bfbf13ac7ba6dcf81a30a640b

And we are actually supposed to assume that that is what they are doing.

Well i dont like being guilt tripped gaslighted and blamed. The lack of acknowledgement that some of us are having trouble actually accessing vaccines and i have to assume that Witty and Co are game playing @herecomesthsun Ludicrous fucking ludicrous.

Having spent pretty much 2 years of my life obsessing about this I'm in for my third booster then what happens, happens. A friend 45 caught it so I put her on my homegrown protocol.

Vit D , Zinc, high dose vit C, melatonin (10mg), quercetin and electrolytes and she was right as rain in a couple of days. Mild cough , no fever no headache but 3 days of lat flow +ves then clear.

I think, while we still have a high infection rate in the UK, the fairer comparison needs to be made with other countries. Germany and Austria have just reported sudden spikes in infection rates.

And, to be statistical, no two countries report data in exactly the same way.

Anecdata, but my sister's friend's exH died suddenly in France this summer, at 50-something, and was buried without a post-mortem/autopsy to determine the cause. Apparently heart or stroke were eliminated, but the death was probably viral. However, in rural France, the goal is burial within a week of death, for sanitary reasons... so while COVID has to be a possible cause, it wasn't identified as the cause of death. So it wasn't counted as a COVID death, even though it wasn't ruled out. Whereas in the UK, any death within 28 days of a positive Covid diagnosis is recorded as a Covid death, even if the deceased was 92 with a diagnosis of dementia going back five years.

Just thinking more on it the general public aren’t that interested in what happened around July 19 just that the media were pushing the freedom day

It was really important to me though what CMO advised and I remember the relief on hearing it. It wasn’t that newsworthy though to most.

I’d also separate SAGE slightly from CMO as former are more driven on cases and Whitty a broader balance including ability to advise cabinet.

Winter I’ve appreciated your posts that Guardian link is interesting to see now and re modelling

@SpinachIsAGatewayDrug yep, they told me my 4th would be 6 months after my third primary!

Latest case rates per 100,000 in Europe: www.statista.com/statistics/1139048/coronavirus-case-rates-in-the-past-7-days-in-europe-by-country/

We do not have the highest rates in Europe.

@wintertravel1980

This article from 3 weeks ago has aged particularly well:

The most frustrating aspect of our poor Covid performance is that, with relatively little effort, it could have been so different. R is hovering just above one. It wouldn’t have taken that much to bring the transmission number back below one, reversing our upwards trends. Looking green-eyed to our comparable continental neighbours highlights the alternative reality we could have been living in had we continued with masks in indoor public spaces, begun to vaccinate our children over the summer, and taken measures to improve ventilation in our schools and workplaces.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/21/britain-covid-numbers-plan-b-data

If Covid could have been contained with so little effort, why have we lost so many lives and wasted nearly two years on getting it under control.

Or we could look at East Asia for a How To Guide. Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan, (and tbh China too).

And actually many European countries are doing better than us. If nothing else because they're taking swift action as soon as cases start to rise.

European cases have started to rise largely because of waning immunity - but also some countries in Europe have lower take-up rates in the first place.

As the WHO has said. Vaccine Plus, not Vaccine Just. Masks can't perform miracles but they do help. As part of a multi pronged approach.

And the Guardian is right. Continental Europe has not had 1000s a week dying for the past few months. We have. Their mitigations - their Vaccine Plus did make a difference. What's changed is that, like here, vaccine immunity is waning.

Boosters should help (as would Vaccine Plus mitigations like masks and ventilation).

European cases have started to rise largely because of waning immunity

Why do you say this?

Have you read it somewhere