It seems like the U.K. may have a better Covid strategy after all

[Warhertisuff]

... at least since the emergence of Delta. I generally supported the restrictions before last summer, but thought that opening up in July was sensible. It's too early to tell
for sure, but at the moment it looks like the right call.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-59378849

"Boris deserves an apology"

Basically this thread is 'I hope they have loads of deaths in Europe to make the UK's permanent high death numbers look less bad in comparison'.

I think our infections/deaths have been more staggered so it looks lower week to week, but ultimately when we look back at the picture from summer 2021 to summer 2022 then the figures across countries will be more similar. The difference in deaths in particular will be down to the health care systems in each country getting overwhelmed all at once, something which Whitty has always had as a priority to minimise.

As a GP, the number of people wanting to see me each day would massively reduce if people had to pay. It’s simple maths.
People might queue up to buy a drink for £2. If you start charging £20 for the drink, the queue will get a lot shorter, as all the people who can only afford £2 will go without.

Yes people are aware of how it works. But, to carry on the metaphor, they just don’t think people who can’t afford £20 a drink should die of thirst. Some of the people will leave the queue because they didn’t really need a drink anyway, some of them will leave the queue because despite extreme thirst, they don’t have £20.
You must see people who really need to be seen, and also wouldn’t be able to be seen if they had to pay.

@MrsLargeEmbodied

yes i do *@MarshaBradyo*

Your view of course but I’m glad we don’t drop to home learning that easily. The harm to dc is big. I’m surprised anyone still does but I guess there’s still extreme views

Means test

We just let people die in their thousands and didn’t report it.

Criminal.

Although, if you had to pay, perhaps that's why alternative medicine is so popular in some countries - therefore more vaccine hesitancy?

Basically this thread is 'I hope they have loads of deaths in Europe to make the UK's permanent high death numbers look less bad in comparison'.

No it’s I hope we don’t have to suffer through lockdowns again as they bring huge damage

I think it's too early to tell. People who died won't come back. We don't
know how many are left with long term issues.

@rrhuth

Basically this thread is 'I hope they have loads of deaths in Europe to make the UK's permanent high death numbers look less bad in comparison'.

Utter tosh.

@Sparklfairy

Basically this thread is 'I hope they have loads of deaths in Europe to make the UK's permanent high death numbers look less bad in comparison'.

I think our infections/deaths have been more staggered so it looks lower week to week, but ultimately when we look back at the picture from summer 2021 to summer 2022 then the figures across countries will be more similar. The difference in deaths in particular will be down to the health care systems in each country getting overwhelmed all at once, something which Whitty has always had as a priority to minimise.

We've had to accept higher deaths due to insufficient healthcare capacity.

If the UK strategy is so good, why are we alone in it?

If what the German health minister said is correct then lockdown/restrictions now are only delaying the inevitable.

@PAFMO

In fairness, most countries never removed them. The countries where things are going "well". Portugal, Spain, Italy.

What on earth are you talking about?

You clearly never travel to these other countries. I've been to 2 of the 3 you mentioned on business in the last 6 weeks and can say with absolute certainty that they don't have the same restrictions in place that they had 6-9 months ago.

@Bagamoyo1 who "told" you to do this "Dr"?

@MarshaBradyo

Basically this thread is 'I hope they have loads of deaths in Europe to make the UK's permanent high death numbers look less bad in comparison'.

No it’s I hope we don’t have to suffer through lockdowns again as they bring huge damage

But apparently we are 100% definately going to be under some sort of restriction by this time next week.

And if that doesn't happen then it will definately be by Christmas.

And if that doesn't happen it will absolutely happen in January.

Just you wait and see!

If the UK strategy is so good, why are we alone in it?

We’ve been alone before with use of AZ over 65 and that was right way to go

If it works and we avoid lockdown will you double down and still say it’s the wrong approach?

No matter what U.K. must be at bottom for some. But most will be relieved if it works out.

It’s funny that when our rates were high people on Twitter: We’re such a shit country/plague island etc.

Now we are doing better than a lot of Europe: (silence)

It’s almost like people just love hating on the U.K. and love it when we’re doing badly.

@dropitlikeitsloth

It’s funny that when our rates were high people on Twitter: We’re such a shit country/plague island etc.

Now we are doing better than a lot of Europe: (silence)

It’s almost like people just love hating on the U.K. and love it when we’re doing badly.

Yes, like Russian bots.

I agree it would be nice to think that the UK has got something right.

But as a commentator said on the Times website - this virus has made fools of us all. It is unpredictable and it seems like strategies work for a while and then you get caught out again!

@SofiaMichelle

Spain still required masks inside, still 1.5m distancing, masks required to dance or sing karaoke. ... last week.

@MarshaBradyo

If the UK strategy is so good, why are we alone in it?

We’ve been alone before with use of AZ over 65 and that was right way to go

If it works and we avoid lockdown will you double down and still say it’s the wrong approach?

No matter what U.K. must be at bottom for some. But most will be relieved if it works out.

We all must reflect on what happens and use it to inform our views.

The az decision saved lives. I'm less happy with these current decisions which are resulting in high deaths from both covid and non-covid.

The fact the az decision was good is irrelevant to this different decision. If deaths double per week will you cling to the az decision? Presumably not.

Well no it’s not irrelevant it’s an example that shows your point was unfounded

Just because we are doing something different doesn’t automatically mean it’s wrong see before

Why so hard to get
To rrhuth

[quote SofiaMichelle]@PAFMO

In fairness, most countries never removed them. The countries where things are going "well". Portugal, Spain, Italy.

What on earth are you talking about?

You clearly never travel to these other countries. I've been to 2 of the 3 you mentioned on business in the last 6 weeks and can say with absolute certainty that they don't have the same restrictions in place that they had 6-9 months ago.[/quote]
No, but none of the three have totally removed them, have they?
If you actually knew where I was sitting now, and in what language I'm doing my job, you'd be a bit embarrassed.

[quote SofiaMichelle]@PAFMO

In fairness, most countries never removed them. The countries where things are going "well". Portugal, Spain, Italy.

What on earth are you talking about?

You clearly never travel to these other countries. I've been to 2 of the 3 you mentioned on business in the last 6 weeks and can say with absolute certainty that they don't have the same restrictions in place that they had 6-9 months ago.[/quote]
Sofia Michelle If 1 o those 2 countries you have visited is Italy then you are wrong. As the restrictions we have in Italy are infact more stringent than 6 months . We have an obligatory mask mandate on all public transport ( outside in busy areas ) inside all shops / churches AND Schools ! We also have the introduction of the green pass so only those who have recently tested negative ( 48hrs LF 72 PCR), fully vacinated can sit down in restaurants & bars , go to cinemas, theatres . Attend sports events. Public transport should ( though it doesn't) operate at 80%. Shops still can accept limited numbers inside depending on how big it is. Whether this is right or wrong strategy time will tell. But I can't see them lifting the mask wearing for a while ....

@dropitlikeitsloth

It’s funny that when our rates were high people on Twitter: We’re such a shit country/plague island etc.

Now we are doing better than a lot of Europe: (silence)

It’s almost like people just love hating on the U.K. and love it when we’re doing badly.

It’s not almost like. It is.. people revel in it.