Westminstenders: Events...

[RedToothBrush]

Events have taken over. EU / UK negotiation have been put on ice due to covid-19.

The US has banned all travel from Europe - apart from to the uk and Ireland - in a manner which is highly political to drive wedges.

The effects of leaving the European Medicines Agency may be much more serious than anyone could have anticipated.

There's a oil price war going on between Saudi Arabia and Russia which has further driven market fears led by covid-19.

There the crisis in Turkey with Syrian refugees which is also distracting the EU.

We are facing lockdown and economic turmoil over the next weeks and months.

Johnson is having his leadership moment with deaths projected to possibly exceed UK WW2 deaths.

We are desperately trying to recruit negotiators as it's suddenly become apparent we don't have enough to carry out all the trade deals we want.

The civil service will be stretched to its limited by covid-19. Yet we also have Brexit to consider.

Where next? How bad are things going to get?

Thanks Red.

This is going to be an absolute clusterfuck everywhere but I am particularly worried about the US and (sorry) the U.K.

Wtf were they doing allowing Cheltenham to go ahead? It's like the Tories are determined to decimate their own voters.

"We are in for a worldwide recession because of the coronovirus effects, whatever happens next." [] That's already priced in to stock markets and elsewhere [] My concern is whether we are heading for a Global Depression

Dunno about the route, but we are headed where we need to be as a biological cog in a complex little-understood machine.

Some people have suggested that a pandemic was just a matter of time for a while now. (I know, because I was one of them).

Currently I'm thinking there is going to be a lot less travel in the future for a start. And that's a loose thread to start pulling economically for a lot of countries. Less travel = less need for hospitality and so on ...

oh and with the main variants L & S of the virus, plus maybe several others

• e.g. in Iran it is reported to target the heart maybe as much as the lungs -

we might need a vaccine for each of the main strains
(thinking of the flu vaccine, which may only prevent 60% of cases)

That could potentially drag out this crisis for years longer
and if the deaths remain at a much higher level than usual then that would change the political & economic norms

I can't contribute cat pics but this made me think of you all.

I keep trying to reassure myself that BJ, Hancock, Whitty & al must realise if they massively mess up compared to other countries, then

they could be facing Misconduct in Public Office charges or anything else a vengeful future government - led maybe by Farage ? - uses to satisfy the public's taste for revenge

BJ might hope his pal Trump, or Pence, would still be in office, but the public health & science chiefs wouldn't be given "Mates" Sanctuary"

Misty That's brilliant 😂

I saw this:

and if the deaths remain at a much higher level than usual then that would change the political & economic norms

Anyone willing to help crowdfund my new musical ? It's called 1348 and set in a bucolic fenland village. Top tunes include:

(Very) Greensleeves
Sneezy like Sunday morning
Coughing, coughin' coffin

I keep trying to reassure myself that BJ, Hancock, Whitty & al must realise if they massively mess up compared to other countries, then they could be facing Misconduct in Public Office charges or anything else a vengeful future government - led maybe by Farage ? - uses to satisfy the public's taste for revenge

I would look more to the Peasants revolt ... (any churches fancy bidding for a head or two ?)

Sorry to disillusion those of you who think my cats are scary, but it’s really not the case! They do look very serious in the picture, but they were trying to intimidate me into sharing the lamb mince that I was browning (fat chance). Unfortunately, neither of them can stand up to the bully cat over the road - they’ve both been to the vets in the last 2 weeks after being attacked, the little one with fairly serious injuries to the side of her face that’s away from the camera

(They don’t seem to have discovered teamwork yet, but they’re not the sharpest tools in the box, to be honest!)

Thanks BCF. I am sure it's just a totally normal virus but I am also sure that's lots of people who do have it will think the same, so indoors it is.

My husband has suddenly decided it is a serious issue after all, now that the Premier league has been postponed... 🙄

Queen - if you could photoshop in some laser beams from their eyes your cats are crying out for their own meme. And I don’t care about your protestations, they still look terrifying.

Just back from a walk with a respiratory nurse friend who had her face mask (still wrapped) and hand sanitiser swiped by a patient in clinic earlier this week. People are so bloody selfish.

Just back from a walk with a respiratory nurse friend who had her face mask (still wrapped) and hand sanitiser swiped by a patient in clinic earlier this week.

Just start a rumour that deliberately infected ones are being left around to be stolen ...

PMK with Willis sunbathing in a flower bed. Random slabs are supposed to stop dog turning her chosen pathway into a muddy mess.

I'm struggling today.

Squid 💐 Do you want to vent here ?
Just general work & worries / far too few resources / dealing with CV denial - including on MN - ?

Public transport in central London a bit quieter than usual this morning.

Definitely less people around in my University, which is switching to distance learning, from next week.

It sounds like people and organisations are putting their plans in place, regardless of Government's advice. Hopefully that will help a bit.

squid

DD2 telling her boss today that she will work from home as of Monday, or else she'll leave - long commute into London via train and tube.

Might put some smiles on faces, I hope. best wishes for Squid

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b09tnc2x/soft-border-patrol

Queen I think your cats are absolutely beautiful.

Just the prep at work is scary, but it's also gone suddenly quiet which is a bit scary too. Lowest numbers I've seen in A&E for years. At the same time making plans to extend the capacity of ITU and the morgue...

Have been telling myself that I'm young and healthy and I'll be fine but had my first 3am panic about what if I get sick /die / what if my friends die - tbh in medical school they told us we were overdue a pandemic (and this was 2010) and we'd be the first to go...

I only recently returned from work after some time off burnout (I felt/feel a bit PTSD-ish if that doesn't sound ridiculous - so many people died last year, often in corridors with suboptimal care, huge staffing crises all year) and ... yeah. It's what you need isn't it. A&Ein a pandemic. That'll mend you...

I am confused by the government's advice being so different to the rest of Europe/ the WHO and I don't trust them anyway - I'm not saying they're wrong I'm not sure I'm not a epidemiologist but I don't trust them - and I feel bit like I'm being sent to the slaughter - sorry that sounds dramatic I'm having a bad day. I am still so angry with this government and all they've done.

I'll be ok once it's a warzone the survival /adrenaline stuff will kick in. I've got good friends at work, really good doctors and nurses, we will fight this thing, do everything we can. I want to be there, I want to help, but waiting is horrible.

sorry. maybe I need a picture of @prettybird 's garden...

On topic, The Sun Journo in BBC2 Politics today just said the Brexit deadline will have to be extended, but it's best that the govt. continues to deny this to stop any fuss.

oh squid... Nothing to say that will help you get through this, it must feel as if you are in the lull before the storm. But as just one person - I really appreciate the jobs you and your colleagues do. Thank you.

Taken especially for squid4

It was nearly photobombed by one of the cats who decided to take advantage of the fact that I'd opened the kitchen window....

After Bridgen's wife having a Twitter spat with Dorries, now this

"Don't do as we say" ....

Mark Di Stefanoo@MarkDiStef* (FT)

NEW: In an internal email detailing coronavirus response which includes restricting travel and WFH provisions,^ the Daily Mail's head of HR writes^^

- "The global position is moving so fast that the official government advice is no longer adequate enough to safeguard our staff"

Now, from the Daily Mail's leader today:

"Striking the right tone at this press conference was not easy, but Boris and his boffins carried it off well.

At this stage, we must trust their judgment and do as they say."

Wild.

So looks like even strong govt supporters don't have confidence in their strategy either