Westminstenders: All bets are off

[RedToothBrush]

We are seeking an extension. Apparently. No prizes for guessing why.

There is no news but COVID news. And that's all there will be for a long time.

Enjoy your stockpile and your sunny uplands it brought.

Keep safe.

Prince Charles has tested positive

I'm no royalist but nevertheless that hit me.

Prince Charles has tested positive

Given what royal duties entail, I'd have been more suspicious if at least one royal didn't contract C-19.

There will be a planet full of geneticists watching that case - the Windsor DNA soup is fairly well documented (where it's accurate )

We're seeing departmental ministers turn up on the *hitlist TV and radio progs, but BJ still boycotting anything where he might be asked a question. This is either a continuation of his post-Brexit sulk or he's just a lazy fuck.

Parliament sent home a week early also chalks off one more PMQ. So it's Bye Bye Corbyn this lunchtime.

We're seeing departmental ministers turn up on the *hitlist TV and radio progs, but BJ still boycotting anything where he might be asked a question. This is either a continuation of his post-Brexit sulk or he's just a lazy fuck.

Or just incapable of answering one with enough confidence to leave the situation better than when he found it.

I suspect a review of Boris' career will reveal that he never answered questions. He's got where he is today with his schtick to bumble and just say what he wants - and if asked a question, say it again. Bear in mind the people asking him questions were quite happy to push him up the greasy pole.

Hopefully Charles will recover but there is the issue of what would happen if Operation London Bridge had to happen during lockdown.

I'm very wary of Charles being able to pull the country together
but William could.

Hopefully Charles will recover but there is the issue of what would happen if Operation London Bridge had to happen during lockdown.

Not really. If 2019 taught us one thing, its how redundant the Monarch is these days. (Although there is a more philosophical question about the public nature of a coronation - arguably the lynchpin of Monarchy up until now.)

However, it's a fair point about how future events such as coronations, inaugurations, state visits etc could be managed in a (literal) world of lockdowns ?

So, is PC continuing to self isolate at Birkhall? Wonder how many ventilators Aberdeen has?

So apparently, the Corona virus is not that dangerous according the government guidelines...

www.gov.uk/guidance/high-consequence-infectious-diseases-hcid?fbclid=IwAR27xQwtrM595B-TVN1_lQ4Rm_eTEceivD4twludKPa_LDz4trQwcRYatSY#status-of-covid-19

As of 19 March 2020, COVID-19 is no longer considered to be a high consequence infectious diseases (HCID) in the UK.

The 4 nations public health HCID group made an interim recommendation in January 2020 to classify COVID-19 as an HCID. This was based on consideration of the UK HCID criteria about the virus and the disease with information available during the early stages of the outbreak. Now that more is known about COVID-19, the public health bodies in the UK have reviewed the most up to date information about COVID-19 against the UK HCID criteria. They have determined that several features have now changed; in particular, more information is available about mortality rates (low overall), and there is now greater clinical awareness and a specific and sensitive laboratory test, the availability of which continues to increase.

The Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP) is also of the opinion that COVID-19 should no longer be classified as an HCID.

If this virus is not that dangerous (SARS, avian flu all classify as an HCID), why in earth are we lockdown???
I think I know the answer (this means the government doesn’t have to provide PPE etc etc) and I am utterly appalled by the way the government is treating all the medics. It is proving once more to be a total and utter disgrace with no respect for people and people’s life :(:(

Has anyone noticed an uptick in posters saying its not as bad, that we’ll be out of these special measures sooner than we think etc? I can’t decide if they are life’s natural Pollyannas radiating optimism or political astroturfers trying to shift public sentiment and cover the govt’s arse.

Yep!
Just reading one a moment ago....

Yep I’ve read one too.
Didn’t think it could be manipulation from the government but after all we’ve had all the bots during brexit so why not doing the same for CV?

I have a major issue with it. It IS true that for a big part of the population, this will be the case. But I have a massive issue with discounting the part if the population for whom it WILL be costly. You might as well stop the lockdown and say that anyone with preconditions or elderly do not matter. Maybe actually they don’t in thE eyes of the government

Politically, we will see the fall-out this summer. Depending on how bad it is - especially if the numbers are worse than Europe - the knives will be sharpened for Boris. Tories are intolerant of failure and he has made a lot of enemies.

I am keeping my fingers crossed for Stammer to lead the Labour party. He seems the best qualified to keep hammering away at the difficult questions and need an opposition.

As of 19 March 2020, COVID-19 is no longer considered to be a high consequence infectious diseases (HCID) in the UK.

What the hell does this mean? And why so little notice of the change? What are the implications?

If this affects insurance coverage, I'll be gutted and furious. The business I'm involved with does have business continuity insurance for an unknown infectious disease but only if the infectious disease is a notifiable one. Does this change affect that??

If this affects insurance coverage, I'll be gutted and furious.

The insurance industry should be preparing for decades of lawsuits over this. If you though PPI was bad ...

How did Chaz qualify for a test ?

We will all be asking what is the point of expensive insurance if it fails to keep a business viable at the crucial moment.

...massive issue with discounting the part if the population for whom it WILL be costly.

For example, our front line doctors, nurses, and HCP?! Jesus.

BJ has just paid tribute to Corbyn calling him an honourable man who wants what is best for the country.

This is in marked contrast to two election campaigns when the Tory line was not only that Labour would wreck the economy but that this was their explicit aim.

Charles is in Scotland whether he should have come here is a separate question . We have different guidelines here as to whom is being tested - and he apparently met the Scottish criteria.

How did Chaz qualify for a test ?

reminds me ...

"Prince Charles has tested positive
I'm no royalist but nevertheless that hit me."

Yes, apart from the natural human goodwill towards someone getting sick,
he is 71 and is the heir to a 93-yr-old Queen

Losing either or both may not have "practical" consequences, but would be a terrible blow to national morale

I'm not a member of the Prince WIlliam fan club;
he resent the role as much as his brother does, but being the next but one / next King, does not feel able to run away.
After many years of an elderly monarch and elderly successor, the next king needs to be fulltime and fully enthusiastic, or just go.

"Has anyone noticed an uptick in posters saying its not as bad, that we’ll be out of these special measures sooner than we think etc?"

Yes several, including one irresponsible thread of "it's just a cold"

There is a balance that will have to be struck at some stage of lives vs economy,
but basically this group don't want any significant sacrifice of money

They include some longterm posters on the Tory right, but also some new ones with Trumpite views
Currently most MN Tories are loyal to their govt poliy, e.g. Cut & Paste

Looks like a Breitbart UK infection,
but probably includes many genuine posters who are self-employed / business owners / future depending on their stocks & shares
i.e. suffering financially, so denying the seriousness of the epidemic to justify stopping the measures which are hurting them so much.

Jim Waterston @jimwaterson
BBC has suspended all staff cuts, including the cuts of 450 journalists, partly because it's not the time for it, also because they need staff. Decisions being made in order to maintain on-air news output during crisis. Over-75s licence fee also put on ice, so big financial hole.

I know last week my friend worked a 5am to 9pm shift at the BBC as they were so short of staff.

Apropos of nothing, a Chinook has just made a bee line for the New QE2 hospital helipad in Brum ....

Meanwhile, away from the cheery "it's just a cold" MN shill postings ...

BREAKING:

@skynews

reporting that 21yo Chloe Middleton has died after being diagnosed with #Covid19 Her mother says Chloe had NO UNDERLYING MEDICAL CONDITIONS Thought to be the UKs youngest victim so far

Just too sad for words - younger than DS