Westministenders: Lockdown continues

[BigChocFrenzy]

The UK has been on lockdown since 23 March,
with no end in sight.

The deaths peak is predicted to be around 17 April,
with the controversial IHME prediction that the UK will have considerably more total deaths - 66,000 - by summer than other European countries.

Supermarkets are struggling to satisfy demand for online slots for the vulnerable
and to keep shelves supplied for other customers

Like all countries, the UK economy is being hammered and heading for a deep recession.
Estimates are for UK GDP to fall 15% this year.

A million people have applied for Universal Credit
The self-employed and small - and some large - businesses are struggling to stay solvent.

They don't know how long to plan for.

The PM is in ICU and Raab has taken over as stand-in, but needs Cabinet approval for decisions.
Probably BJ will be unfit to resume his duties as PM for several weeks, if ever.

WIll he stand down soon and let the Cabinet choose a new PM,
or will the UK continue for weeks with a stand-in leader during the worst crisis since WW2

What's the plan, anybody?

PMK, and tx @BigChocFrenzy

Sorry, can't find a picture of a cat anywhere. I wonder if there's any equivalent for "I lived though Blair, you'll live through Boris" for the UK. Given the ambiguity ....

I have just seen the French strategy for exiting lockdown.
www.thelocal.fr/20200409/the-three-conditions-for-france-to-end-coronavirus-lockdown-according-to-the-scientific-council
Given that quite a lot of the UK policies seem to resemble "what France did a week ago", this might be helpful.

Pmk, thanks BCF.

Back on topic

www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/germany-to-send-60-ventilators-to-the-uk-to-help-nhs-tackle-coronavirus-1-6601762

Thanks bigchoc

There cannot (well, should not) be any relaxing of lockdown until testing is improved hugely.

If we want a fighting chance at preventing it all spiralling up again, the key will be in testing, contact tracing and isolating as measures are relaxed.

I do agree that it would be good to hear something tangible as in 'lockdown will be relaxed when....'

Corona crisis: German Military delivers ventilators to Great Britain

Evidently Boris asked other leaders for ventilators, not just Trump.
Worrying he felt the need to do so, as obviously countries would find it difficult to spare any atm

https://www.en24.news/c24/2020/04/corona-crisis-bundeswehr-delivers-ventilators-to-great-britain.html

The UK Department of Defense previously urged several NATO partners for help.

After a brief examination, the Defense Ministry of Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (CDU) approved the request.

Berlin will not charge for the aid
.........
Britain is struggling with rising infections and deaths after a long period of government downplaying virus threats.

The British government does not expect the crisis to peak until next week.

Until then, London needs at least 18,000 ventilators, and there are currently only around 10,000.

The Bundeswehr devices can only fill part of the gap.

I see one of France's 3 conditions is to have a full post-lockdown strategy in place.
Where's Louise?

Oh, I’m here

Thanks for the new thread BigChoc

One ultra relaxed cat and one chilled out cat. Still getting first dibs on the Afghan blanket.

I am getting very frustrated with the media dumbing down: Sky this morning was going on about it being difficult to grasp that new infections levelling off did not mean that deaths would immediately drop. It's. Not. Difficult. To. Grasp.

I'm also getting frustrated at the media continuing to go on about "Who is leading the government?" while BJ is in ICU. Which bit of "Raab is his designated deputy" (whatever we might think of Raab ) do they not understand?

Mutter, mutter, mutter

Thank you as ever Red BCF & all the other brilliant contributors you have no idea how these threads have kept me reasonably sane.

In terms of ending lockdowns and exit strategies, it's not like I'm agitating for the immediate end to lockdown, as I'm sure no-one else sane is. It's that I want to know what the plans are further down the line - as per Germany, what stats will trigger and easing of restrictions? And what other measures will then be in place to mitigate?

In terms of ending lockdowns and exit strategies, it's not like I'm agitating for the immediate end to lockdown, as I'm sure no-one else sane is. It's that I want to know what the plans are further down the line - as per Germany, what stats will trigger and easing of restrictions? And what other measures will then be in place to mitigate?

Also there's the question of confidence in the plans. If there are clearly stated metrics and the government are clearly working to them we're all fairly confident it's being done "properly".

If, on the other hand, there's no metrics and things "just happen" it would be hard to fight the suspicion - both here and in the wider press - that corners are being cut and peoples well being is not the top priority. Leaving people not only confused, but confused and frightened. And that's when paediatricians houses insurance premiums go up, and gangs of youths start attacking pedaloes in the park.

Operation "Cygnus" ...

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/03/28/exercise-cygnus-uncovered-pandemic-warnings-buried-government/

Comprehensively blows the "how could they have known" bollocks out of the water. They knew. They planned. They decided it would cost too much.

DGRossetti yes that's the crux of it. I want to have confidence in how this is all being handled. I don't, right now, and yes it is frightening.

Thanks BCF!

On ending lockdown My own view of it is this. I can’t understand why media reps day after day at the 5pm briefings are asking essentially the same questions about this. Day after day they are given an answer which basically says, “not yet, too early, we’ll be led by the science”

The conclusion I draw from all that is that our media representatives think the story is getting boring. We have the same format, cases, admissions to hospital, admissions to ICU, deaths and the media darlings are getting weary.

What’s new?! How can we drive the story, they cry?! So they keep asking questions about Boris (understandable, but pretty tasteless) Dom Raab’s authority (already answered, media just shit stirring IMO) or ending lockdown (just driving the story IMO, esp since we are apparently still pre Covid peak).

DGRossetti yes that's the crux of it. I want to have confidence in how this is all being handled. I don't, right now, and yes it is frightening.

Well since we're being told hourly (if not more) that the government do know what they are doing, we can only conclude that is indeed their intention.

I am pretty certain there is a saying - possibly Jewish - about deaf people can't hear lies but can see the truth. And if there isn't, I will invent one, and claim it all for myself. "Dantes declamation" I could call it.

PMK

Thanks.

Raab starting to relish being able to swing round and round in the big chair. Has not spoken to BJ. Sounds like protection officers have orders to shoot pfeffle if he tries to get out.

Raab starting to relish being able to swing round and round in the big chair.

The worst Bond villain ever.

Worth keeping an eye on the Assange ball as well ..

www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2020/04/beyond-words/

Yesterday Mark Sommers QC, the extremely erudite and bookish second counsel for Julian Assange in his extradition hearing, trembled with anger in court. Magistrate Vanessa Baraitser had just made a ruling that the names of Julian Assange’s partner and young children could be published, which she stated was in the interests of “open justice”. His partner had submitted a letter in support of his Covid 19 related bail application (which Baraitser had summarily dismissed) to state he had a family to live with in London. Baraitser said that it was therefore in the interests of open justice that the family’s names be made public, and said that the defence had not convincingly shown this would cause any threat to their security or well-being.

It was at this point Sommers barely kept control. He leapt to his feet and gave notice of an appeal to the High Court, asking for a 14 day stay. Baraitser granted four days, until 4pm on Friday.

Raab is supposed to be in charge, yet all we hear is of a power vacuum. That can't be good for his morale, can it?