How do you think Boris has handled it so far ?

Dick Knights Mumm · Mar 21, 2020

Herr Tubthumper said:
I was reading some of the herd-immunity detail last weekend and it seemed totally theoretical and totally unrealistic as well as dangerous. Many others were saying the same; I think it was 200 plus who challenged the theory. It was also way out of step with every other nation. I’d love to know why he felt this was the right call to make because I can’t see one single reason.

My initial half-arsed layman thought was well maybe that makes sense. But worried that being the outlier (as we now know it) was actually a political decision. I hope that turns out not to be the case. But we need to know. Because we need to be able to trust what we are being asked.

kevo · Mar 21, 2020

dazzer6666 said:
How many months ?

It was already serious in January. Now is not the time for pedantry. Why weren't they getting testing kits sorted, ordering extra protective clothing, looking to increase the supply of ventilators, preparing for the impact on the health service? The answer is they went against all advice and thought they could let it run through the population so we would develop immunity. This was the policy. To protect the economy, not to save lives.

Even NOW they are not testing NHS workers with symptoms.

Herr Tubthumper · Mar 21, 2020

Dick Knights Mumm said:
My initial half-arsed layman thought was well maybe that makes sense. But worried that being the outlier (as we now know it) was actually a political decision. I hope that turns out not to be the case. But we need to know. Because we need to be able to trust what we are being asked.

I admit when I first read it, I could see the sense. But then when I looked closer it very quickly didn’t make sense. Items which jumped out were 1) the unrealistic assumption/expectation of public behaviour. 2) Given the nature of the virus transmission, immunity needed a high percentage of the population to carry it which would take time. Acquiring this percentage would put the nation at risk and kill people....the deaths within the under 70s supposedly “healthy” cohort was estimated at around 250,000.

Javeaseagull · Mar 21, 2020

He is a blagger but he is very good at it. Just what we need right now. The financial package from Runi Suhak? is a bit short of what we need but Corbyn wanted to do this and more and would have been crucified. We are still being run by the Daily Mail.
Personally I am glad to see socialist policies being carried out and don't care who does it.

Herr Tubthumper · Mar 21, 2020

beorhthelm said:
not enough approved labs available to deal with demand. not something that can be instantly turned on, unless relaxing the approval process that probably needs legislation.

It’s an RNA sequence test isn’t it? There’s loads in the U.K. Im sure you could run these labs 24/7 if you wanted to. Is lack of lab capacity really the limiting factor?

Not Andy Naylor · Mar 22, 2020

Johnson has come up against something he can't bluff or lie his way out of. He has been utterly inadequate. Sunak looks good by comparison but all he's doing is implementing Labour-style spending plans that the Tories have spent the last decade telling us were impossible.

beorhthelm · Mar 22, 2020

Herr Tubthumper said:
It’s an RNA sequence test isn’t it? There’s loads in the U.K. Im sure you could run these labs 24/7 if you wanted to. Is lack of lab capacity really the limiting factor?

"approved" labs being crucial limiting factor. probably every university biology department could run the test, dozens of private pharma labs too, they need to be approved for medical results.

beorhthelm · Mar 22, 2020

Dick Knights Mumm said:
My initial half-arsed layman thought was well maybe that makes sense. But worried that being the outlier (as we now know it) was actually a political decision. I hope that turns out not to be the case. But we need to know. Because we need to be able to trust what we are being asked.

the approach was guided by the medical advice based on the data and models they had at the time. Johnson didnt come up with herd immunity nor have the balls to make such a decision.

dingodan · Mar 22, 2020

First, I agree with the praise for Sunak. Exudes confidence and competence. Javid seemed Okay, but wow what an upgrade.

On Boris, I've always thought that his "bumbling" persona is disarming, but actually conceals a real and genuine competence. I think he showed that as Mayor of London. He gives people plenty of ammunition a lot of the time, but that's always "surface" stuff, presentation etc. His actual record in practice is very good.

I think in this situation he has also found a decent blend of seriousness and positivity, which is exactly what we need and I can think of few other politicians who would leave me feeling as reassured as I do right now considering the circumstances.

He was elected to "Get Brexit done". He has been faced with a challenge far greater than that, and he is stepping up IMO.

Cometh the hour cometh the man.

big nuts · Mar 22, 2020

Uncle Spielberg said:
I think Boris has done really well. We need a fella with an upbeat attitude in all this. Dread to think what it would have been like with Corbyn or May. Sunak has been a bloody inspiration though. He has been amazing. Considering the absolute shitstorm he has been thrown into and being a novice the bloke has been superb

You’re a pretty dumb character though. I take your positive view of Boris as evidence of a shit view.

daveinplzen · Mar 22, 2020

Experts are a 'thing' again? Well, thats good news.

Bwian · Mar 22, 2020

Uncle Spielberg said:
I will say again. Boris has made 0 decisions he has listened to the the advice of his experts

Boris and his experts chose to ignore what the WHO were advising. It is obvious that we needed and still need more testing and should have been in lock down at least a week ago. This country is mirroring Italy and Spain in numbers. Italy went in to lock down-Boris is dithering. Look at how the idiots responded to pub closures. Look at how many idiots flocked to beaches around the country.. These people ( everybody) need to be restricted.

He is not doing things fast enough in my opinion.

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Weststander · Mar 22, 2020

Why is this still on the Main Board, COVID and politics is meant to be on the COVID-19 subsection?

Weststander · Mar 22, 2020

Bwian said:
Boris and his experts chose to ignore what the WHO were advising. It is obvious that we needed and still need more testing and should have been in lock down at least a week ago. This country is mirroring Italy and Spain in numbers. Italy went in to lock down-Boris is dithering. Look at how the idiots responded to pub closures. Look at how many idiots flocked to beaches around the country.. These people ( everybody) need to be restricted.

He is not doing things fast enough in my opinion.

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Spain and France are really suffering, escalating daily. 7 to 10 days ago on NSC, we were emphatically told by all our resident ‘experts’ that ALL other countries in Europe had adopted the right approach throughout, their governments were handling this brilliantly.

Perhaps COVID-19 is so virulent that it’s incredibly hard to contain it in western societies.

Bwian · Mar 22, 2020

Weststander said:
Spain and France are really suffering, escalating daily. 7 to 10 days ago on NSC, we were emphatically told by all our resident ‘experts’ that ALL other countries in Europe had adopted the right approach throughout, their governments were handling this brilliantly.

Perhaps COVID-19 is so virulent that it’s incredibly hard to contain it in western societies.

We have the hindsight of their models which have included lock down. Johnson is dithering in my opinion. We should have followed their lead straight away.

Self isolation? Leave the British public to do the right thing on their own? Restrictions should have been implemented at least a week ago.

Advice was Test Test Test and track people who are infected. It still isn't being done. Italy's Health System is much better than ours and they are at breaking point. Ours will crumble much sooner and it scares me.

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Bwian · Mar 22, 2020

Rogero said:
Very pleased so far . What a terrible situation for a new government. I predict they will close down Youtube ,Netflix etc to allow homeworkers to work. About 3 more days before a complete lock down.

New Government? They've been in power more than 10 years.

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Bwian · Mar 22, 2020

Uncle Spielberg said:
I will say again. Boris has made 0 decisions he has listened to the the advice of his experts

He has also ignored the advice of World Experts and that may well add unnecessary thousands to the death toll.

He needs to up his game immediately.

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Weststander · Mar 22, 2020

Bwian said:
We have the hindsight of their models which have included lock down. Johnson is dithering in my opinion. We should have followed their lead straight away.

Self isolation? Leave the British public to do the right thing on their own? Restrictions should have been implemented at least a week ago.

Advice was Test Test Test and track people who are infected. It still isn't being done. Italy's Health System is much better than ours and they are at breaking point.

Sent from my LYA-L09 using Tapatalk

France and Spain ‘followed their own lead’ from the very beginning, and are suffering badly with cases and deaths. Their governments announcing every more stringent controls, piecemeal over the many weeks.

It seems that most European and western nations have been caught out by these unprecedented times (in the modern era). If France and Spain took a much lauded (only on NSC) different path, it patently also failed.

Italy spends a bit less per capital on public heathcare than us, Spain a lot less. But France and Germany more.

Klaas · Mar 22, 2020

Weststander said:
France and Spain ‘followed their own lead’ from the very beginning, and are suffering badly with cases and deaths. Their governments announcing every more stringent controls, piecemeal over the many weeks.

It seems that most European and western nations have been caught out by these unprecedented times (in the modern era). If France and Spain took a much lauded (only on NSC) different path, it patently also failed.

Italy spends a bit less per capital on public heathcare than us, Spain a lot less. But France and Germany more.

View attachment 121339

Yes, Italy, Spain and France are having a terrible time. But our initial response was then predicted to result in hundreds of thousands of deaths. So it was changed more in line with their responses.

Dick Knights Mumm · Mar 22, 2020

beorhthelm said:
the approach was guided by the medical advice based on the data and models they had at the time. Johnson didnt come up with herd immunity nor have the balls to make such a decision.

I hope you are right and that it wasn't a political decision. But it was odd that the government spokesmen (be it Johnson, Hancock or whoever) stressed the science bit where expert opinion had been so ignored on other matters. It just looked odd and "convenient" in that it made us stand out and look different from other countries.

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