Cable Forum - Coronavirus

Boris Johnson is considering the imposition of new national lockdown restrictions from next week amid concerns that hospitals across the country are being overwhelmed.

The prime minister met Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, and Matt Hancock, the health secretary, to discuss “alarming” new NHS data yesterday.

He is expected to hold a press conference on Monday to announce the new measures, under which everything could be closed except essential shops and “educational settings”, including nurseries, schools and universities. The new restrictions could be introduced on Wednesday and remain in place until December 1.

A senior government source said that the measures were under discussion and no final decision had been made. Tougher regional measures, known as Tier 4, are also being considered but ministers are said to favour a national policy. “The data is really bad,” the source said. “We’re seeing coronavirus rising all over the country and hospitals are struggling to cope. There has been a shift in our position.”

Jonathan Van-Tam, the deputy chief medical officer for England, warned ministers on Thursday that the virus was running out of control. Until now the government has been determined to stick to regional restrictions but medical figures suggest that this is not enough.

Might have to change plans about going out for a meal for SWMBO’s 60th on Thursday 5th November...

1andrew1

30-10-2020 23:38

Re: Coronavirus

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damien (Post 36055659)

Whatever you think of the lockdown it's pretty stupid that the Tories have been constantly attacking Labour in Wales for doing their own version and saying only yesterday that there were no plans to close non-essential jobs.

Apparently, they're none too pleased with BoJo. Both for this U-turn which dumps them in it and the way it's been communicated; it doesn't allow them much time to prepare their messaging for anyone who asks them for their current views on the Welsh lockdown.

Dan Hodges, a commentator for the Mail on Sunday has also opined:

Quote:

Dan Hodges I can’t think of a single issue in my lifetime where the Government has seemed so incapable of managing events. What was Boris thinking when he attacked Starmer over the circuit-breaker. This is shaping up to be his Black Wednesday.

https://twitter.com/DPJHodges/status...09504348901376

Hugh	31-10-2020 01:02

Re: Coronavirus

what a great way to govern a nation - Friday night rumours...

jfman

31-10-2020 01:05

Re: Coronavirus

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh (Post 36055664)

what a great way to govern a nation - Friday night rumours...

Hang on some of the greatest minds in the nation are here.

Andrew, Damien, Max, Pierre and me of course. :D

denphone

31-10-2020 05:30

Re: Coronavirus

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh (Post 36055664)

what a great way to govern a nation - Friday night rumours...

Not the first time either...

---------- Post added at 05:30 ---------- Previous post was at 05:28 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh (Post 36055661)

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/n...ooms-8mphnk5h9

Might have to change plans about going out for a meal for SWMBO’s 60th on Thursday 5th November...

Our family had plans for Wednesday which seem highly unlikely now.

Maggy

31-10-2020 08:59

Re: Coronavirus

And look out for the last minute crowds superspreading between now and then and without an efficient track and trace system we may have a lot more lockdown action for the foreseeable future. As for a vaccine that works and is safe I don't really think that's viable for some time.

denphone

31-10-2020 09:15

Re: Coronavirus

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggy (Post 36055669)

And look out for the last minute crowds superspreading between now and then and without an efficient track and trace system we may have a lot more lockdown action for the foreseeable future. As for a vaccine that works and is safe I don't really think that's viable for some time.

Indeed as l am expecting another months lockdown in a months time after he announce the second lockdown later on Monday and l suspect this lockdown cycle will continue until the spring..

Sephiroth

31-10-2020 09:18

Re: Coronavirus

Won’t achieve anything until people can be tested at will, like buy a kit for £1 from Boots. There’s a reason that the ONS independently test tens of thousands of random people to,produce stats that show infection to be twice as high as the official test results depict.

nomadking

31-10-2020 09:30

Re: Coronavirus

What do you expect if morons will continue to gather in large numbers AND take part in activities that are pretty much guaranteed to spread it around, ie swapping saliva.
Link

Quote:

Police have closed a shisha cafe after finding about 150 people inside, days after the venue was hit with a £10,000 fine for Covid-19 breaches.
Officers forced their way in to Kasablanca in the Highgate area of Birmingham at 01:00 BST on 24 October.
...
The venue had broken restrictions earlier this month, police said.

Link

Quote:

Birmingham's move to tier three Covid-19 restrictions "would seem to be inevitable" but is not imminent, the council leader has said.
Ian Ward said his assessment was based on the "rising case rate" in the city.

Hugh	31-10-2020 10:08

Re: Coronavirus

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sephiroth (Post 36055672)

Yup - I did one for them last weekend (tested negative).

1andrew1

31-10-2020 10:18

Re: Coronavirus

Sky News is reporting that a leak enquiry has been set up by BoJo. Emergency services reported to be unhappy with the situation as it places pressure on them this weekend which they've not planned for.
https://news.sky.com/story/coronavir...down-121193149

Mr K	31-10-2020 10:37

Re: Coronavirus

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1andrew1 (Post 36055679)

The Govt. always leak these things to guage reaction and pave the way before they actually do anything rash like acting. Cummings doing his valuable.'work' I should think.

Too late and too ineffective again. If they'd acted a month ago when scientists told them then lockdown wouldn't be.needed for nearly as long. Too worried about what Mps and newpapers think than the health of the nation. If only they'd listened to Sir Keir a few weeks ago instead of trying to undermine and ignore their own scientific advice. Plonkers.

BTW what happened to our 'World Beating' track and trace system ? Why is no one accountable for failure anylonger?

joglynne

31-10-2020 12:28

Re: Coronavirus

Quote:

Boris Johnson to chair meeting of cabinet this afternoon to discuss the Government’s coronavirus response, Downing Street confirms.
Boris Johnson will chair a meeting of the Cabinet at 1.30pm on Saturday to discuss the Government’s coronavirus response, Downing Street has confirmed.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “Cabinet will meet at 1.30pm today to discuss the Government’s coronavirus response.”

It comes amid reports Boris Johnson may move a possible announcement of a national lockdown forward after details were leaked to newspapers.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/u...wn-b32985.html

BenMcr

31-10-2020 12:50

Re: Coronavirus

PM to hold news conference as lockdown considered https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54762048

denphone

31-10-2020 14:12

Re: Coronavirus

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenMcr (Post 36055693)

PM to hold news conference as lockdown considered https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54762048

Number 10 Press Conference will now be at 5pm as it was originally scheduled for 4pm.