Coronavirus (OLD)

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by Chris

So to keep Covid deaths at the present rate you’re saying we should keep the safety standards that have been imposed on people’s pedestrian activity - social distancing, face masks etc?

You're getting like someone else we know! He's saying that an enormous amount of effort is going into any and all measures to keep us safe.

[1andrew1]

A rather bizarre story. Surely, if you're unwell you would step down now and not wait until February? Suggestions elsewhere are that this could be a device to put distance between the handling of Covid and the Conservative Party whilst still allowing Johnson to go down in history as taking us out of the EU.

Downing Street today described as “utter nonsense” a report that the Prime Minister is still suffering from the effects of coronavirus and may have to step down early.

The source of the claim was said to be the father-in-law of Boris Johnson’s controversial aide Dominic Cummings, who is alleged to have said it to a visitor on his estate.

The Times’s diary column related how a reader, Anna Silverman, fell into conversation with Sir Humphry Wakefield while visiting Chillingham Castle, Northumberland. It claimed the baronet “merrily informed her that Boris Johnson is still struggling badly with having had Covid-19 … and will stand down in six months”.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/poli...-a4532556.html

[Sephiroth]

I would have thought that wearing a mask as a CV risk mitigation is in the realms of the bleedin' obvious.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by Damien

Anyway I think for now we should open up and try to 'live with the virus' but keep an eye on cases to ensure we don't see what we saw in April.

That’s all I’m saying.

[Russ]

Developed a tickly cough over the past 24 hours, no other symptoms but as my OH suffers with asthma I’ve booked in a drive-in test at 2pm today, results by text hopefully within 24/48 hours...

[joglynne]

Originally Posted by Russ

Developed a tickly cough over the past 24 hours, no other symptoms but as my OH suffers with asthma I’ve booked in a drive-in test at 2pm today, results by text hopefully within 24/48 hours...

Always better to be on the safe side. Hopefully you will be clear. <hugs>

[Russ]

Cheers, just arrived home now.

Pretty unpleasant running the swab around where my tonsils were, I kept gagging but that was nothing compared to then running it across my sinuses, yuk. Results in 24/48 hours.

[Hom3r]

Every time I go to the shops I see loads of people wearing the mask under their noses, if they are wearing one that is.

Personally everyone should be told no mask no entry, and if you breathing is so bad a mask cannot be worn then perhaps you should be forced to stay at home.

I saw a Dr he had a O2 reader on his finger and his levers was 99%, he put a high spec mask on which was more airtight that the standard mask his O2 levels stayed at 99%.

Why should I have my heath risked be you are selfish.

[papa smurf]

EU shame: Trade chief Phil Hogan 'to resign tonight' after flouting coronavirus rules

The European Union’s trade chief was accused of undermining Ireland’s attempt to curb the spread of coronavirus when he ignored orders to self-isolate after returning to the country on holiday. Before his resignation, Mr Hogan had faced days of pressure to quit his £240,000-a-year post after failing to declare the exact details of last month’s trip. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen forced him to publish an itinerary of his holiday in a bid to establish the facts.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/polit...ireland-latest

[1andrew1]

U-turn if you want to but you'll need to do so 11 times to catch up with BoJo! Trying to handle Brexit and Covid at once is not working out so well.

Senior Tories express anger over Johnson policy U-turns

Senior members of Boris Johnson’s government have expressed their concern at the recent string of policy U-turns, questioning the prime minister’s approach, the make-up of the cabinet and the civil service’s ability to handle the pandemic.

The government has changed course 12 times in major policy areas since coronavirus hit in March. The latest reversal came on Tuesday evening when education secretary Gavin Williamson announced that face masks would be mandatory in communal parts of English schools in areas under stricter lockdown.

A dozen senior Tories have privately told the Financial Times about their growing disquiet, with one cabinet minister expressing unhappiness with both the substance and form of the latest announcement on face coverings.

https://www.ft.com/content/2feb9cc1-...c-25aff1adb93b

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

U-turn if you want to but you'll need to do so 11 times to catch up with BoJo! Trying to handle Brexit and Covid at once is not working out so well.

https://www.ft.com/content/2feb9cc1-...c-25aff1adb93b

I think the term is “agile”. Or would You prefer an administration that doesn’t, can’t or refuses to respond appropriately when circumstances change and information changes?

Originally Posted by Pierre

I think the term is “agile”. Or would You prefer an administration that doesn’t, can’t or refuses to respond appropriately when circumstances change and information changes?

I prefer an administration that changes it’s mind based on information and new knowledge, not one that only seems to change it’s mind when the headlines and outrage make it...

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Pierre

I think the term is “agile”. Or would You prefer an administration that doesn’t, can’t or refuses to respond appropriately when circumstances change and information changes?

What circumstances changed with the app? with free school meals? The government has been guided by the science of polling in all these u-turns.

The U-turns have been:
1. Masks in schools
2. Evictions
3. Exam grades
4. Face coverings in shops
5. NHS contract tracing app
6. Free school meals
7. Schools back before the Summer
8. Masks on public transport
9. Proxy vote
10. NHS surcharge
11. Leave to remain
12. Herd immunity

[Carth]

One wonders if Andrew would be quite so scathing towards Boris if he did a U-Turn on the Brexit extension

[1andrew1]

Sky News' Sam Coates has analysed why BoJo has made all these U-turns. Whilst many have speculated about the power wielded over him by Dominic Cummings, it appears that Nicola Sturgeon is the one to credit for these u-turns.

But there is one common denominator which runs through too many of the U-turns to be ignored, and hints at a bigger neuralgia in government: nervousness about being outflanked by Nicola Sturgeon.

The pattern is easy to see. Tuesday's mask U-turn came after Scotland's first minister had also announced schools north of the border would require masks at the start of the week.

Ms Sturgeon abandoned the exam algorithm more than a week before Mr Johnson followed suit.

Free school meals were extended for further months by Ms Sturgeon weeks before Tory MPs joined a coalition forcing ministers to change tack in Westminster.

Masks in shops were required by Ms Sturgeon north of the border for less than a month before Mr Johnson copied that too.

Meanwhile, one of the biggest moments of political heat for the PM came in May was when he abandoned the "stay at home" slogan in England, while the governments of Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland refused to follow suit.

https://news.sky.com/story/the-one-f...turns-12057400