Current Affairs

[Onelife]

If he doesn’t make it compulsory to wear face masks outside then you can expect a moan from me tomorrow.

[screwy]

May as well start now...

[Stephen]

I can hear the shelves being stripped as we speak. Selfish idiots

[Mervyn and Trish]

Yes but can I go to a stag do wiv me mates in Benidorm on Friday?

[Stephen]

Of course. I know a geezer wiv a private plane that’ll do you a deal for a few thousand ponies, no questions asked. Cash only

[david63]

If he doesn’t make it compulsory to wear face masks outside then you can expect a moan from me tomorrow.

Doesn't need to as you cannot go out

[screwy]

If they’re going to jab all care home residents and staff first, as a 69 yr old I guess it will be Xmas for my turn. Southport is full of care homes..

[Gill W]

Because they only act after the situation has got out of hand.

That was exactly what I was going to say.

I am not aware of any recent U turn, the decision on London primary schools was made a few days ago, and the current message for all primary schools outside London and the South East is that they should reopen on Monday as planned.

Just in case you hadn't noticed the latest U turn.
Sunday morning - it's fine to send your children to school
Monday evening - schools closed

Most of what you say is true Gill, it's just that the country can no longer afford a full lockdown, we have to try and maximise the economy while doing our best to depress infection rates until the effects of the vaccination programme begin to have an impact on the spread of the virus.

If we wait until the effects of the vaccination programme are felt, that’s months and months away. Much longer than the overpromised Easter.

Tens of thousands will die, and we’ll be in such a bad state that the economy will tank anyway.

We’ve got to such a bad position- and unfortunately, whatever happens next is going to be worse than where we are today.

Gill, if the vaccine works and protects from the worst effects of the virus, then the pressure on the NHS will gradually ease over q1 as more and more vulnerable are vaccinated. So your worst fears should not be encountered.

At last the government wakes up to the risk I was going on about - we are now at Covid alert level 5 - severe risk of NHS being overwhelmed within 21 days uness further action is taken.

Even though words like 'scaremongering' and 'panic stricken' were being bandied around on this forum a couple of days ago - I think it's safe to say I was right!

[Stephen]

I couldn’t give a rats ar*e who is/was right. Let’s just get things under control, follow the rules and get the vaccine rolled out as fast as possible. Finger pointing and blaming isn’t going to solve anything.

[oldbluefox]

I don't think this is unexpected. It's something we all knew may happen especially after the reckless behaviour of some over the Christmas period.
As early as November 1st 2020 Boris said "the NHS risked being overwhelmed and repeated the message that had done so much to motivate Britons to obey the initial countrywide lockdown in March: “stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives”. (Source FT)
It is what it is, stay calm.

[johnds]

U-Turn = reacting to changing circumstances

[Onelife]

That was exactly what I was going to say.

I am not aware of any recent U turn, the decision on London primary schools was made a few days ago, and the current message for all primary schools outside London and the South East is that they should reopen on Monday as planned.

Just in case you hadn't noticed the latest U turn.
Sunday morning - it's fine to send your children to school
Monday evening - schools closed

If we wait until the effects of the vaccination programme are felt, that’s months and months away. Much longer than the overpromised Easter.

Tens of thousands will die, and we’ll be in such a bad state that the economy will tank anyway.

We’ve got to such a bad position- and unfortunately, whatever happens next is going to be worse than where we are today.

Gill, if the vaccine works and protects from the worst effects of the virus, then the pressure on the NHS will gradually ease over q1 as more and more vulnerable are vaccinated. So your worst fears should not be encountered.

At last the government wakes up to the risk I was going on about - we are now at Covid alert level 5 - severe risk of NHS being overwhelmed within 21 days uness further action is taken.

Even though words like 'scaremongering' and 'panic stricken' were being bandied around on this forum a couple of days ago - I think it's safe to say I was right!

You were indeed Gill

[Manoverboard]

I couldn’t give a rats ar*e who is/was right. Let’s just get things under control, follow the rules and get the vaccine rolled out as fast as possible. Finger pointing and blaming isn’t going to solve anything.

Indeed not our Country needs jabbers not jibberers.

[Onelife]

U-Turn = reacting to changing circumstances

After the horse has bolted springs to mind.

[Onelife]

I couldn’t give a rats ar*e who is/was right. Let’s just get things under control, follow the rules and get the vaccine rolled out as fast as possible. Finger pointing and blaming isn’t going to solve anything.

Indeed not our Country needs jabbers not jibberers.

Content edited .... there were an awful lot of jabbers on this forum... and no, I'm not Jibbing.

[Mervyn and Trish]

U-Turn = reacting to changing circumstances

After the horse has bolted springs to mind.

Quite so. I said in 2015 we should lock down now in case there's a pandemic in 2020.

[oldbluefox]

U-Turn = reacting to changing circumstances

After the horse has bolted springs to mind.

Quite so. I said in 2015 we should lock down now in case there's a pandemic in 2020.

Now you tell us. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
Give the man a coconut!!!!

[Gill W]

U-Turn = reacting to changing circumstances

What changed in the 36 hours between Sunday morning and Monday evening?

It was already a dire situation on Sunday morning

[towny44]

That was exactly what I was going to say.

I am not aware of any recent U turn, the decision on London primary schools was made a few days ago, and the current message for all primary schools outside London and the South East is that they should reopen on Monday as planned.

Just in case you hadn't noticed the latest U turn.
Sunday morning - it's fine to send your children to school
Monday evening - schools closed

If we wait until the effects of the vaccination programme are felt, that’s months and months away. Much longer than the overpromised Easter.

Tens of thousands will die, and we’ll be in such a bad state that the economy will tank anyway.

We’ve got to such a bad position- and unfortunately, whatever happens next is going to be worse than where we are today.

Gill, if the vaccine works and protects from the worst effects of the virus, then the pressure on the NHS will gradually ease over q1 as more and more vulnerable are vaccinated. So your worst fears should not be encountered.

At last the government wakes up to the risk I was going on about - we are now at Covid alert level 5 - severe risk of NHS being overwhelmed within 21 days uness further action is taken.

Even though words like 'scaremongering' and 'panic stricken' were being bandied around on this forum a couple of days ago - I think it's safe to say I was right!

Gill, I know that you and Keith have been strong advocates for closing schools, and I understand your reasons. But I desperately wanted schools to stay open because that is by far the best place for children to learn, and the covid secure arrangements were able to make schools fairly safe places. I accept that possibly older, and certainly vulnerable teachers could have been made higher priority for vaccination, but most under17s, and certainly primary school age children don't have any serious reaction to this virus, and hopefully by the time schools restart it may be possible to have the most vulnerable teachers vaccinated
As for U turns, personally I think the govt have tried to follow the best advice from Sage for as long as possible, and only changed policy when it was absolutely essential. I know you won't agree with this, but I fully expect that any future enquiry will prove this to be true. There have been far too many "experts" giving their own views on TV, most of whom know they will never be held accountable for their comments, unlike the members of Sage whose meeting reports will be scrutinised by any enquiry, and they will undoubtedly be called to give evidence.
Anyway we are where you wanted us to be, and let us hope that the vast majority follow the rules and help to suppress the infection rate as quickly as possible, and that the vaccine roll out happens mad fast as Boris hopes.

[Onelife]

U-Turn = reacting to changing circumstances

After the horse has bolted springs to mind.

Quite so. I said in 2015 we should lock down now in case there's a pandemic in 2020.

You were a bit premature with that call Sir Merv....l called for one in January, May, June, July, August, September, October, December. 2020.

[Manoverboard]

After the horse has bolted springs to mind.

Quite so. I said in 2015 we should lock down now in case there's a pandemic in 2020.

You were a bit premature with that call Sir Merv....l called for one in January, May, June, July, August, September, October, December. 2020.

You did indeed and it's getting really boring

[oldbluefox]

You were a bit premature with that call Sir Merv....l called for one in January, May, June, July, August, September, October, December. 2020.

You also predicted Shergar would win this year's Grand National.

[Mervyn and Trish]

In the rush to bash Boris I see the news that the UK has so far vaccinated more people than the entire EU has been greeted by tumbleweed rolling through the forum.

[Onelife]

I am not aware of any recent U turn, the decision on London primary schools was made a few days ago, and the current message for all primary schools outside London and the South East is that they should reopen on Monday as planned.

Just in case you hadn't noticed the latest U turn.
Sunday morning - it's fine to send your children to school
Monday evening - schools closed

Gill, if the vaccine works and protects from the worst effects of the virus, then the pressure on the NHS will gradually ease over q1 as more and more vulnerable are vaccinated. So your worst fears should not be encountered.

At last the government wakes up to the risk I was going on about - we are now at Covid alert level 5 - severe risk of NHS being overwhelmed within 21 days uness further action is taken.

Even though words like 'scaremongering' and 'panic stricken' were being bandied around on this forum a couple of days ago - I think it's safe to say I was right!

Gill, I know that you and Keith have been strong advocates for closing schools, and I understand your reasons. But I desperately wanted schools to stay open because that is by far the best place for children to learn, and the covid secure arrangements were able to make schools fairly safe places. I accept that possibly older, and certainly vulnerable teachers could have been made higher priority for vaccination, but most under17s, and certainly primary school age children don't have any serious reaction to this virus, and hopefully by the time schools restart it may be possible to have the most vulnerable teachers vaccinated
As for U turns, personally I think the govt have tried to follow the best advice from Sage for as long as possible, and only changed policy when it was absolutely essential. I know you won't agree with this, but I fully expect that any future enquiry will prove this to be true. There have been far too many "experts" giving their own views on TV, most of whom know they will never be held accountable for their comments, unlike the members of Sage whose meeting reports will be scrutinised by any enquiry, and they will undoubtedly be called to give evidence.
Anyway we are where you wanted us to be, and let us hope that the vast majority follow the rules and help to suppress the infection rate as quickly as possible, and that the vaccine roll out happens mad fast as Boris hopes.

HI John....If Sage are called upon to give evidence I think it will show that the Government took onboard their advise but mistakengly went for the balanced approach.

Boris has stopped chasing the viruses tail and is now prepared to bite off its head.... so as you say, lets hope the small minority follow the majority in putting an end to this dredful period that has cost so much.

[Onelife]

Quite so. I said in 2015 we should lock down now in case there's a pandemic in 2020.

You were a bit premature with that call Sir Merv....l called for one in January, May, June, July, August, September, October, December. 2020.

You did indeed and it's getting really boring

There never a dull moment when l'm around.....ask anyone