Coronavirus

[Dave2002]

Poet Laureates have not majored in producing stirring poems in recent years so maybe it is time!

Such as this - about another ****-up I suppose - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ch...Brigade_(poem)

[MrGongGong]

Such as this - about another ****-up I suppose - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ch...Brigade_(poem)

Always makes me think of Basil Brush (try reading The Lady of Shallot with a "Boom Boom" at the end of each line)

I'm sure you have seen/heard this ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkqUq26z1CE

[Once Was 4]

There's already a row but it won't make a difference given that the longstanding plans for dealing with a flu pandemic were deemed 'too expensive' to implement in full, so the country was already at a disadvantage for dealing with a known pandemic risk let alone a novel virus one. Money (it's not even economics since preparedness is important for a country to continue to function economically and/or recover in a timely fashion) is the only consideration these days - who has it and is useful and/or influential to the government.

Did anybody see Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth on the Andrew Marr show this morning? No attempt to score political points and supportive of what the government are trying to do but also saying that, when it's all over, certain questions have got to be asked and we cannot just go back to "business as usual". An impressive performance.

Friends of mine on Facebook (whom I am now tempted to block) are starting to have a go at the police who are on the front line trying to enforce observance of the current restrictions. Well, I saw one of my neighbours off to be on shift as a copper whilst his partner waved him a worried goodbye. A close relative starts training shortly and in just over three months will also be out there facing whatever comes up. This while the rest of us are trying to be as isolated from the disease as possible.

The best way of avoiding a totalitarian state is to make sure that current rules are OBSERVED; that way they will not have to be ENFORCED or made even more draconian.

[MrGongGong]

The best way of avoiding a totalitarian state is to make sure that current rules are OBSERVED; that way they will not have to be ENFORCED or made even more draconian.

The problem is that the "Rules" are being made by government stuffed with pathological liars (not that "Magic Grandpa" would be any better )

If you treat people with the kind of contempt that is commonplace what do they expect ?

[Once Was 4]

The problem is that the "Rules" are being made by government stuffed with pathological liars (not that "Magic Grandpa" would be any better )

If you treat people with the kind of contempt that is commonplace what do they expect ?

Totally agree! And does this not show what bad leadership (non-leadership) that this country has suffered from for years? Possibly since the end of Harold Wilson (yes, Tony Blair achieved some great things but then made catastrophic, even criminal, errors). As for 'Magic grandpa' the less said the better. Has anybody got any confidence in any of his three possible successors or do we have to hope for the 'least worst option'?

[Bryn]

Totally agree! And does this not show what bad leadership (non-leadership) that this country has suffered from for years? Possibly since the end of Harold Wilson (yes, Tony Blair achieved some great things but then made catastrophic, even criminal, errors). As for 'Magic grandpa' the less said the better. Has anybody got any confidence in any of his three possible successors or do we have to hope for the 'least worst option'?

The war criminal Blair did but one good thing. He left office. For JC to remain at his post and for the election of a new LP leader to be postponed until the current emergency abates would be worth doing, I reckon. That would, in y opinion, be the 'least worse option'.

[Count Boso]

If accurate, is it time for President B. Johnson to order our arms manufacturers to stop what they're doing and start producing all equipment to protect people, and fight the virus?

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/28/revealed-1bn-of-taxpayers-cash-to-help-foreign-countries-buy-british-arms

[Dave2002]

If accurate, is it time for President B. Johnson to order our arms manufacturers to stop what they're doing and start producing all equipment to protect people, and fight the virus?

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...y-british-arms

[oddoneout]

I see that Michael Gove is now trying to blame China for the UK's inept handing of the Coronavirus emergency. He's presumably not had time yet to read the Sunday Telegraph report of the pandemic trial run fail in 2017.
And of course there have never been any previous indications that mention of a novel virus form in the East might have implications for this country: MERS, SARS and assorted avian and swine flu never happened did they Mikey?
I would say 'I despair' but that capacity was used up a long time ago, even before Covid19 hit. I suppose the habit of ducking responsibility is so entrenched now that it can't be overcome.

[cloughie]

I see that Michael Gove is now trying to blame China for the UK's inept handing of the Coronavirus emergency. He's presumably not had time yet to read the Sunday Telegraph report of the pandemic trial run fail in 2017.
And of course there have never been any previous indications that mention of a novel virus form in the East might have implications for this country: MERS, SARS and assorted avian and swine flu never happened did they Mikey?
I would say 'I despair' but that capacity was used up a long time ago, even before Covid19 hit. I suppose the habit of ducking responsibility is so entrenched now that it can't be overcome.

I blame the blame culture!

[eighthobstruction]

I blame the blame culture!

....so glad I didn't see that interview....in ire rest mode refC19 at mo....now reserved for Central Heating Wi fi remote which has decided to work contra the way it has in past....

[Bryn]

I see that Michael Gove is now trying to blame China for the UK's inept handing of the Coronavirus emergency. He's presumably not had time yet to read the Sunday Telegraph report of the pandemic trial run fail in 2017.
And of course there have never been any previous indications that mention of a novel virus form in the East might have implications for this country: MERS, SARS and assorted avian and swine flu never happened did they Mikey?
I would say 'I despair' but that capacity was used up a long time ago, even before Covid19 hit. I suppose the habit of ducking responsibility is so entrenched now that it can't be overcome.

Looks to be fully coordinated with the Mail on Sunday's racist front page today.

[johnb]

I thought I heard that the government had announced that they had achieved 10,000 tests a day.

The information released today is that 19,522 people have been tested up to 9am this morning. Deducting yesterdays figure gives 6,961 tested in 24 hours.

It might be that they are referring to a different time period, but ....

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I see that Michael Gove is now trying to blame China...

He’s only mimicking his lord and master in the White House.

[Anastasius]

We are all to get a letter from the PM this week apparently.

There may be a suitably amended version winging its way back to him from this address...

I bet his hand hurts after signing them all.