Neverending Covid-19 Coronavirus
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10 Days That Changed Britain: "Heated" Debate Between Scientists Forced Boris Johnson To Act On Coronavirus
“This is going to get much, much worse, very quickly, both in terms of deaths and the economy,” a cabinet minister told BuzzFeed News. “It will not be long before we are getting numbers like Italy. I don’t think people realise that yet.”
www.buzzfeed.com
Ed Selley
Active Member
The article does make it quite clear that the Government has followed the advice of the people employed to be listened to- for better or worse- and those people filtered that information to fit an existing model. FWIW, the EU's role in this has been secondary to individual governments across member states. That's why there's full lockdowns with army involvement in France, a voluntary one in Sweden and the Netherlands actually pursuing the herd immunity goal.
My reason for linking to the article is that it does suggest that some of the UK's response is down to policy and policy that's been around for a long time. It hasn't acted on the fly and it hasn't (it seems to its own detriment) bypassed nongovernmental organisations put in place. My argument- which obviously will forever be speculative- is that any Prime Minister would have largely followed these same basic policies with only some minor tweaking around the edges.
While we are on the subject of historical policy, here is a thread that shows that the issues we are now facing were actually flagged a decade ago.
Jonathan Y
Well-Known Member
Turns out there really is a supply issue with toilet paper and it's not just people hoarding it causing the shortage.
Toilet paper production is split between for home use and commercial. Commercial use is a bigger portion of the pie.
With everyone suddenly at home more there is more demand for home use toilet paper. To the levels that there would be issues if people weren't hoarding it as well.
Production has to shift from creating more commercial toilet paper to more home use toilet paper.
All of which takes time. Especially when most of our toilet paper is manufactured in China. It would take a few weeks to shift production lines and a few more weeks on ship to be imported to the United States.
Toilet paper production is split between for home use and commercial. Commercial use is a bigger portion of the pie.
With everyone suddenly at home more there is more demand for home use toilet paper. To the levels that there would be issues if people weren't hoarding it as well.
Production has to shift from creating more commercial toilet paper to more home use toilet paper.
All of which takes time. Especially when most of our toilet paper is manufactured in China. It would take a few weeks to shift production lines and a few more weeks on ship to be imported to the United States.
Ed Selley
Active Member
A less glib summary might be that the UK planned for a pandemic response in manner that was pretty thorough* but unsuited to what has actually happened. It then acted too slowly to adjust the plan in light of new information. What hasn't happened is that ideologues tore the plans up- for better or worse, it largely followed the plans drawn up by the people that six months ago, nobody would have credibly suggested ignoring.
* To save anyone chiming in with "ShOuLd HaVe MoRe VeNtiLaToRs ThO", let's be completely honest as to how the UK works. If a government, trust or individual hospital had gone long on pandemic preparation, the moment that their A&E times slipped, cancer waiting lists lengthened, etc, they'd have been pilloried for it. It's not a system that rewards planning for the never never.
Teeeee
Well-Known Member
Finally an explanation that makes sense. Thank you!!!
Joe Mac
Well-Known Member
And after a decade of ideological austerity let’s face it, how could they be expected to even contemplate planning for such future events, most trusts are doing there upmost to give the best care possible without going bankrupt. It makes you wonder just how bad a state the NHS would have been in without the 13 years of actual capital investment in it between 97 and 2010.
BazookaTooth
Well-Known Member
Ed Selley
Active Member
You don't even need austerity- although obviously it didn't help. Everything is calculated for the here and now. If there was more money being spent, it has to be spent on stuff that wins you the next election. Something open ended won't get a look in.
EDIT @BazookaTooth- love this.
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It's also nonsense. They formed their policy based on the 'science' that agreed with their political agenda as exposed by various publications across the political spectrum.
It's a feeble excuse used to justify a callous and irresponsible response by the government. It's got nothing to do with critics (from across the scientific and medical community) scoring political points. Everyone wants the government to succeed and protect us all.
Ed Selley
Active Member
Look- contrary to what you might think- I don't care about the minutiae of your beliefs and biases, they're yours and you're welcome to them. I'd rather you didn't pretend you don't have them though. I certainly have mine.
Illinois Mayor Sends Police To Break Up Parties. They Found His Wife At One Of Them.
The Alton, Ill., mayor said his wife showed a stunning lack of judgment in violating stay-at-home orders intended to stop the spread of coronavirus.
I don't try to hide them, I'd also rather the government succeeded and protected my family. I don't want people to die. That's infinitely better than saying I told you so to Tory voters.
Crowds enjoying springtime force NJ to close all county and state parks
Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday signed an executive order mandating the closure of all state and county parks.
TenderLovingKiller®
Well-Known Member
Fun fact: Alton, IL was the hometown of the world’s tallest man Robert Wadlow who, at the time of his death was 8’11” tall.Illinois Mayor Sends Police To Break Up Parties. They Found His Wife At One Of Them.
The Alton, Ill., mayor said his wife showed a stunning lack of judgment in violating stay-at-home orders intended to stop the spread of coronavirus.www.yahoo.com
Ed Selley
Active Member
That, I can drink to.
A mayor in Illinois directed the city's police department to issue citations and arrests after people defied the state's stay-at-home order. Less than 48 hours later, police broke up a gathering at a bar. Among those in attendance: the mayor's wife.
Haha
Haha