Still impressed by BJ?

It's not that we have too few beds/ventilators etc. It's that we have too many people living here who may need to use them. Ngaiol is correct; we have given away too much money to other countries instead of building up our own resources. Don't complain now when most of you voted for this. Thank goodness it's not Jeremy in charge.

We must soon get to the stage where schools and nurseries are closed, but should still provide a skeleton childminding service for parents who work in the NHS, police or other essential services.

Much education can, these days, be done online and most children can access online services. Help must be offered to those who can't.

quizqueen well maybe we’ll have far fewer people after the virus because of our lack of ventilators, by your logic that will be a good thing. Italy has about the same numbers in the population as us, but twice as many ventilators, and they are struggling. This suggests we have too few .

Ah , thinly veiled racism comes into play. What a surprise.

So let me get this straight - the reason we have so few ventilators is because we’ve let too many foreigners into the UKand we’ve given away too much money to foreign countries.

What a fascinating theory. Can you run it past us one more time just for the lolz?

Shouldn't a national emergency bring out the best in people not the worst, and apportioning blame is unhelpful?

What I think is baffling is why its taken until now for the concern about ventilators coming into play. Why were they not on order weeks ago? The budget announcements made it clear that the government is prepared to spend so the money can be found from somewhere.

All countries are concerned about ventilators. There has never been a need for them on this level.

Perhaps because the world and his dog are trying to protect itself the world over!!!

Supply and demand!

Just to add, as far as I can see, if we found some medication that worked to help we would immediately need fewer ventilators.

Just seen the South Korean foreign minister on Andrew Marr. She was so brilliant, calm and reasoned. They are very much in control, testing everyone and reducing the numbers of cases. Why can't Europe be so efficient? The South Koreans have really impressed me.

Johnson looks more like a bemused bystander than a reassuring leader. quote Keven Magure

Well there's a surprise Grany.

Is it? Some people thought Johnson would be good as leader ha ha

Johnson has not been seen since Thursday. Any sign of him today?

Apparently we can expect to hear from Johnson this afternoon at the daily press conference, now that it's been pointed out to him that having a regular official update might actually be quite a good thing.

Dominic's currently telling Bozza what to say and he's practising the words.

I think I'm a bit confused. Has the Government changed its stance on 'herd immunity' and decided that it can't cope with too many oldies needing specialist care all at the same time, so they have decided to heed WHO advice?
We seem to be having mixed messages.

I do realise of course that it's a difficult time for anyone responsibile for making decisions, but it doesn't seem to have been handled well as there appears to be inconsistent, and patronising public information and advice.

The dozey folk just have to wake up.

Sir Chenjin

' Dominic's currently telling Bozza what to say and he's practising the words.'
--

Do you believe Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance are currently practising the words of Dominic Cummings also.

I take it you have a poor impression of Professor Whitty England's chief medical officer and the department of health's top scientific adviser.

I take it you have a poor impression of Sir Patrick Vallance the UK government's chief scientific adviser.

Would that be correct?

It would be correct if you looked at the timing of my (very obviously facetious) post and what it would also be correct if you quoted the whole of my post.

It is correct that the UK Govt is finally swinging into action as there have been calls for them to do and it is correct that they now appear to have moved on from their earlier herd immunity approach. It is also correct that they have now accepted that daily official briefings are the most appropriate way of communicating.

Although it would also be correct that what we saw was an advisory approach and the Govt is not actually implementing any changes at this stage. That of course may change.

They haven’t moved on, as you put it SirC from talking of herd immunity.
There seems to be a lack of understanding from a few on here about this.
When quite a lot of the younger and healthy people have had the virus and have some immunity, it makes it harder for the virus to be passed on to others ( especially us older ones.)

No misunderstanding here lemon. Explain to me what you know about the numbers required for herd immunity, what that means in terms of supporting social distance, the impact it’s likely to have on healthcare capacity and why so many experts and the WHO have specifically advised against this approach.

Distancing

Oh, and of course how it works in an unvaccinated population. If you read the latest advice from the Govt ministers it’s now social distancing that they’re promoting in line with the wider recommended advice.