Still impressed by BJ?

It’s not really the approach we want to take though - herd immunity would require millions to get covid19, which would have a massive impact on healthcare, the economy and so on.

OK Obviously i must be a bit dim.

It's a fairly common term, eg it was used for a recent measles outbreak because not enough children had been vaccinated to provide herd immunity.

no, I have never heard it used before. Although I do understand it.

The way it has been managed in China does not necessarily mean that this will be eradicated or that the majority have developed immunity to it, ie herd immunity.

herd

Herd immunity - have you not used that term previously, Greymar?

It is, however, usually used with regard to vaccination. However, as there is no vaccine for COVID-19 as yet and this virus affects most people mildly, it is anticipated that developing a natural immunity in those who have it and go on to recover would have the same effect.

Suggest was one possible

Absolutely that’s correct POGS - he said that, and I wonder why he chose such a poor turn of phrase. I’m not aware of any theory which suggested that one of the ways to deal with this was as Johnson suggested. ‘Taking it on the chin’ is a ridiculous thing for a PM to suggest as one possible approach. Of course, what he then went on to do us exhibit the same bumbling waffle we know him for that made no sense whatsoever, so in that sense he didn’t let us down.

Dr Bob Gill

Our government made up of self-serving, incompetent, opportunistic, ruthless, sociopathic, propaganda peddling, carpet-bagging, reckless, unprincipled, entitled elite working within a rigged system that promotes their agenda & insulates them from accountability
#TakeItOnTheChin

The WHO says test, test, test. Watch the video below to learn how China managed the crisis. It tested, tested, tested. UK government policy is not to test. No other country on earth is managing this like ours. Why? Based on what data? What assumptions?
twitter.com/drbobgill/status/1238786935893753857?s=20

The language around this is appalling.....cullling, herd. What on earth?

Daisymae

Are you discussing the interview Johnson gave on This Morning.?

If so then this is my ' thought' posters should stop posting rubbish that continually twists facts or they do not understand the word 'context'.

I think it is lazy to rely on believing everything you read /hear without finding out the ' facts'.

The will by some posters on several threads to politically weaponize the Corona Virus is frustrating!

fullfact.org/health/boris-johnson-coronavirus-this-morning/

Extract:-

Philip Schofield:

" Is the delay essentially trying to spread this out so it doesn’t all happen at once and overwhelm the NHS, and that you can actually delay it into perhaps the summer when it’s a little bit quieter and the ordinary flu might have died down a wee bit, is that what you’re doing?"

Boris Johnson:

" Well it’s a very, very important question, and that’s where a lot of the debate has been and one of the theories is, that perhaps you could take it on the chin, take it all in one go and allow the disease, as it were, to move through the population, without taking as many draconian measures. I think we need to strike a balance, I think it is very important, we’ve got a fantastic NHS, we will give them all the support that they need, we will make sure that they have all preparations, all the kit that they need for us to get through it. But I think it would be better if we take all the measures that we can now to stop the peak of the disease being as difficult for the NHS as it might be, I think there are things that we may be able to do."

If there is another interview where Johnson has used the term ' take it on the chin' to support your theory he was somehow being dismissive then I will willingly apologise.

Why?

In answer to the original question: 'Still impressed by BJ?'

Yes.

That was Johnson's actual words 'take it on the chin' in a TV interview not my thoughts.

I too remember Asian flu. I was 14 and at boarding school. As has been said, the school eventually closed down through lack of pupils and staff!! I can remember being in the sick bay for about 2 weeks and then being sent home to convalesce! Everything seemed to go back to normal pretty quickly,but then I suppose from the view point of a child it appeared that way!

The genie is out of the bottle and I think all the children and young adults are going to get the virus. They may as well get on with it and develop 'herd immunity'. The only advice should be for all over 60s and people with health issues to self isolate. Everyone else should just get on with normal life and self isolate if unwell. Otherwise the economy is going to go completely down the pan and that's what looks like happening at the moment.

The rules change from day to day because the situation changes from day to day. I think Jeremy Hunt has to get his two pennorth in, but he needs to remember he wasn’t that brilliant a Health secretary.

Exactly flying

I'm not sure the government is asking anyone to "take it on the chin", not that the population is being thrown under a bus.

One thing does concern me though. Why have they stopped the testing? How can you know what is happening if you are not measuring it?

The government reaction is one thing that worries me most. This is the one time when we really need leadership with integrity that people will trust. I personally don't want anyone in my family to 'take it on the chin' for the government. I feel like the population in general are being thrown under the bus. I always considered that our country demonstrated the way that things should be done.

dahlia, both daughters phoned this morning to check if I'm OK. My reply 'I'm fine, not dead yet - so you'll have to wait for your inheritance!'.

Callistemon, I remember the Asian flu and Big Freeze when schools just kept going. The teachers were local and most of us walked there.

Today's situation is totally different. Even light snow means some staff cannot travel (apparently) and schools have to close!

I might feel a little better about Boris if he didn't say one thing, and then change the rules within a day. Mind you, his phrase: "and many of you may lose loved ones before their time" did strike a chord, my daughter was on the 'phone to check on us straight away!

I think people would have a very good case of appeal against any fines imposed. The safety of family members would be a solid reason to keep a child at home.

Paddyanne, are we even certain that would give us herd immunity? I don't think we know if a person can get reinfected.

Callistermon, I think it is one thing saying schools should stay open but quite another for them to insist children attend. I think they should suspend fines and let each parent decide based on whether their child has underlying health conditions and whether someone living in their house does. As far as I know though people still have to send their child to school