It's just been announced that we have passed 100,000 deaths.

Good post Alegrias

Lucca, you have a point about Aus and NZ., and about the events in Italy etc. The thing is, though, that no-one knows how things are going to pan out and it's only afterwards that you can see you've made the wrong decision.

If we'd locked down earlier, and done all the other things we now think we should have done, then it had all fizzled out, the government would have been castigated for getting that wrong.

Chewbacca

Excellent post @ 19.56 PippaZ.

Thank you Chewbacca.

Being a leader is about making the unpopular decisions Septimia When the government saw what was happening in Italy in February last year they could have put in place the measures that we are just starting to see now. Countries like NZ did and Ardern approached it by getting the population onside and showing them that the measures were good for their whole country.

Johnson and the rest didn't want to be unpopular and thought there would be riots if we were asked to stay at home for 3 weeks, remember. He thinks he's Churchill but he's more like Chamberlain.

I don't think we could ever have done what Australia and New Zealand have done although we may have been able to learn somethings from them rather earlier than we have.

Yes, we and they are surrounded by sea and could close our boarders to all but we are very, very different countries. If you are flying into NZ or Australia it is very likely you are flying into that country to stay in that country rather than flying in to fly out and onwards to other countries.

Our country is a hub country and large parts of our economy depends on that fact. I am no apologist for this government but at the beginning no one knew how long this would last and what would happen to the economy. There is a balance to be found. The government have not always found it quickly enough but comparing us to countries that are not, in a day to day way, like us, is not helpful.

I think the piss poor government and its lack of leadership is accepted.

The decisions over the timing of lockdown, both in the spring and autumn.

No control over our borders, totally ironic really.

Johnson’s character flaws which influence his decisions.

The pressure from the tiny minority group in the Tory party who are responsible for the Brexit fiasco and now seem to want to break the latest lockdown.

The decision to stop test and trace and then to spend £22bn on a system that has never worked.

The other contributions to the numbers are a few factors like poverty, which leads to obesity, which in turn leads to poor outcomes if the population gets infected with covid.
Poverty also means that those showing symptoms are reluctant to stop work as they fear that they either won’t eat or be out on the streets, probably both.

One factor which is common to all nations in the west is society’s behaviour. The Tory blame game won’t wash.

Plenty of warning that we were ill prepared for a possible pandemic. What action was taken?.....NONE. It’s shameful.

What action was taken by Bojo? We are safe to have Cheltenham, a packed Westminster Abbey, no masks and having a laugh at having to greet each other, touching elbows. Consistently sending out the wrong message, too little, far too late as the virus spread out of control. To date, months later, told us we can mix to celebrate Christmas and we are now in lockdown yet again. Beggars belief ! ?

I pretty much agree with what you have said in your last post PippaZ. Even now when people talk about closing our borders its clear that we can't do what NZ or Australia have done. But I do think the leaders of both those countries took difficult decisions that could have backfired on them, but have ended up with the right outcome. Ardern in particular treated the population like adults and showed them what their responsibilities were to the rest of the country.

There is a long tradition of mateship in Australia as well and I'm sure that will have contributed to the people there doing the right thing.

It’s a very sad milestone and a sobering thought that we have the highest death rate in Europe.

I am sure mistakes have been made at government level and, with the benefit of hindsight, our borders should have been closed back in the spring but there are other factors at play to explain our high death toll.

We are an overcrowded country with a high number of ethnic groups which are more likely to die from the virus. Unfortunately these groups are also the ones most likely to refuse the vaccine.
There needs to be a big campaign to try to convince these people to have the vaccine or our recovery will be slower this year than it should be.

We are the second fattest nation in Europe, and it’s well known that the overweight are more at risk than those of normal weight.

There is encouraging news though that the daily rate of infections has been steadily decreasing, and our vaccination programme is going very well.

The Cygnus report of 2016 was totally and completely ignored. Had this been acted on then the UK would have been far better prepared at the onset of this pandemic.

I believe that the special cttee advising UK governments on handling Pandemic was dismissed by Johnson when he took office.

Exactly a year ago, we (the public) were told by Hancock the government was satisfied that there was no imminent of real danger to us from Covid 19.

I think it was James Rees-Mogg who actually predicted that a lot of money could be made from this potential pandemic.

Throughout this year the UK government has been more concerned at handing out billions of pounds to themselves and their mates for contracts for which there had been no competitive tendering and no checks made on abilities to deliver.

The PPE scandal, Test and Trace debacle. etc etc

I do believe that Johnson and co are truly appalled at what there total mismanagement of this crisis has produced in terms of death figures (amongst the top in the world) and the crashing of the economy (amongst the worst in the world). But....to say they have done their best in the circumstances is a downright lie.

And do remember, it may not be the government who wants to blame the public - it is the government who wants the public to blame the public......to take that blame from where it does lie - with that government.

My son lives n works in Tokyo had very few Covid related deaths. Recently more so brought in strict restrictions. Nowhere near 100,000 deaths like we have had. I hsve visited several times over the years and initially noticed people wearing face masks. I thought it might be pollution through traffic emissions but not so it was to prevent other people catching a cold so wear masks. I get very upset when I read the press n watch the news now especially like one gran ssid watched a young woman saying wash hands etc n sge died next day. Thought 2020 was bad but this current year not proving any better so far. Keep safe

My husband and I have been safe. He was even OK when he spent 5 weeks in hospital back in October/November. However he had to go back in just over a week ago for something completely different and now has just been tested positive. I'm scared. I cant even speak to him as he is deaf and can't hear any phones. Its this new variation that's causing so many new deaths because its quicker and easier to catch it. Just stay safe everyone. Don't go into hospital unless you really have to, and only if you have COVID if at all possible.

I live in a rural low infection rate area. We have friends, 72-74 years old, who just carry on as normal and have both caught heavy colds, which could as easily have been covid. If they lived in a large town or city behaving like this they would probably have caught covid. If this is common behaviour it’s no wonder we have so many deaths. Incidentally, they did have a covid test and whilst waiting for the results were out and about.

Brilliant post Franbern.

I especially agree with your last paragraph:

"And do remember, it may not be the government who wants to blame the public - it is the government who wants the public to blame the public......to take that blame from where it does lie - with that government."

I'm sure we've all seen pictures in the media of the parties and weddings and people on the beach, but they have never bee the main drivers of infection. They've been used as scapegoats to distract from the real situation.

The main places of infection outside hospitals and care homes are:

The family home
Educational settings
The workplace

(I'm guessing infections from educational settings have now decreased)

The above are all normal places and don't contain people acting recklessly.

leeds22

I live in a rural low infection rate area. We have friends, 72-74 years old, who just carry on as normal and have both caught heavy colds, which could as easily have been covid. If they lived in a large town or city behaving like this they would probably have caught covid. If this is common behaviour it’s no wonder we have so many deaths. Incidentally, they did have a covid test and whilst waiting for the results were out and about.

That's what I mean. I doubt if they usually behave irresponsibly, but there are people who just don't seem to realise how serious it is, probably fuelled by people saying the death rate isn't really that bad, it's only old crankies with illness who are dying, it's OK if you're doing something worthy, it's only if you go to a rave with 200 people, etc.

I’ve a couple of bits to add. Before I do let me say this is incredibly awful and yes I do blame the government. Their cronies have made millions out of peoples suffering. But to the points 1) a family member is an A&E consultant. He told us last night that the 100000 is actually far higher. That’s just the number reported in 28 days. He said 50% of people who had been in ICU recover. But then 60% of those then die at home and those numbers aren’t reported. 2) you may have heard the view espoused by Stanley Johnson. They want a smaller population. They think Britain is overpopulated. This is fascism plain and simple. Kill off the old, weak and poor. Leaves more for the rich. But yet, people vote for them and will vote for them again. I despair. I’m not necessarily left wing. I am anti fascism.

It is, indeed, an eyeopener! I just hope those twagheads who don't think the lockdown was meant for them take note!

I do agree that Lockdown should have started earlier.

I feel heartfelt sympathy for those who have lost loved ones.

Rosina

The Government isn't directly spreading this virus - it is the idiots who continue to hold rave parties, socialise in their homes, and decide to flout the rules because it doesn't suit them. This is a terrible situation, and so easy to criticise from your armchair - and use that very powerful tool, hindsight. This country has vaccinated more people than the whole of Europe has managed; why not pull together and stop carping? Who would have wanted to be in charge of the ever changing nightmare that this has become for the whole world?

Agree. The number of videos we've seen of those who believed it wasn't anything, the flu, a hoax, didn't believe in wearing masks, I'm fit it won't affect me, who ended up in hospital, saying just this and subsequently died. Bending the rules, inviting the hairdresser/barber in through the back door, meeting one household bubble and then going onto another, being careful (the virus doesn't care)...

Yes, the government made a lot of costly decisions/errors but just because they're however you want to describe them doesn't mean you have to act like them.

It's so sad and my heart goes out to anyone who has lost someone . Cases are dropping because we are locked up . Once the flood gates are opened again the cases will begin to rise . Over the summer months cases will be lower because people are outside more . Come the autumn and winter we will have another spike and be back in the same situation . With the virus keeps mutating the scientist will have to come up with vaccine . The scientist didn't fore tell this amount of death and with the virus mutating they really don't have a clue what they are up against .

I really do not agree with everything that our Government have done but would another party have done any better. Look at the internal politics of the other countries hit badly by Covid! They have their problems of why wasnt this done & that not done too! My problem at the moment is the lack of Vaccination Centres in our area. Our local Surgery are not vaccinating as they are not large enough. Run by a group overseeing several in our area it seems we are last in the queue. Our Care Homes & over 80’s only just being treated. Our local MP is useless trotting out Party lines, how brilliantly the Vaccinations are being done everywhere. No mention of our own. So there are good things in what the Government has done but many bad too! It does remind me of the reports of the Spanish Flu that I have read. All that should have been done in both cases but wasnt as there was no previous experience to refer to. When complaining we should all remember this!

Yes i saw a section on the bbc news thing about the wuhan outbreak, that poor man in tears because he felt like he had taken his dad to his death, just because he gave him a lift to the hospital in the first place....poor guy. And also the phone call about how the wuhan gov't should have released the news straightaway, but did not..Beggars belief, it really does.??

In my case testing too needs sorted. Contacted GP cos another sinus infection, got antibiotics as usual, but told to get tested. I did I was told, but had to order a home test to be sent as I live alone and my dizzy head caused by my sinuses, the doc told me not to drive. Last Thurs I ordered one, not here by Sat, phoned again to be told not the correct symptoms don't need test. Told receptionist at GPs on Monday what I was told, she was so rude to me and told me to do as doc said. Phoned for another test, none available to send. Sat on internet all day until one was, ordered it and my test was finally delivered yesterday, so it was done straight away and posted back. Phoned to register it and told if I don't hear by Sunday I've to contact them. Now on Sunday it's 2 weeks since my sinus trouble began and I've been stuck in the house all this time with my dog who is going bonkers with boredom. Others would of just said "sod it" and gone out. Obviously I'll do as I'm told but I'm not impressed at all with the whole system. It's laughable when Boris congrats himself on our wonderful world beating test and trace.

SillyNanny, our local g.p surgery is very tiny but is going to be giving the vaccines (probably have already begun) so i doubt size of it is the true reason, also maybe the local chemists can give some, as they are some of them being allowed now, even Asda in one area is to be doing it (in the pharmacy) i believe.

A friend had Covid positive test months ago and never had a single call from track and trace.

EllenVannin

We could have been prepared - this useless, incompetent government chose to ignore the findings from 'Exercise Cygnus' in 2016.

They are incompetent, and possibly criminally negligent in a public office.