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

NotSpaghetti

We were slow to lock down at the beginning and hadn't implemented our pandemic planning.

I believe we are in the top 4 countries for per capita deaths.
Awful.

I think we are number one in the world for the amount of deaths per capita but I notice that they don't mention that in the news very much and neither do the politicians.

Yes harsh. Yes, true !!

I hope whatever comes in the aftermath of this pandemic we as a nation not only hold the government to account for the decisions made but also seriously tackle the reason our obesity levels have risen so much.Having personal experience of nursing and relatives who are directly involved it's not surprising that poor diet and health choices has also contributed.Simply moving and turning a lot of patients nowadays is harder -often requires special equipment. Several of our family have had Covid,myself included. The only one seriously ill was the one carrying an extra 3 stone and by their own admission knew they should have done something about it.I know that not always the case.But watching a regular quiz show DH commented we really are turning into a nation of fatties.Harsh but true ?

If I hear that phrase " lessons will be learned " once more I'm sure I'll do damage.
Try telling that to the families etc. of 100,000 !!

This should NEVER have happened. It was avoidable.

So it’s not so bad? Is that what you’re saying ?

Remember a lot of those people only had the virus mentioned on their death certificate along with other issues! Unfortunately people die can’t say when or how. Thousands have survived but not reported so much.

And 30,000 more predicted within the month. (The Times)
Limited hotel quarantine announced.

Kandinsky has it exactly right. I honestly feel that whatever one’s politics are it’s undeniable that huge mistakes have been made.

Grammaretto, my eldest lives in NZ too - where it was properly nipped in the bud and there is no problem.

Boris can keep his 'deepest condolences'. He's 'deeply sorry' yet has the nerve to say 'we truly did everything we could' - really? Who is he trying to kid?

They wanted herd immunity at the beginning and they still want it. If a lot of grannies and vulnerable people die in the process it's a further win for them as they'll make savings on benefits.

Crashing the economy also works in their favour. If there is mass unemployment then the working people will put up with anything (increased hours, reduced pay, no sick pay etc) to keep their jobs and the unemployed will be so busy fighting to survive that no one will question government decisions.

Has the government learnt anything? We still have not stopped incoming flights, still do not quarantine people arriving into the country. We are an island nation like Australia and NZ. We could have controlled our borders (wasn't that what Brexit was all about?). We were at at a massive advantage over mainland Europe with its fluid borders. But we've blown it. If this is our Gvt. doing its best then it should hang its head in shame.

The incompetence, mendacity and cronyism of this government have led us to this. Please don’t give us “they’re doing their best”, if that’s their best they should resign. They were hoping for herd immunity at the start, and they’re now hoping that giving everyone half a vaccination will lead us to forget their failings. It will have come too late for thousands.

I was in tears watching the briefing this afternoon, Chris Whitby looked shattered and very upset when he read through the slides. It’s really shocking that our deaths are so high and I was thinking of all the families who have lost a loved one, tragic.

I just hope the politicians listen to the scientists carefully and don’t release the restrictions too soon this time, I really want this to be our last national lockdown.

I've just finished watching the programme on Wuhan. I doubt the ordinary people are as secure in their belief that they can trust the Government in the future.

If your mother is in an area where the numbers aren't high SD maybe she should contact her GP.I'm seeing posts from lots of 70 year olds in the Renfrewshire area who have received appointments for Feb 1st.That is a high risk area though numbers have been consistently high from the start.If she has underlying health issues she needs the jag asap

That really is heartbreaking Grammaretto.

100,000+ relatives should not have gone through the agonies that they have done, it's totally unacceptable to my mind.

Of course it is a day for thinking of those whom we have lost. I am on here because my dear FiL can't be.
Although old, he wasn't senile and he was as aware as anyone of the horrors of the virus.
He kept himself and his DW as safe as can be for 9 long months until he had to be admitted to hospital for an infection. Once there he contracted the virus and died alone just before Christmas, desperate to be home with his family.

Excellent post @ 19.56 PippaZ.

EllanVannin

It's made me feel very uneasy this day and age. Horrendous.

30,000 lost their lives within 18 months when the Hong Kong 'flu struck in 1968/70.
In 1957 in the space of a month, 3,550 people died during the Asian 'flu, with 1-4 million worldwide.

Younger people too ! What's going on, this is 2021 ?

One thing the NHS does very well in normal times is keep people alive. In previous generations very, very few would have lived into their 90s or 100+. The very elderly often have comorbidities and this virus is much more likely to kill these people. In the past the very elderly and sick wouldn't have been around to get infected. Men in particular were lucky to make it to 70.

Now many of us are very over weight. In 1957 and 1968 the population was slimmer, fitter, and more active.

I can't agree with anyone who says the government don't care about older people dying. They ensured the vaccines were ordered ( unlike others) and are making sure the oldest get theirs first.

I agree Ilovecheese. Both, if I may say, with your tone and your words.

Firstly, there is a shortage of vaccines worldwide. No one is trying to "kill off the oldies"; they are being the first, rightly, to get what there is available. There are no magic wands to make more than is humanly possible. The achievement of getting to this stage is amazing and we should remember that.

Secondly, why don't people do a little research?

Where's our advanced medical treatment, since scientists knew that another pandemic would strike ? Why weren't we more prepared?

A report into Operation Sygnus (2016) was released in October 2020. It said:

“the UK’s preparedness and response, in terms of its plans, policies and capability, is currently not sufficient to cope with the extreme demands of a severe pandemic that will have a nationwide impact across all sectors”.

The medical treatment has advanced faster than anyone could have expected. The scientists warned and explained. The government knew but continued to cut back in the very areas that we would need under the circumstances we have.

Although this is surely a day for thinking of all the poor families who have lost their dear ones, if you are going to tear into people please tear into those who deserve it - not those who have gone above and beyond and produced amazing results.

This government is pathetic - shut down too late, kept all out borders open, treated care home residents appallingly. I hope when this is all over and there’s a public enquiry, they are hung out to dry.
They should be sued.

Economies can and do recover. We have one of the worst rates of death and one of the most damaged economies. Protect the population and the economy will recover. It is not either / or.
The first duty of a Government is to protect its citizens, everything else can wait.

Vaccines? What are they? My old mum is still waiting for her jab. Her surgery has yet to receive a single dose and my surgery only got their first batch last Friday. Kill off the oldies time!

GagaJo surely if the government didn’t care about elderly deaths they wouldn’t prioritise them for vaccination and they wouldn’t have shut the whole country down and decimated the economy