Where are Chris Whitty and Patrick Valance??? Are they locked away at the Tower of London under Boris' orders?...

Although the cases may be high, hospital numbers are down and ITU numbers are the lowest they've been since July. Deaths from all causes are running at about the five year average.

So if there are even more cases than we think there are, then Covid is even less dangerous than we think.

(Tin hat on, awaits incoming on theme of covid denying)

So many more people I know seem to have covid at the moment - way more than a month ago. What’s also interesting is that people I speak to say they either haven’t or wouldn’t bother to report positive cases now, because of there being no need for a PCR. So sadly maybe the numbers are much higher than is officially being reported.

I’m missing Jonathan Van Tamm. He always seems like the voice of reason to me. But def respect the opinions of Chris Whitty and Patrick Valance too. Keeping them well hidden I think.

Jings, it was a joke.

But my mathematical analysis skills are legendary...

(another piece of lighthearted repartee, just for clarity!)

Alegrias1

Or me ?

You mean we should just listen to an anonymous person on the internet? Surely that isn’t a very scientific approach?

Or me ?

Alegrias1

Does he?

Then excuse me, but ask him about the difference between date of reporting and date of test.

Then ask him about how there is a weekly cadence to the number of tests carried out.

Then ask him if he believes everything they tell him on the news is unassailable truth and whether reporters, who are usually arts and humanities graduates, are often mathematically challenged.

Finally, ask him if he thinks that its important that the population have accurate statistics on which to base their assessments of the situation of if they are allowed to make their own ideas up about the progress of the pandemic irrespective of the actual situation.

Sorry, expecting people to base their ideas on truth rather than misunderstanding seems to be a bit awkward for you.

This is why we need to hear from Sir Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance, who have all the data and are qualified to interpret it for us.

Luckygirl3

They are only wheeled put when they are prepared to back the government's decisions.

They're kept in the basement at No. 10.

They can hear parties going on elsewhere but they're not allowed to go out and they have leftover sausage rolls and, if they're very lucky, cake thrown in occasionally.

They are only wheeled put when they are prepared to back the government's decisions.

Does he?

Then excuse me, but ask him about the difference between date of reporting and date of test.

Then ask him about how there is a weekly cadence to the number of tests carried out.

Then ask him if he believes everything they tell him on the news is unassailable truth and whether reporters, who are usually arts and humanities graduates, are often mathematically challenged.

Finally, ask him if he thinks that its important that the population have accurate statistics on which to base their assessments of the situation of if they are allowed to make their own ideas up about the progress of the pandemic irrespective of the actual situation.

Sorry, expecting people to base their ideas on truth rather than misunderstanding seems to be a bit awkward for you.

Alegrias1

DiscoDancer1975

We have to go by what we’re looking at, whether it’s daily or weekly. As far as I’m concerned...the numbers are moving in an upward direction. That’s what I and the millions of others see when we watch the news. I’m not looking at it from a mathematical point of view. I leave that to my husband.

I'm really struggling with this...

"As far as I'm concerned" is not a valid way of analysing numbers. Nobody gets to choose their own way of doing arithmetic. Ask your husband.

Anyway, I'll wait with baited breath until Sunday when you'll be here telling us that the cases have fallen off a cliff

I did ask my husband, and he thinks you’re being deliberately awkward.

We have noticed their absence and think it is because they do not want to be associated with the govt's latest moves. Nobody can have any confidence in the data any more as surely, since PCR tests were no longer required, most people are not registering when they test positive for Covid via a LF test. I asked 4 people I know today who have recently had Covid whether they had registered the result and only 1 had.

I have been wondering why too, it seems the government are no longer ‘following the science’. We appear to be out on a limb in terms of covid freedom, presumably to placate those who want a return to ‘normal,’ whatever that might be. Most other countries are (in my mind ) being sensible and taking it slower.
I miss the scientists and their input.

Alegrias1

Yes, sorry Kali2

Hey, lol, no need to apologise

but ...

so where are they?

Frank Atherton, who is the CMO for Wales is still making the news, so perhaps they are taking a well earned break, although nothing from Jenny Harries either for England.

Yes, sorry Kali2

Oh, I should say...I complained to the local ITV station about the way they were reporting the daily numbers and they changed it . Maybe I should complain to the BBC/Sky/whatever as well.

Could we please stick to the question in the OP- where are they, and why?

DiscoDancer1975

We have to go by what we’re looking at, whether it’s daily or weekly. As far as I’m concerned...the numbers are moving in an upward direction. That’s what I and the millions of others see when we watch the news. I’m not looking at it from a mathematical point of view. I leave that to my husband.

I'm really struggling with this...

"As far as I'm concerned" is not a valid way of analysing numbers. Nobody gets to choose their own way of doing arithmetic. Ask your husband.

Anyway, I'll wait with baited breath until Sunday when you'll be here telling us that the cases have fallen off a cliff

GrannyGravy13

These are todays figures for all of the UK

I think new cases are down from yesterday too. I’m pretty sure it was 102,000. Could be wrong though.

Oops posted to soon, cases are down from last Thursday.

There has always been a time lag on deaths.

I was under the impression that there are less folks on mechanical ventilation now.

These are todays figures for all of the UK

We have to go by what we’re looking at, whether it’s daily or weekly. As far as I’m concerned...the numbers are moving in an upward direction. That’s what I and the millions of others see when we watch the news. I’m not looking at it from a mathematical point of view. I leave that to my husband.

Numbers are definitely rising in the primary school two of my grandsons go to. Really noticeable in the last two weeks.

The numbers reported in the news follow a weekly cycle. You can't look at a daily variation.

coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/cases?areaType=overview&areaName=United%20Kingdom