I’m delighted Boris is back!

Totally agree EllanVannin. As you say, imagine the outcry if the government had gone against the advice of the C.M.O? I know people on here are determined to use this as a stick to beat the government, but in truth they followed medical advice and cannot be held responsible for that!

Interesting article in yesterday’s Guardian, interview with Germany’s Covid expert Christian Drosten. The whole article is worth reading but here’s what he said when asked about the UK

Q: From where you stand, how is the UK handling the situation?
A: It’s clear that testing was implemented a little bit too late in the UK. Public Health England was in a position to diagnose the disease very early on – we worked with them to make the diagnostic test – but rollout in Germany was driven in part by market forces, which made it fast, and that wasn’t the case in the UK. Now, though, I have the impression that the UK is really gaining momentum in this regard, and that it is coordinating testing efforts better than Germany.

You can read more about the Cheltenham organisers decision to go ahead here www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/sport/2020/apr/08/cheltenham-cited-boris-johnson-twickenham-trip-to-support-festival-go-ahead-horse-racing

But let’s not get too hung up on Cheltenham - the Govt have botched many things in their management of the pandemic in the UK.

As I said, Boris got the Cheltenham go-ahead from the medical officer---it wasn't Boris's decision.

Because Boris is in charge. Apparently.

perhaps Dominic Cummings trawls the forums and reports back...so maybe Boris does see or hear good wishes on GN.
somebody is always 'listening'.

If Boris listened to the chief medical officer in all this, why blame Boris ? We all listen to our GP's don't we ?? Do we ?

Not to mention the government not cancelling Cheltenham. What sort of message did that send to the British public? What sort of effect did that have when social distancing was finally announced? Interesting that no-one has explained to me how Germany has managed to keep their deaths to such a low number in comparison with ours. Larger population, fewer deaths can only mean it was better managed.

Well posted trisher Sirchenjin good points made.

Do you think Boris et al are reading GNs good wishes
In response to OP
I'm delighted he has recovered but not delighted hes back. Im Glad hes reinforcing the lockdown and was taken by surprise that he has done this. But I do like to be surprised

If you wish to blame someone, blame the chief medical officer who'd sanctioned the Cheltenham Festival to go ahead even after virus cases had been confirmed.
How many thousand attended that ?
Can't see anyone at Westminster arguing against THE chief medical officer, can you ?

Imagine the backlash Boris would have got if he'd said no !!

FarNorth… I see that Pessimist from Preston [as well as delighted from Dorking] has also posted a few times, so it evens it out.

I repeat Chestnut -

It originated in China, but that’s not the issue - how the disease is then managed is up to each individual Govt and this one has botched the job.

Of course - the public saw Boris and his pals shaking hands and so on and some thought, ‘Boris says it’s not a problem and that man doesn’t lie’, and went about their daily lives.

The rest of us meanwhile looked on in horror at the complete mismanagement and remembered the Tories track record on the NHS.

We now have an illness with children. Is this because parents have sent them back to school ?

trisher The virus isn't anyone's "fault" EllanVannin the failure to act swiftly and to implement test, trace and social distancing early enough can be laid only at this government's door.
Of course it is someone' fault, it is China's fault! The failure to act swiftly etc. can be laid only at their door. They let the genie out of the bottle and sent it round the world.

The fault is with the public not adhering to rules as this is exactly how it's spread. Some thought they knew better, and still do.

It originated in China, but that’s not the issue - how the disease is then managed is up to each individual Govt and this one has botched the job.

Perhaps Hancock et al need to perfect the Boris finger jab and then we’ll all feel safe and cosy.

The fault, as we all know lies with China,

I'll watch him.

But later. Mso I wont comment.

It was just that we had investigated relative sizes of UK and NZ last year and the relative populations.

There are enough ventilators! The problem is PPE.

We have been warned before that human interaction with various species of animals would result in a virus crossing over from them to us and resulting in a pandemic.
So if there is fault whose is it?
Glad Boris is well again.

Callistemon I googled him to see what it was all about. I wasn't impressed. But suppose when you've had a lot of speeches from people looking like rabbits in headlights, getting someone who actually looks as if they know what they are doing (even though it's manifestly obvious they don't) is reassuring for some. And of course the public have short memories.

So pleased to see Boris back again!

I didn't comment on this thread when I saw it earlier as I didn't want to upset Delighted of Dorking who has posted numerous times on it.

Unfortunately, the uselessness of Boris's government has not caused me to be thrilled to hear he's back.

The only good thing, imo, is that we weren't flung into political turmoil by a need to find a successor.

I can't comment on Boris's return after his illness as I haven't seen him yet.

Do people keep their televisions on all day?