Starmer calling for lockdown (Edited by GNHQ)

Of course plans are being discussed and put in place for 10 weeks down the line but he certainly isn't going to announce anything yet. I said earlier, going into panic mode is neither healthy nor productive for anyone. Don't worry, I'm sure forward planning is in place.

BarmeyoldBat I'm sure that many various contingency plans are being discussed but no point in announcing anything until nearer the time, as Ellianne says.

Don't worry, I'm sure forward planning is in place.

Is that some kind of parody?

Some posters on a Gransnet are determined to make the Covid crisis a left versus right situation.

Not once have I attempted to turn thus into a political left versus right situation!

Some posters on a Gransnet are determined to make the Covid crisis a left versus right situation. It’s not!

Posters who are saying things like this are the ones who are creating a left/right situation.

I support the circuit breaker proposal because it is the one that makes sense and is supported by the scientific advice. Had Johnson proposed it I would have supported it.

As it is, there is no scientific or empirical evidence for the implementation of the 'tier' system. Some of the tier 2 areas have had the 'tier 2' restrictions for weeks with no positive effect whatsoever on their infection rates. So I don't support it.

It's that simple. Not political at all.

Iam64

growstuff, there is to be an announcement around 11 am in which Greater Manchester and Lancashire will move into tier 3. Andy Burnham is looking into legal action in his attempt to ensure effective financial and other support from the government. I voted against Manchester having a Mayor because of the financial cost etc but when the Mayoral election took place, voted for Andy Burnham. He and the other "northern" mayors are fighting for their regions.
I'm with Starmer's call for a circuit breaker, the improvement of track and trace, and for local government to be involved in that. They have the local knowledge and experience. The Salisbury killings are proof of that.

vegans rock, yes outrageous that private contracts to friend and associates of Cummings and co are being handed out

It was "leaked" to Sky yesterday evening. I'm with you all the way. Test and Trace needs to be massively improved and local authorities need to be involved.

Andy Burnham tweeted yesterday that he had had a meeting, but wasn't going to say any more. Then there was the announcement on Sky and Burnham did tweet again. He hadn't been told that it had been signed off and (to say the least) wasn't best pleased that he hadn't been told. He had been trying to get adequate compensation for the people whose businesses will have to close and the workers in them.

On a personal level, my daughter and her partner live in Greater Manchester, so will be affected. My daughter has continued working from home, although it hasn't always been easy. However, her partner is a scientist, who is doing research on Coronavirus and works outside the area. I wonder if he will be allowed to leave the area to go to work.

Firstly thanks to those who have posted that they didn't know about the Asian flu in '57 and '68. I was beginning to think I was the only one! I remember talk about it but nothing much changed and I don't remember anyone having it.
As far as a national lockdown goes I think that the time has actually passed. The scientific advice was a short one in late September. It never happened. Now it's too late. I'd like to see abit more information and research about the infection and where it is traced to. The problem is I think that the system being used is massively incompetent. It should be possible with technology to discover more about where transmission is greatest. The other thing I would like to see is local authorities being given the right to shut down any business which is not introducing or using the proper safety measures.

Covid is only a left versus right situation as long as Johnson refuses to create a cross-party group to steer our reactions to it. A group guided by the scientists. It is a national problem and he needs to approach it as such. He is failing to do that, just as he failed to engage with local health and public services until yesterday.

Oppositions are there to oppose - it is one of the checks and balances of our political system. Starmer is tying to steer a course between undermining the public's cooperation with any measures that are in place, whilst knowing that this government has made a pig's ear of covid policies.

Oh and JE. No way are you in a minority! It’s pretty evenly balanced in my book. But both sides could be accused of making it a right v left thing. Seriously I would sport a blue rosette if it meant this government taking some serious sensible enforced action.

I honestly don't know whether Tier 3 restrictions or a "curcuit breaker" are right. I'm not a scientist and I agree with trisher that detailed data on how the virus is actually being transmitted is woefully lacking.

It is known from PHE data that the biggest rises are currently in the 19-24 age group, followed quite closely by the 10-18 age group. It's also known that educational settings are a major (if not the major) place of transmission in new cases.

OMG! So now I'm in Tier 2 too! For some reason Essex County Council thinks we need to be, despite the fact that the number of new cases is still relatively low. They haven't even been able to enforce the rules we had, which is undoubtedly one of the reasons cases have been rising.

GrannyGravy13

Whatever measures are taken whilst you have totally idiotic people acting appalling as they were in Liverpool overnight we will never get the rate of infection down.

Unfortunately there does not seem to be the public consensus to go along with another total lockdown.

Bring back the water cannons and wash the idiots away !!

The polls I've seen do support another total lockdown.

The "idiots" in Liverpool were increasing herd immunity, which is what some posters think should happen.

I dont think it's a left and right issue at all. It's a competency issue. I would give anything for May or dear god even Cameron to be in charge at the moment, and I am on the left.

trisher, I’m yet another one that didn’t know anything about the Asian flu in 57 and 68. I have no memory of it at all. I knew about the Spanish flu in 17,18, and 19, (I think) and I knew about Bird flu and Swine flu in more recent years.

I agree with you that it should be possible with technology to discover where about transmission is greatest.
If we knew where transmission is taking place we could be more proactive in stopping transmission.

Ah yes! - and to know that we need ......... a proper test and trace system. I will not be holding my breath.

What a shower to have in charge during a pandemic. They cannot let go of the jobs-for-the-boys mentality even in a national crisis.

I haven't had time to read through this thread yet but what annoys me at the moment is the lack of restrictions on traveling from one area to another. Here in North Cumbria we have the Scottish drinkers from the Central Belt coming to Carlisle for a night out.
The Lake District is getting overrun by visitors from the N/W major cities, Manchester and Liverpool etc all have higher infection rates than Cumbria. So along with our own idiots that are ignoring all safeguards that has been put in place I fear the worst.

The only way to get any sort of handle on the virus is to put the track & trace in the hands of the Local Authority's where very localised lock downs can be quickly put in place, unfortunately this government will not agree to let Local Authority's having the power to do this.
As I said above I fear the worst.

I thought Johnson’s water cannons were sold off at a loss? Apologies for raising it as a political issue.

The picture over the country is changing so rapidly. Not long ago I remember someone on GN said the Lake District was really bad for cases, London improved and now is worse again. Devon & Cornwall remained unscathed during the summer months even with all the visitors, now Exeter is near the worst. It may be to do with travelling, or the colder weather, or the numbers of students, or the revellers. I'm beginning to think Local Authority powers might be the way forward as long as they confirm to a common ethos and have the correct figures at their finger tips. I guess the problem is this can't happen overnight.

Local authorities have been asking for more detailed data for months - nothing has to happen overnight.

i think another lockdown would be good ,as there are so many think esp my area that the virus is a hoax this is mainly people aged 18-45. most people then .older people wear their masks round there necks ,then pull up for transport after touching god knows what.oner old man said he was gassed in the trenc hes the virus is just a sham...i said but you can catch it from someone breathing on you.. oh well he says i had my time ..

It’s clearly a complex issue with several factors contributing to the rise in numbers in some areas but if it’s any comfort we are not alone.

Other European countries are seeing similar rises. I read earlier about two adjoining areas of Italy, one with very high numbers per 100,000 and the other much less.

France has introduced an evening curfew for some cities.

moggie57

i think another lockdown would be good ,as there are so many think esp my area that the virus is a hoax this is mainly people aged 18-45. most people then .older people wear their masks round there necks ,then pull up for transport after touching god knows what.oner old man said he was gassed in the trenc hes the virus is just a sham...i said but you can catch it from someone breathing on you.. oh well he says i had my time ..

Gassed in the trenches? How old is he? I didn't think there are any WW1 veterans left.

If he was gassed in the trenches he'd have had to be about 15 (and lied about his age!) in 1918, so around 117. You should have agreed with him-definitely had his time (and a bit more!)