So how do we feel about Sajid Javid telling us not to ‘cower’ from Covid

My daughter, who was going on holiday in a weeks time, is awaiting all sorts of results from people they’ve been in contact with to see if they now have to self isolate. I was going to visit them for the first time in over a year but that’s not going to happen now.

Yes same here. Due to go kn holiday tomorrow.

I know this is a discussion forum but it always amazes me how people who are most definitely not experts have such strong views on subjects on which they know very little!

FrenchGranny
Which people?
Which views?
Which subjects?

I didn’t realise the legally mandated lockdown was now referred to as “cowering”.

Absolute muppet of a man

Fabulous turn of phrase muffin ???

Well lambda has some concerned. If it does evade vaccination then it is already in the U.K. and we have created ideal conditions for it to spread. If it doesn’t there will be new variants created all the time anyway and high rates of transmission in a partially vaccinated population increases those risks. Whatever those risks are they are increased but purposefully increasing transmission.

New info coming out regularly about the impact of having Covid - some alarmist, some concerning. It’s too early to tell how concerned we should be. I would suggest it is reckless to be experimental given this stage of our knowledge.

Personally I would prefer to see masks continuing and energy put into increasing ventilation in indoor spaces. I don’t think that makes me cowed.

The current rate of transmission is problematic for businesses anyway (which was predictable).

FannyCornforth

Awful.
As well as the obvious insensitivity and ‘I’m alright Jack-ery’, he sounds very ignorant.
This ‘government’ just gets worse and worse.
The words ‘I despair’ are well overused; but I do, I really do

Oh good FannyCornforth we are back in the same team.
I agree.
I am thinking of starting a petition “ban politicians from tweeting”

lemongrove

Alegrias nobody can use plain language now without running it past the thought police.

Lemongrove do you just always support whatever any Tory
Politician does or says ? Genuine question.

This tweet was ill phrased at best. Why couldn’t he just say he was glad to be recovered and hoped the return to normality might be in sight ? Cower is such an emotive word.

I doubt very much if there are people cowering in the physical sense but there have been many who I would describe as cowering in the mental sense.
Many posters have described the extreme measures they’re adhering to.
Why would you do that if you weren’t frightened.

I am thinking of starting a petition “ban politicians from tweeting”
I'll second that.

Why do they do it?
Then often have to retract what they tweeted?

Do they tweet themselves or do they have minions to twitter for them?

It's just not at all statesmanlike.
It's teenagerish

Health Secretary Sajid Javid has apologised after saying people should no longer "cower" from coronavirus.

He made the comments in a tweet announcing he had made a "full recovery" from Covid, a week after testing positive.

Labour accused him of denigrating those who followed the rules, while the founder of a victims' group said his comments were "deeply insensitive".

Mr Javid said: "It was a poor choice of word and I sincerely apologise."

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57961870

MerylStreep

I doubt very much if there are people cowering in the physical sense but there have been many who I would describe as cowering in the mental sense.
Many posters have described the extreme measures they’re adhering to.
Why would you do that if you weren’t frightened.

I’m frightened if catching what could be a life changing/life threatening novel virus. I’m not cowering though. Just being careful. People have eased up in my daughters village and she says the virus is ripping through the place.

Tbh if you are at higher risk for whatever reason now is exactly the time to increase the precautions. I have never known so many people to have it as I do now. I lateral flow test before going anywhere with people inside at the moment. I’m going to the theatre on Friday and for the first time ever will wear a FFP2 mask rather than an ordinary one.

lemongrove

Nezumi
I won’t get into mixing it with you, suffice to say I don’t think using a word ( cower ) warrants the outrage on the thread ( or in RL)
There is a line to walk between protecting people and worrying about the economy, and that’s what government has to do.
I understand your personal anxieties of course.

If the government doesn't protect people there won't be any economy to worry about.

'Cower' is an offensive word. He didn't 'misspeak', he said what he really was thinking, then had to be shamed into a meaningless apology.

"Cower" is probably a poor choice of words, but I agree with his sentiment. We need to do what we can - masks, distancing, hand washing and, most importantly, vaccination, then get on with (albeit a changed and cautious) life.

But people aren’t wearing masks or social distancing because the government told them it was freedom day and they no longer have to do it. You only had to see people at my local pub to know that. The government wanted it to rip through the country and that’s just what it’s doing.

FannyCornforth

Yes Galaxy
It’s horrible isn’t it.
Like if you die, it’s because you’re not ‘a fighter’.

I agree. I've seen this a lot with spinal injuries where some who are told they won't walk again but do it's as though they have more determination than those who will never walk because of the state of their spinal cord.

Same with covid some people's bodies have been ravished lucky old javid didn't cower too it. Ridiculous.

Although our government has said we don’t need masks, and we don’t need to distance - that presumably would be cowering.

OurKid1

"Cower" is probably a poor choice of words, but I agree with his sentiment. We need to do what we can - masks, distancing, hand washing and, most importantly, vaccination, then get on with (albeit a changed and cautious) life.

But this experiment is running the risk of a new variant which will resist the vaccine. It wouldn't be so bad if they hadn't opened the door to the delta variant. There idiocy for the entire pandemic gives you no confidence.

Whatdayisit

Agreed, but my point was that we should continue with precautions, while getting on with our lives as best we can, while being careful - not 'cowering.

I assume you mean the government is being idiotic - couldn't agree me. They remind me of someone wielding a supermarket trolley with wonky wheels, with no shopping list and just veering from side to side grabbing whatever they fancy, while the rest of us have to make the best of whatever they get!

Sorry should read "couldn't agree MORE" not "me."

Someone has compared Johnson with Inspector Clouseau but, unlike Boris Johnson, Inspector Clouseau usually gets things right in the end.

OurKid1

Whatdayisit

Agreed, but my point was that we should continue with precautions, while getting on with our lives as best we can, while being careful - not 'cowering.

I assume you mean the government is being idiotic - couldn't agree me. They remind me of someone wielding a supermarket trolley with wonky wheels, with no shopping list and just veering from side to side grabbing whatever they fancy, while the rest of us have to make the best of whatever they get!

That is what so many of us have done all the way through anyway.
I really do nit understand why stopping wearing masks is such a thing to be heralded. And I'm not stopping SD i don't want anyone near me that's not cowering. I don't want covid again or anything else!

Cummings calls Johnson Trolley for similar reasons. He veers from side to side depending on whoever he is listening to at the particular moment in time. Much as I wouldn't trust Cummings further than I could throw him he is fascinating re Johnson and the pandemic.