The UK response to Covid-19 [MOD WARNING 1ST POST]

RobMc59 · 24-04-2020 05:24PM

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

Ah yes, the one nobody in the UK seems to notice is a joint venture with Advent IRBM in Italy.

Personally,I couldn't care which country develops a vaccine as long as it works although reading some of the comments here wonder if a British breakthrough would be seen as a disaster for some unless they could put a negative spin on it.

Zubeneschamali · 24-04-2020 05:30PM

RobMc59 wrote: »

Personally,I couldn't care which country develops a vaccine

Which is why you said it was great news that a UK developed vaccine was entering trials.

RobMc59 · 24-04-2020 05:37PM

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

Which is why you said it was great news that a UK developed vaccine was entering trials.

Great news for Britain and the world,yes.
Probably not great news for the boards anti British brigade.

Professor Moriarty · 24-04-2020 05:39PM

RobMc59 wrote: »

Personally,I couldn't care which country develops a vaccine as long as it works although reading some of the comments here wonder if a British breakthrough would be seen as a disaster for some unless they could put a negative spin on it.

Here's hoping. A British company/organisation/university developing a vaccine would be great. Whether or which, Johnson and his bunch of far right nationalists will remain exactly as they are. Incompetent liars.

Enzokk · 24-04-2020 05:47PM

There is no checks if the people booking tests are actually key workers entitled for the tests? No wonder it was swamped within hours, any person can book an test or appointment. Again they seem to say that the only people that should get a test should be ones who are showing symptoms. Why? They are going to be at 100K in less than a week and surely then you can start testing everyone in the health service.

RobMc59 wrote: »

Great news for Britain and the world,yes.
Probably not great news for the boards anti British brigade.

I think that you need to park your preconceived notion about what people may think on here. You seem very close to suggesting we would be upset if a vaccine is developed in the UK that will save lives as we would have little to complain about. That is insulting and probably says more about you than those people you think would rather people die than be happy a vaccine is found in the UK.

Joe_ Public · 24-04-2020 05:52PM

It's too soon to be blathering on about vaccines. I listened to a discussion on it the other day where they spent 5 minutes arguing over who would be first to get it. Getting a bit ahead of yourselves there, i thought. Let the scientists work away and do what they do best, i dont know if other countries hold press briefings where politicians bang out about the vaccine as if theirs is the only country leading the search, but I seriously doubt it.

Joe_ Public · 24-04-2020 06:09PM

CelticRambler wrote: »

And as a non-layman (in this regard), I would consider it professional negligence. Wherever I go to work (private sector), on Day 1 of my contract I'm shown the "what if" arrangements. Usually it's a space filled with junk and a staff member who knows that the products/equipment are "somewhere". And yeah, we're always caught "unawares" by the unexpected, but the infrastructure is there and can be brought into service within an hour or less. In fifteen years of working in France, I've only ever had to push that button once, but even the non-profit organisation where I have been/will be again working is including "what-if ..?" contingencies into the new facility currently being built.

Recruited and trained ... just like all the customs clearance agents needed for Brexit! How's that going, do we know ... :pac:

At this stage, I think the UK government's Covid-19 strategy is pure BS-number-slinging - the same as the £350m/week Brexit Bus, same as the 50000 new nurses electioneering. I genuinely believe the current crop of ministers haven't the faintest idea of what to do or how to do it, because Covid-19 is neither Brexit nor an election.

The whole point of carrying out tests (any kind of test) is to guide future action. So what do they propose after they've tested people? I asked this question here a month ago, and I'm still no clearer ... which ironically is probably the only valid response, because there is no logic to carrying out 20000 or 50000 or 100000 tests a day now. Given the biological uncertainty surrounding the results (regardless of whether they're antigen or antibody tests), there's no clear action that can be taken - not unless the country is divided up into Hunger-Games-like divisions, with no communication between one and the other.

But hey, guess what? That works - see Greece: a model of effective disease control (much more efficient and effective than Germany's response).

I wouldnt argue with your experience on that. I mean, i thought there'd be a case for cutting countries a bit of slack for not being usain bolt out of the blocks (how many actually were), but i wouldnt go overboard with it!

And thats a fair question on testing which i couldnt answer with any authority. The 100,000 figure is only a big deal because Hancock and his cronies are making it so, johnson spoke about 250,000 tests a day last month. I think they just trot these nonsense numbers out to cover up for failures elsewhere.

I suppose one real value of testing is for health workers who are isolating and could get back to work with a negative test.

Tokyo · 24-04-2020 06:34PM

Mod: Off-topic waffle deleted. Considering the numerous mod warnings on this, there will be no more warnings, just threadbans for off-topic anti-British rhetoric.

Enzokk · 24-04-2020 06:43PM

This may be the reason why the members of SAGE isn't known yet,

Revealed: Cummings is on secret scientific advisory group for Covid-19

The prime minister’s chief political adviser, Dominic Cummings, and a data scientist he worked with on the Vote Leave campaign for Brexit are on the secret scientific group advising the government on the coronavirus pandemic, according to a list leaked to the Guardian.

It reveals both Cummings and Ben Warner were among 23 attendees present at a crucial convening of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) on 23 March, the day Boris Johnson announced a nationwide lockdown in a televised address.

Multiple attendees of Sage told the Guardian that both Cummings and Warner had been taking part in meetings of the group as far back as February. The inclusion of Downing Street advisers on Sage will raise questions about the independence of its scientific advice.

I would love to know the expertise Cummings brings to the SAGE group in the advice to government on a pandemic.

Smegging hell · 24-04-2020 06:44PM

The Guardian has revealed that Dominic Cummings is a member of and has contributed to meetings of the British government's secret scientific advisory group, Sage, whose membership had previously been kept secret. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/24/revealed-dominic-cummings-on-secret-scientific-advisory-group-for-covid-19?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

VinLieger · 24-04-2020 07:17PM

Smegging hell wrote: »

The Guardian has revealed that Dominic Cummings is a member of and has contributed to meetings of the British government's secret scientific advisory group, Sage, whose membership had previously been kept secret. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/24/revealed-dominic-cummings-on-secret-scientific-advisory-group-for-covid-19?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

The idea that this groups members and they advice they give is completely secret should be seen as an outrage by the british people

Enzokk · 24-04-2020 07:19PM

On that story of Cummings attending and participating at SAGE meetings, I see this statement from No.10 all but confirms it,

In a statement provided by Downing Street, a government spokesperson said: “Expert participants often vary for each meeting according to which expertise is required. A number of representatives from government departments and No 10 attend also.”

Sage participants told the Guardian the Downing Street advisers were not merely observing the advisory meetings, but actively participating in discussions about the formation of advice.

I am sure this would be the follow up statement,

RobMc59 · 24-04-2020 07:24PM

I`d be suspicious if China said they had a vaccine after watching the epoch times documentary on the origin of the virus and wondered if anyone else has watched it?

Professor Moriarty · 24-04-2020 07:31PM

RobMc59 wrote: »

I`d be suspicious if China said they had a vaccine after watching the epoch times documentary on the origin of the virus and wondered if anyone else has watched it?

From the BBC Fact Check blog:

The virus wasn't created in a lab:
A video published by the Epoch Times, that contains claims that the coronavirus was created in a laboratory, has been marked false on Facebook where it has been watched almost 70 million times.

And:

Scientific analysis of the evidence shows the virus came from animals, and was not man-made.

And:

Epoch Times, based in New York City, was started by Chinese-Americans affiliated with a religious group called Falun Gong. The site spent heavily on pro-Donald Trump Facebook adverts last year, reported NBC News. But in August Facebook banned it from taking out more ads for violating its policies.

VinLieger · 24-04-2020 07:31PM

RobMc59 wrote: »

I`d be suspicious if China said they had a vaccine after watching the epoch times documentary on the origin of the virus and wondered if anyone else has watched it?

Ahh yes the epoch times that bastion of impartiality and zero bias

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Epoch_Times

Wikipedia wrote:

it has become known for its support of U.S. President Donald Trump and favorable coverage of far-right politicians in Europe; a 2019 report showed it to be the second-largest funder of pro-Trump Facebook advertising after the Trump campaign

RobMc59 · 24-04-2020 07:41PM

Professor Moriarty wrote: »

From the BBC Fact Check blog:

The virus wasn't created in a lab:
A video published by the Epoch Times, that contains claims that the coronavirus was created in a laboratory, has been marked false on Facebook where it has been watched almost 70 million times.

And:

Scientific analysis of the evidence shows the virus came from animals, and was not man-made.

And:

Epoch Times, based in New York City, was started by Chinese-Americans affiliated with a religious group called Falun Gong. The site spent heavily on pro-Donald Trump Facebook adverts last year, reported NBC News. But in August Facebook banned it from taking out more ads for violating its policies.

I was very sceptical myself but watched it,it`s definitely worth viewing.It does`nt hide the fact it`s funded by Chinese-Americans although as I said,if China suddenly said it has a vaccine would be a little suspicious.

VinLieger · 24-04-2020 07:45PM

RobMc59 wrote: »

I was very sceptical myself but watched it,it`s definitely worth viewing.It does`nt hide the fact it`s funded by Chinese-Americans although as I said,if China suddenly said it has a vaccine would be a little suspicious.

But why are you even suggesting they would suddenly announce the existence of one? What does it have to do with anything related to the thread topic?

RobMc59 · 24-04-2020 07:45PM

VinLieger wrote: »

Ahh yes the epoch times that bastion of impartiality and zero bias

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Epoch_Times

I`d never heard of them before someone recommended the video and after watching it thought it appeared plausible(probably as I was unfamiliar with them!)

RobMc59 · 24-04-2020 07:51PM

VinLieger wrote: »

But why are you even suggesting they would suddenly announce the existence of one? What does it have to do with anything related to the thread topic?

You would understand why I would be suspicious if you have watched the documentary although as you say,it`s off topic and I probably should have mentioned it on a different coronavirus thread.

theological · 24-04-2020 08:01PM

Smegging hell wrote: »

The Guardian has revealed that Dominic Cummings is a member of and has contributed to meetings of the British government's secret scientific advisory group, Sage, whose membership had previously been kept secret. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/24/revealed-dominic-cummings-on-secret-scientific-advisory-group-for-covid-19?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Did you read the other article listing the members of SAGE? The vast majority seem to be very experienced scientists and I think the UK should be glad to have them.

PommieBast · 24-04-2020 08:05PM

CelticRambler wrote: »

Now, it looks like nobody in the UK (or the US) has done anything in the way of planning, despite the several warnings issued by various bodies over the course of the last two decades.

Preparing for something like Covid-19 was actually on the parliamentary agenda back in 2016 but then Brexit planning pushed everything else aside.

Smegging hell · 24-04-2020 08:06PM

theological wrote: »

Did you read the other article listing the members of SAGE? The vast majority seem to be very experienced scientists and I think the UK should be glad to have them.

Yes.

I also saw that Mr Cummings can contribute to meetings while the Chief Medical Officers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland only have observer status.

VinLieger · 24-04-2020 08:14PM

RobMc59 wrote: »

I`d never heard of them before someone recommended the video and after watching it thought it appeared plausible(probably as I was unfamiliar with them!)

Which is exactly why you should be checking where it came from tbh and if there is a bias or agenda behind it, my skepticism meter is set to maximum for anything covid related as everyones should be.

Ive a friend who keeps sending me youtube vids about the latest updates or theories which i point blank refuse to look at cus they simply cannot be trusted.

Smegging hell · 24-04-2020 08:15PM

RobMc59 wrote: »

I`d be suspicious if China said they had a vaccine after watching the epoch times documentary on the origin of the virus and wondered if anyone else has watched it?

This would be the Epoch Times that regularly publishes articles on Pizzagate, chemtrails, etc?

VinLieger · 24-04-2020 08:16PM

Smegging hell wrote: »

This would be the Epoch Times that regularly publishes articles on Pizzagate, chemtrails, etc?

Jesus i didnt know they were at that level of garbage

RobMc59 · 24-04-2020 08:20PM

Smegging hell wrote: »

This would be the Epoch Times that regularly publishes articles on Pizzagate, chemtrails, etc?

I`d never heard of them and did`nt particularly want to watch it but `she who must be obeyed`insisted on it-I actually enjoyed it after much grumbling...

Enzokk · 24-04-2020 08:22PM

theological wrote: »

Did you read the other article listing the members of SAGE? The vast majority seem to be very experienced scientists and I think the UK should be glad to have them.

But what about the 2 that aren't scientists or involved in areas you would consider anywhere close to dealing with a pandemic? How can you justify their inclusion on the committee the government is taking their "scientific advice" from? You will also surely have noticed this is a follow up from the article exposing that Cummings and Warner are on the SAGE advice group.

There was stories the past few days that it would be better for the UK Government to release the names because once it leaks it will be a splash of who and who isn't advising the government. But the reason for keeping it quiet is very clear now, No.10 is making decisions on what strategy No.10 should follow.

I will say that again. Downing Street is on the panel advising what Downing Street should do.

Joe_ Public · 24-04-2020 08:22PM

theological wrote: »

Did you read the other article listing the members of SAGE? The vast majority seem to be very experienced scientists and I think the UK should be glad to have them.

Is it supposed to be somehow reassuring that the "vast majority" are experienced scientists? What business would anyone who isnt a very experienced scientist have at one of those meetings?

I wonder how much sway this Prof Graham Medley had on policy. Has some interesting views it would appear:

"He told Newsnight he’d like to “put all the more vulnerable people into the north of Scotland … everybody else into Kent and have a nice, big epidemic in Kent, so that everyone becomes immune”.

Enzokk · 24-04-2020 08:24PM

RobMc59 wrote: »

I`d never heard of them and did`nt particularly want to watch it but `she who must be obeyed`insisted on it-I actually enjoyed it after much grumbling...

Do you believe the BBC Fact Check that the story is false? If you do, please say that and tell everybody else not to watch the fake news video that is about as useful as injecting yourself with bleach to fight coronavirus.

The way you are posting makes it seem like you want to believe that the virus was made in a lab in China.

RobMc59 · 24-04-2020 08:30PM

Enzokk wrote: »

Do you believe the BBC Fact Check that the story is false? If you do, please say that and tell everybody else not to watch the fake news video that is about as useful as injecting yourself with bleach to fight coronavirus.

The way you are posting makes it seem like you want to believe that the virus was made in a lab in China.

I asked if anyone had watched it-I have`nt scoured the internet after watching it so no,I have`nt checked with the BBC if it`s fake although the suggestion that China had been researching bio weapons was only one theory in the documentary which you would know if you`d watched it.

The UK response to Covid-19 [MOD WARNING 1ST POST]

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