Coronavirus Thread (Off Topic, Politics) (172 Viewers)

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

Why is it? The role is not to cure people personally

I know regardless of party cabinet positions are handed out more regarding politics and power deals than relevant experience but it would be a pleasant surprise to have a cabinet based around at least some sort of experience in the sector they're in charge of. But with most politicians being career politicians now it's increasingly unlikely to happen.

 

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[COV]

I know regardless of party cabinet positions are handed out more regarding politics and power deals than relevant experience but it would be a pleasant surprise to have a cabinet based around at least some sort of experience in the sector they're in charge of. But with most politicians being career politicians now it's increasingly unlikely to happen.

It’s stupid.

Based on this logic anybody with half a brain could do the job as long as they have the right advisers and experts around them.

 

[Grendel]

It’s stupid.

Based on this logic anybody with half a brain could do the job as long as they have the right advisers and experts around them.

It’s stupid but that’s how it’s worked since parliament was formed

Ok

 

[COV]

It’s stupid but that’s how it’s worked since parliament was formed

Ok

Yes, it’s fucking stupid.

Can’t think of too many other important professions where you need zero experience or knowledge.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

Based on this logic anybody with half a brain could do the job as long as they have the right advisers and experts around them.

Well yes, that's kind of the principle, that you elect someone with the political disposition you prefer, who can process the information given and act on your behalf.

 

[COV]

Well yes, that's kind of the principle, that you elect someone with the political disposition you prefer, who can process the information given and act on your behalf.

It’s a stupid system. Like I said I can’t think of any other serious job where you can rock up and get the nod with absolutely zero relevant experience.

 

[Evo1883]

It’s a stupid system. Like I said I can’t think of any other serious job where you can rock up and get the nod with absolutely zero relevant experience.

Uber

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

It’s not easy as you think listening to advisors and making the correct choice

 

[Grendel]

Yes, it’s fucking stupid.

Can’t think of too many other important professions where you need zero experience or knowledge.

So all senior NHS finance directors are surgeons?

 

[chiefdave]

As well as scrapping rules on masks at the same time we tell people to be responsible and wear masks seems we're also scrapping the requirement for proof of vaccination or a negative test to enter events while advising event organisers to ask for proof of vaccination or a negative test.

Nightclubs and large events advised to ask for Covid passes

Those attending clubs and other large events should be asked for proof they have had their jabs, says health secretary.

www.bbc.co.uk

This increasingly appears like they realise they've made a mistake but don't want to admit it.

Meanwhile, in the Netherlands.

Covid-19: Dutch PM Rutte 'sorry for easing restrictions too soon'

Infection levels surged to their highest this year after most curbs were lifted three weeks ago.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[shmmeee]

It’s stupid but that’s how it’s worked since parliament was formed

Ok

This is possibly your dumbest argument for something so far. Good work.

 

[Grendel]

Uber

According to COV that’s a qualification for transport minister

 

[Grendel]

This is possibly your dumbest argument for something so far. Good work.

Well given your stellar performance over the last few days on here I think I’ll remain fairly chilled regarding your irrelevant opinions

 

[Skybluefaz]

As well as scrapping rules on masks at the same time we tell people to be responsible and wear masks seems we're also scrapping the requirement for proof of vaccination or a negative test to enter events while advising event organisers to ask for proof of vaccination or a negative test.

Nightclubs and large events advised to ask for Covid passes

Those attending clubs and other large events should be asked for proof they have had their jabs, says health secretary.

www.bbc.co.uk

This increasingly appears like they realise they've made a mistake but don't want to admit it.

Meanwhile, in the Netherlands.

Covid-19: Dutch PM Rutte 'sorry for easing restrictions too soon'

Infection levels surged to their highest this year after most curbs were lifted three weeks ago.

www.bbc.co.uk

Ah, just as I thought.

 

[COV]

As well as scrapping rules on masks at the same time we tell people to be responsible and wear masks seems we're also scrapping the requirement for proof of vaccination or a negative test to enter events while advising event organisers to ask for proof of vaccination or a negative test.

Nightclubs and large events advised to ask for Covid passes

Those attending clubs and other large events should be asked for proof they have had their jabs, says health secretary.

www.bbc.co.uk

This increasingly appears like they realise they've made a mistake but don't want to admit it.

Meanwhile, in the Netherlands.

Covid-19: Dutch PM Rutte 'sorry for easing restrictions too soon'

Infection levels surged to their highest this year after most curbs were lifted three weeks ago.

www.bbc.co.uk

Can’t be right, I’ve been assured that Sajid Javid is fully taking on board the views of our health experts?

 

[Grendel]

Can’t be right, I’ve been assured that Sajid Javid is fully taking on board the views of our health experts?

Which experts are you referring to

 

[Deleted member 5849]

Can’t be right, I’ve been assured that Sajid Javid is fully taking on board the views of our health experts?

Well, I believe I said:

I've no doubt he's taking it, and filtering out through his political lens, yes.

 

[skybluetony176]

Everyone relax, we’ve got to treat this like flu. Said the new Health Secretary. #followingthescience

 

[COV]

Well, I believe I said:

So people’s lives are being decided by the political lens of the inexperienced and unqualified people making the decisions

 

[Grendel]

So people’s lives are being decided by the political lens of the inexperienced and unqualified people making the decisions

Unqualified at what?

 

[skybluetony176]

Breaking news. Seatbelts shouldn’t be compulsory says Secretary for flying through car window screens.

 

[skybluetony176]

Unqualified at what?

He’s a member of the current British government. He’s not even qualified to be a human being.

 

[COV]

It’s not easy as you think listening to advisors and making the correct choice

It’s completely impossible to make the correct choice going by what we’ve seen here

 

[shmmeee]

Everyone relax, we’ve got to treat this like flu. Said the new Health Secretary. #followingthescience

He didn’t actually say that did he?

 

[skybluetony176]

He didn’t actually say that did he?

 

[COV]

I wonder which of his specialist expert advisors this unqualified and inexperienced (yet totally suitable) man listened to

 

[fernandopartridge]

He didn’t actually say that did he?

Even if he did, is he wrong?

Flu is a potentially very serious respiratory illness that is contagious, mutates and a less effective vaccine.

 

[SBAndy]

Even if he did, is he wrong?

Flu is a potentially very serious respiratory illness that is contagious, mutates and a less effective vaccine.

Yep. At the outset of this “it’s just flu” was a bit of a slur that I’m sure a good proportion of us fell into. “Treat it like flu” will literally mean that we have vaccines now and are likely heading towards boosters, so it is broadly similar to the way we manage flu season.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Yep. At the outset of this “it’s just flu” was a bit of a slur that I’m sure a good proportion of us fell into. “Treat it like flu” will literally mean that we have vaccines now and are likely heading towards boosters, so it is broadly similar to the way we manage flu season.

People forget we had over 20,000 flu deaths a few years ago. However for flu the variants are harder to predict and we have a huge infrastructure behind sequencing and targeting probable COVID variants which should give a great degree of confidence

 

[Grendel]

I wonder which of his specialist expert advisors this unqualified and inexperienced (yet totally suitable) man listened to

The correct ones as flu and other respiratory illnesses kill several thousand every year and that’s a level they logically will deem acceptable for this illness

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

The correct ones as flu and other respiratory illnesses kill several thousand every year and that’s a level they logically will deem acceptable for this illness

Yep I think that’s absolutely fair and I feel levelled with on that. If there’s

100 deaths a week that’s 5200 a year
200 is 10400

Absolutely in line with seasonal flu and a bad year of flu.

It’s where I think Nick and Grendel and others similar are helping me to come to terms with the reality of the risk.

As a country this really hasn’t helped us at all with managing risk

 

[Grendel]

Yep I think that’s absolutely fair and I feel levelled with on that. If there’s

100 deaths a week that’s 5200 a year
200 is 10400

Absolutely in line with seasonal flu and a bad year of flu.

It’s where I think Nick and Grendel and others similar are helping me to come to terms with the reality of the risk.

As a country this really hasn’t helped us at all with managing risk

Sage are working on an assumption of 20,000 in bad winters

 

[chiefdave]

Yep I think that’s absolutely fair and I feel levelled with on that. If there’s

100 deaths a week that’s 5200 a year
200 is 10400

Absolutely in line with seasonal flu and a bad year of flu.

It’s where I think Nick and Grendel and others similar are helping me to come to terms with the reality of the risk.

As a country this really hasn’t helped us at all with managing risk

Unfortunately its 100 - 200 a day not a week. That makes the figures 36.5K - 73K a year.

Government advisers expect about 1,000 to 2,000 daily hospital admissions over the summer as restrictions are lifted, and 100-200 deaths a day under what was described a “central scenario”.

By comparison flu seems to average about 17K but has been below 2K some years and close to going over 30K other years. And of course that's a level of flu cases that means every winter the NHS goes into meltdown and has ambulances queuing up outside hospitals, something that for some reason now just seems to be accepted as inevitable.

Completely agree there is a point where we have to live with it but not sure comparing it to flu is helpful given the numbers being suggested. Just give us information that stands up to scrutiny. What number of deaths annually are we looking to get down to and how has that figure been arrived at, what is being done to ensure the NHS can cope with the additional associated hospitalisations and what is being put in place long term to minimise transmission.

 

[Grendel]

Unfortunately its 100 - 200 a day not a week. That makes the figures 36.5K - 73K a year.

By comparison flu seems to average about 17K but has been below 2K some years and close to going over 30K other years. And of course that's a level of flu cases that means every winter the NHS goes into meltdown and has ambulances queuing up outside hospitals, something that for some reason now just seems to be accepted as inevitable.

Completely agree there is a point where we have to live with it but not sure comparing it to flu is helpful given the numbers being suggested. Just give us information that stands up to scrutiny. What number of deaths annually are we looking to get down to and how has that figure been arrived at, what is being done to ensure the NHS can cope with the additional associated hospitalisations and what is being put in place long term to minimise transmission.

You have to compare to flu and also there will be substitution of deaths in some cases so one respiratory illness will dominate above another. More died in June from flu than COVID didn’t they?

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Unfortunately its 100 - 200 a day not a week. That makes the figures 36.5K - 73K a year.

By comparison flu seems to average about 17K but has been below 2K some years and close to going over 30K other years. And of course that's a level of flu cases that means every winter the NHS goes into meltdown and has ambulances queuing up outside hospitals, something that for some reason now just seems to be accepted as inevitable.

Completely agree there is a point where we have to live with it but not sure comparing it to flu is helpful given the numbers being suggested. Just give us information that stands up to scrutiny. What number of deaths annually are we looking to get down to and how has that figure been arrived at, what is being done to ensure the NHS can cope with the additional associated hospitalisations and what is being put in place long term to minimise transmission.

The numbers are up in the air given that these figures find it hard to take account of the booster programme which is more directed at variants than the current rollout which is using jabs directed at vanilla Covid. We will not have 100-200 a day all year round, of that much I am confident.