Coronavirus outbreak

[Edwardoka]

I had to self-isolate from Twitter last night after reading some of the dreck being thrown around about Horton.
Yes, he said those things in the last week of January, it was his best guess based upon the information he had.

You can tell the difference between a proper scientist and someone using the image of science to push an agenda: as new information comes in, a scientist's position will change.

 

[Edwardoka]

Boris announced the pub closures on a Friday tea time with a plea for us all not to go out on a last session.

The regulation didn't come into force until 2pm on Saturday, which also explains reports of some pubs being open that lunchtime.

I suppose there's no seamless way to introduce an emergency measure, so the introduction of this one went as well as could be expected.

I tend towards authoritarianism so let me have a go:

"My fellow hu-mans, it gives me no pleasure to announce this, but in order to combat the spread of a deadly disease, I must inform you that all pubs, cafes and restaurants are to be closed with immediate effect. You may follow standard last orders procedure, but no new customers are to be served. Anyone found to be in contravention of this decree will have their licences permanently revoked.

Best wishes,
Kang and Kodos
Boris"

 

[Johnno260]

Maybe one mistake has been treating people like adults when a significant proportion are (and continue to be) stupid, selfish sods.

this statement is unfortunately very true, in the future we need to have a pandemic plan, and due to many’s selfish ways people need to be treated as kids.

 

[Johnno260]

I tend towards authoritarianism so let me have a go:

"My fellow hu-mans, it gives me no pleasure to announce this, but in order to combat the spread of a deadly disease, I must inform you that all pubs, cafes and restaurants are to be closed with immediate effect. You may follow standard last orders procedure, but no new customers are to be served. Anyone found to be in contravention of this decree will have their licences permanently revoked.

Best wishes,
Kang and Kodos
Boris"

the next day I went for a cycle ride and saw so many rural pubs serving lunch to customers it was totally irresponsible, if they had made that statement above and actually punished some rule breakers then it would serve as a warning.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Ireland now in lockdown.....

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...sh-in-drastic-lockdown?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

 

[Pale Rider]

as new information comes in, a scientist's position will change.

That's fine, but plenty of people criticised the government for not knowing what it was doing and running around like a headless chicken when its position changed in response to what was a fast moving situation.

Seems to be one set of judgment criteria for one and a different set for the other.

The pub closures could have been introduced in other ways, but I imagine Boris was hoping for a swift, but orderly, taper from open to shut.

Did that not happen in most locations?

There's also the legal practicalities of making such an order.

'Getting it done' by 2pm the next day was swift work in a sphere not known for its speed of action.

 

[johnnyb47]

That made me laugh on the BBC news.
Trump was there signing his 1.7 trillion dollar bill with all his cronies standing around him, The general message by the governments is for self distancing, but these guys were almost rubbing shoulders with each other 🤔

 

[Fab Foodie]

 

[Mike_P]

Pleased to say Waitrose today had the guy controlling access disinfecting trolley handles as he passed each to a customer. Frozen stock still hit and miss, no chips bar french fries and still none of the single malts that are on offer on the web site

 

[winjim]

That made me laugh on the BBC news.
Trump was there signing his 1.7 trillion dollar bill with all his cronies standing around him, The general message by the governments is for self distancing, but these guys were almost rubbing shoulders with each other 🤔

Almost? He's passing out the virus like party bags at a kid's birthday. This is on purpose, it has to be.


View: https://twitter.com/davidschneider/status/1243816885390643200?s=19

 

[kingrollo]

I tend towards authoritarianism so let me have a go:

"My fellow hu-mans, it gives me no pleasure to announce this, but in order to combat the spread of a deadly disease, I must inform you that all pubs, cafes and restaurants are to be closed with immediate effect. You may follow standard last orders procedure, but no new customers are to be served. Anyone found to be in contravention of this decree will have their licences permanently revoked.

Best wishes,
Kang and Kodos
Boris"

Self regulation is in their DNA mate. They will never change.

 

[PK99]

There's also the legal practicalities of making such an order.

Was discussing this with a friend the other day - retired Senior Civil Servant and government Lawyer, still active in the Inns of court

The nature of our parliamentary system, in contrast to the Presidential systems elsewhere, makes some actions and controls difficult and different ..
What some countries can execute by Presidential decree, takes hundreds of pages of legal drafting

 

[marinyork]

What some countries can execute by Presidential decree, takes hundreds of pages of legal drafting

The westminster system doesn't really suit crises.

The MPs like their jollies and their weekends (and their Fridays for that matter). Numerous times over the decades has been the 'shall we recall parliament' in the summer and nah we'll do it next week to various other important bits of legislation. The nah we'll do it next week has happened in this crisis, which is not to say that it still wouldn't have taken a long time, rather appreciating it would and got a headstart.

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

Sobering reading

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/03/27/world/europe/coronavirus-italy-bergamo.html

 

[tom73]

We than have the added party political games which makes any idea of cooperating beyond the mind set of any party.
How we deal with stuff like pandemics is not the only thing that needs to change.