National News Lockdown

[Essexyellows]

Wonder if "somebody else" was at one of these "events"?

Laura Kuenssberg to step down as BBC's political editor

After seven years in the post, the journalist will now take on other roles within the BBC.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[gofish2]

Latest attempt at sauvignon the crisis?

In view of the Riesling numbers, not a bad idea. (Walks away......)

 

[holdsteady]

No new measures today apparently.

 

[QR]

No new measures today apparently.

Johnson says he 'won't hesitate to take action' ...... as he, er, check notes, hesitates to take action.

 

[werthersoriginal]

Johnson says he 'won't hesitate to take action' ...... as he, er, check notes, hesitates to take action.

I reckon it could change day by day. Better to be flexible and act quickly than to stick to a position for the sake of it.

 

[Peterdev]

He’s doing a best to avoid a lockdown.
I am sure Sadiq Khan wants one in London as he has declared an emergency

 

[swolley]

7 EFL boxing day matches off at moment, including scummers v Exeter, more expected to follow

 

[m]

Cabernet meeting this afternoon.

The winers just won't shut up.

 

[QR]

The winers just won't shut up.

It's Bordeauxing on insolence.

 

[MC Yellow]

I think ole Boris is Em.Barolo’d in a s**t storm .

 

[QR]

I think ole Boris is Em.Barolo’d in a s**t storm .

I a gris.

(been trying to get Gewurztraminer into a sentence all evening with no success)

 

[MC Yellow]

Johnson says he 'won't hesitate to take action' ...... as he, er, check notes, hesitates to take action.

Given the daily stats, what action do you want him to take?

 

[Essexyellows]

Leadership is keeping a cool head whilst all around are losing theirs.

Plan B, schools breaking up, and folk being cautious, as well as jabs, could see us through whilst lots of people gain natural immunity on top of their jabs.

 

[QR]

Given the daily stats, what action do you want him to take?

Well he can do nothing, with a real risk of have to go onto a full extended lockdown after Christmas due to the level s of infection, so hospitality is hit now (as is evident from many TV reports) and during the full lockdown. Or he can close hospitality for a two or three week circuit break, compensate the businesses/employees accordingly, allow millions more to receive their third jab and, just as critical, for that jab to become effective, and then return to where we are now.

But that would require leadership, bottle and a willingness to do something that will be unpopular, none of which Johnson is capable of.

Deja vu anyone?

 

[SteMerritt]

Leadership is keeping a cool head whilst all around are losing theirs.

Or that could be written as...

Leadership are panicking as stuck between a potential economic and health crisis on one side, and being stabbed in the back by their own party on the other, so are currently paralysed into inaction.

 

[Sarge]

Or that could be written as...

Leadership are panicking as stuck between a potential economic and health crisis on one side, and being stabbed in the back by their own party on the other, so are currently paralysed into inaction.

this is an interesting concept on what constitutes real leadership ....

 

[Essexyellows]

Well he can do nothing, with a real risk of have to go onto a full extended lockdown after Christmas due to the level s of infection, so hospitality is hit now (as is evident from many TV reports) and during the full lockdown. Or he can close hospitality for a two or three week circuit break, compensate the businesses/employees accordingly, allow millions more to receive their third jab and, just as critical, for that jab to become effective, and then return to where we are now.

But that would require leadership, bottle and a willingness to do something that will be unpopular, none of which Johnson is capable of.

Deja vu anyone?

The businesses are open it is the customers choosing not to go to them.
It is apparent to most that people are choosing to prioritise their family Christmas over a night out with work colleagues etc.
So where do you "stop" the compensation chain?
The venues? Pubs? Restaurants? Clubs? That's an easy call.
However, then there is.....
The Corner Shop where folk buy a few drinks to pre-load?
The Taxi firm?
The Bus Company?
The Clothes Shop?

They will all be feeling the impact of the customers' choice.

 

[MC Yellow]

Well he can do nothing, with a real risk of have to go onto a full extended lockdown after Christmas due to the level s of infection, so hospitality is hit now (as is evident from many TV reports) and during the full lockdown. Or he can close hospitality for a two or three week circuit break, compensate the businesses/employees accordingly, allow millions more to receive their third jab and, just as critical, for that jab to become effective, and then return to where we are now.

But that would require leadership, bottle and a willingness to do something that will be unpopular, none of which Johnson is capable of.

Deja vu anyone?

Boris is already unpopular and will remain so regardless of what decisions he now makes. On that I think we can agree.

He has rolled the dice in an attempt to allow people a choice and to allow businesses to trade during the festive period.

Whether people choose to cancel or change their own plans, attend Christmas football fixtures or go out for a drink will, I think, provide the answer to the public’s view on the situation and how they see the risk.

Many people have already done what has been asked of them, double jabbed, booster, face masks, etc and will feel able to make their own risk assessment and vote with their feet.

It is a huge call but we were already told in the Summer to expect at-least 100,000 cases a day (iirc) and as yet this new Omicron variant has not doubled or tripled this number, having been with us for what? four weeks now?

If this goes horribly wrong Boris will be gone in no time but at the moment I personally think that proceeding with caution is the right call.

Thankfully I don’t have to make these decisions.

 

[Peterdev]

The problem is getting the right balance.
Nobody wants people dying of covid nor I would think do we want businesses to fail. Central government funded by the taxpayer can’t afford to keep funding furlough and backing companies.
The scientists differ on solutions. Some say the infection is mild generally but if it spreads quickly presumably the hospitals will struggle.
I would like to know whether the infections are the result of not being vaccinated. Are the deaths recorded with covid the result of underlying issues, pneumonia.
Unless the economy can be allowed to function how can we get to grips with all the other issues in the NHS.
How much longer will we have to covid and the gloom?
I agree that we need leadership and at the moment we are not getting it

 

[TL@69]

BJ reported that Covid numbers in London hospitals are rising fast. What he didn’t say was that 50% of those are in cases being admitted for other reasons . Admissions across London are flat.