When will this shit end?

[zahidf]

But the Covid Recovery Group, which represents Tory MPs pushing to end the lockdown, is worried. Mark Harper, its chair, has just put out a statement saying the announcement must come on the Monday. He said:

The prime minister, vaccines minister and health secretary have all confirmed that the plan for lifting restrictions would come on 22nd February. It’s crucial we don’t backslide on this, not least because the government has said it wants to give schools two weeks’ notice before they open, and - as the PM said - it is the ‘settled will’ of most MPs that pupils should be back in school on 8 March.

In the same news release Steve Baker, the CRG deputy chair, accused unnamed scientists of spreading “despair and despondency”. He said:

Having a full public debate is essential at this time but I fear senior scientists are failing to recognise their power to spread despair and despondency. Some seem to be floating untested hypotheses in the media. Doing so is not science. It is the death of science. Perhaps worse, it brings scientists squarely into the political domain, something we would I am sure all like to avoid. I look forward to the prime minister’s 22 February roadmap out of restrictions so that we can all reclaim our lives once and for all.

Baker, who has declined to name the scientists he is referring to, said he was making this comment in response to reports that criteria for lifting restrictions were changing. Ministers have always said decisions about easing lockdown would be determined by what was happening with cases and deaths; what was happening with hospitals, and the pressure on beds; the success of the vaccine rollout programme; and the situation with new variants. But recently they have been putting more emphasis on knowing how the vaccines perform against new variants.

Earlier this month, in a report dismissed by some government sources, the Daily Telegraph claimed Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, was also worried that scientific advisers were “moving the goalposts” on the requirements for ending lockdown.

[Fuzzy Afro]

4 minutes ago, DeanoL said:

Pubs and restaurants were running at 50% capacity and yet they weren't full.

Frank Turner sold out the Leamington Assembly in 2019, 1000 capacity. Couldn't sell out two 100-capacity socially distanced gigs in the same venue.

If they're the only people out when things reopen, there will be a lot of bankruptcies straight off.

And at that point, we didn't have people going "well I'm going to ignore the rules and not socially distance at this socially distanced event/place". 

I'm fully expecting us to start to open up again in March, and that March/April/May will be the period of lockdown in which I feel under the most restrictions. Because I won't have been vaccinated, but the outdoor world will be full of people who have been vaccinated and so don't give a fuck, and who don't care if they get COVID so don't give a fuck.

Now, me and my partner may just be anomalies in feeling that way, but I somehow doubt we're literally the only ones.

Is that because people were afraid of the virus or because they couldn’t be bothered with some shitty social distanced gig that wouldn’t be much fun? 

[Ryan1984]

8 minutes ago, zahidf said:

But the Covid Recovery Group, which represents Tory MPs pushing to end the lockdown, is worried. Mark Harper, its chair, has just put out a statement saying the announcement must come on the Monday. He said:

The prime minister, vaccines minister and health secretary have all confirmed that the plan for lifting restrictions would come on 22nd February. It’s crucial we don’t backslide on this, not least because the government has said it wants to give schools two weeks’ notice before they open, and - as the PM said - it is the ‘settled will’ of most MPs that pupils should be back in school on 8 March.

In the same news release Steve Baker, the CRG deputy chair, accused unnamed scientists of spreading “despair and despondency”. He said:

Having a full public debate is essential at this time but I fear senior scientists are failing to recognise their power to spread despair and despondency. Some seem to be floating untested hypotheses in the media. Doing so is not science. It is the death of science. Perhaps worse, it brings scientists squarely into the political domain, something we would I am sure all like to avoid. I look forward to the prime minister’s 22 February roadmap out of restrictions so that we can all reclaim our lives once and for all.

Baker, who has declined to name the scientists he is referring to, said he was making this comment in response to reports that criteria for lifting restrictions were changing. Ministers have always said decisions about easing lockdown would be determined by what was happening with cases and deaths; what was happening with hospitals, and the pressure on beds; the success of the vaccine rollout programme; and the situation with new variants. But recently they have been putting more emphasis on knowing how the vaccines perform against new variants.

Earlier this month, in a report dismissed by some government sources, the Daily Telegraph claimed Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, was also worried that scientific advisers were “moving the goalposts” on the requirements for ending lockdown.

The CRG need to stop trapping off. Just wait for Spaffer’s roadmap on the date he’s allocated for ages.

[efcfanwirral]

8 minutes ago, zahidf said:

But the Covid Recovery Group, which represents Tory MPs pushing to end the lockdown, is worried. Mark Harper, its chair, has just put out a statement saying the announcement must come on the Monday. He said:

The prime minister, vaccines minister and health secretary have all confirmed that the plan for lifting restrictions would come on 22nd February. It’s crucial we don’t backslide on this, not least because the government has said it wants to give schools two weeks’ notice before they open, and - as the PM said - it is the ‘settled will’ of most MPs that pupils should be back in school on 8 March.

In the same news release Steve Baker, the CRG deputy chair, accused unnamed scientists of spreading “despair and despondency”. He said:

Having a full public debate is essential at this time but I fear senior scientists are failing to recognise their power to spread despair and despondency. Some seem to be floating untested hypotheses in the media. Doing so is not science. It is the death of science. Perhaps worse, it brings scientists squarely into the political domain, something we would I am sure all like to avoid. I look forward to the prime minister’s 22 February roadmap out of restrictions so that we can all reclaim our lives once and for all.

Baker, who has declined to name the scientists he is referring to, said he was making this comment in response to reports that criteria for lifting restrictions were changing. Ministers have always said decisions about easing lockdown would be determined by what was happening with cases and deaths; what was happening with hospitals, and the pressure on beds; the success of the vaccine rollout programme; and the situation with new variants. But recently they have been putting more emphasis on knowing how the vaccines perform against new variants.

Earlier this month, in a report dismissed by some government sources, the Daily Telegraph claimed Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, was also worried that scientific advisers were “moving the goalposts” on the requirements for ending lockdown.

I think we all just have to accept a couple of extra months of restrictions (and a few extra deaths unfortunately) to get kids back in on March 8th, because there's no way there won't be a spike when that happens

[Paul ™]

23 minutes ago, eFestivals said:

Govt IT has actually been superb since last March. Furlough, etc. Done by in-house techies and not contractors.

Who is doing the not-working quarantine system I wonder?

https://www.travelctm.com/

They are running it, I believe they have been involved doing other stuff relating to Covid too. 

Need to see what director is a Tory donor

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/03836426

 

 

 

[JoeyT]

 

[steviewevie]

Pfizer vaccine found to give strong immune response to new Covid variants

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/11/pfizer-vaccine-strong-response-new-covid-variants

[Guest]

46 minutes ago, Ryan1984 said:

The CRG need to stop trapping off. Just wait for Spaffer’s roadmap on the date he’s allocated for ages.

I post it on the previous page but the talk is now the roadmap coming ‘the week of the 22nd’ from the PMs spokesman. The CRG are clearly worried about this, potential for trouble here for Johnson. 

[gizmoman]

5 hours ago, mcshed said:

Well the bet is to show faith in your predictions. I think you enjoy suggesting these outlandish ideas about perpetual lockdowns but don't really believe in them.

As far as definitions of normal go, the only slight quibble I have is with the cash. Whilst I'm certain you will be able to use cash to buy a pint before Jan 2023, I'm less sure you'll be able to do it in 2033. I think there has been progress towards a cashless society for some time, this pandemic has certainly accelerated that progression and whilst for the purposes of your three tests of normality you should be fine I think there will be noticeably more cashless establishments post pandemic.

We have a different definition of "progress", a cashless society is a disaster for freedom. I'm not enjoying any part of this, I was perfectly happy with my life before, I do believe there will be further events later this year which will be used to continue with restrictions but I'm happy to be proved cp paranoid and wrong. But I won't take your bet, not because I don't have faith in my position, but because i couldn't win, if I'm correct and we still have restrictions on our freedoms going forward then we both lose and you paying £50 wouldn't be any consolation. I'm going to try to pay less attention to this thread for a while, it can get you to a negative place at times and I could do with a break.

[charlierc]

1 hour ago, Fuzzy Afro said:

Is that because people were afraid of the virus or because they couldn’t be bothered with some shitty social distanced gig that wouldn’t be much fun? 

Bit of both I would've thought. I also think a few of these kind of shows also had very late announcements.

1 hour ago, Ryan1984 said:

The CRG need to stop trapping off. Just wait for Spaffer’s roadmap on the date he’s allocated for ages.

Well that's what they spent all of the Brexit debate doing. Maybe they can't help it.

[MEGABOWL]

1 hour ago, Ryan1984 said:

The CRG need to stop trapping off. Just wait for Spaffer’s roadmap on the date he’s allocated for ages.

Why? Nobody else is waiting before offering opinions on how and when we should unlock.

[Leyrulion]

Am I seeing things or is the week on week decrease increasing after staying at about 25% for the past two weeks.

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/

Everything else staying the same it should be steady...vaccine effect starting to come through?

[zahidf]

 

[RobertProsineckisLighter]

24 minutes ago, charlierc said:

Bit of both I would've thought. I also think a few of these kind of shows also had very late announcements.

Plus all the additional hassle e.g. if you want a pint before finding somewhere that wasn't full. I know folk who abstained from pub and other places because it wasn't the experience they once knew all which plays a part too I think. 

It was hard work to get a seat anywhere round me without booking anywhere approaching a popular time - it put me off nipping out for a quick pint of an evening. 

Edited February 11, 2021 by RobertProsineckisLighter

[Smeble]

19 hours ago, zahidf said:

Well my patience with lockdown is over post end of March. Past then I won't follow any unenforceable rules. Cant be bothered. A year of my life is all its getting.

Let’s hope ‘special’ people like you are not common.🙄🙄🙄

[JoeyT]

My local authority is now back in to double digits per 100k cases.

Open the pubs up Boris!

[efcfanwirral]

18 minutes ago, RobertProsineckisLighter said:

Plus all the additional hassle e.g. if you want a pint before finding somewhere that wasn't full. 

It was hard work to get a seat anywhere round me without booking anywhere approaching a popular time. 

Was OK round here when beer gardens were an option, didn't really try when it was indoors only as "covid safe because we wipe tables sometimes" is laughable when everyone has their masks off 

[Guest]

Vaccination update:

[mattiloy]

3 hours ago, steviewevie said:

what, like a bit of jew hate.

Starmer hates Palestinians though doesn’t he so nobody is exactly winning.

Truly a latter day Nick Clegg. Briefly looking like he might be popular and progressive but ultimately disappointing- and then some! At the rate he’s going I wouldn’t be surprised if he forms a coalition with the tories in the next GE.

[JB15]

8 minutes ago, mattiloy said:

Starmer hates Palestinians though doesn’t he so nobody is exactly winning.

Truly a latter day Nick Clegg. Briefly looking like he might be popular and progressive but ultimately disappointing- and then some! At the rate he’s going I wouldn’t be surprised if he forms a coalition with the tories in the next GE.

Apologies for the bite, but how does Starmer hate Palestinians?

[JoeyT]

40 minutes ago, Smeble said:

Let’s hope ‘special’ people like you are not common.🙄🙄🙄

Wind it in mate.

You can bet your bottom dollar the majority of the population will take the shackles off with or without the governments blessing once the over 50’s are vaccinated.

Only fools think otherwise.

[xxialac]

In the latest government incompetence, the quarantine hotel website is still down.

And there have been barely any border guards at Heathrow today, with the result that queues have been running at 4 hours to clear immigration.

 

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, xxialac said:

In the latest government incompetence, the quarantine hotel website is still down.

And there have been barely any border guards at Heathrow today, with the result that queues have been running at 4 hours to clear immigration.

 

Strong and stable government.

[efcfanwirral]

From the daily Reddit stats thread- patients in hospital not far off having halved from the peak in January

[RobertProsineckisLighter]

1 hour ago, Ozanne said:

Strong and stable government.

Always knew Boris's C# would be shit.