If the day after GE19 somebody would have written that two years later, Labour would be nearly 10 points ahead with Starmer as the most popular leader since Blair and BoJo as unpopular as Corbyn, you would have been laughed out of the room.
Christmas party just got cancelled, one hour before it was due to begin.
I wish they'd stop prevaricating and either:
- full lockdown now - full lockdown boxing day
OTOH, Edinburgh is buzzing tonight, so my emergency shadow party should be fun
Are there Christmas markets this year? The ones normally by Waverley I mean.
Yup. I do not like them. Trash the gardens.
Too cold in January to enjoy the gardens anyway. I vote yay to the Christmas markets. But now you've got me thinking, where isn't there a nice open square in Edinburgh they could do this in? Time to pull down the silly column and that cafe thing in St Andrews Square and pedestrianise it. Then we can fill it with stalls in December and not trash the hedges.
They did have a n. o. s. - right there next to the Royal Scottish Academy and the gardens, but they've overflowed it.
The Unionists would howl if you demolished the Dundas column.
Michael Gove has just been speaking in a pool TV interview
He said Covid "is a deeply concerning situation" and today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information"
"We absolutely need to keep everything under review"
Looking at the publicly-available info on Omicron, I think what may be happening here is that, although Omicron in a well-jabbed/previously-infected population is usually mild, a small proportion will be sufficiently severe to require at least a short period of hospitalisation. Given that we can expect a huge number of cases very quickly, we're back to the old 'overwhelming the health service' problem, even though the prognosis for those who do get hospitalised is miles better than waves 1 and 2, and the length of stay much less.
If that's right, we are surely going to get some new restrictions, to 'flatten the curve' of cases and thus buy time to get more boosters into arms.
Not great, but anyone who simply says 'no more restrictions!' or 'no vaxports!' without actually bothering to look at the data is nuts.
Sorry to drip on but if you watch the video from SA its highly unlikely that you will get admitted to hospital for just Covid if you have 2 vaccines, they have no data on 3 vaccines yet.
Michael Gove has just been speaking in a pool TV interview
He said Covid "is a deeply concerning situation" and today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information"
"We absolutely need to keep everything under review"
Looking at the publicly-available info on Omicron, I think what may be happening here is that, although Omicron in a well-jabbed/previously-infected population is usually mild, a small proportion will be sufficiently severe to require at least a short period of hospitalisation. Given that we can expect a huge number of cases very quickly, we're back to the old 'overwhelming the health service' problem, even though the prognosis for those who do get hospitalised is miles better than waves 1 and 2, and the length of stay much less.
If that's right, we are surely going to get some new restrictions, to 'flatten the curve' of cases and thus buy time to get more boosters into arms.
Not great, but anyone who simply says 'no more restrictions!' or 'no vaxports!' without actually bothering to look at the data is nuts.
"today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information" "
The Rt rate for the number of parties in Whitehall during lockdown has gone up to 2.6?
Perhaps I am too cynical but I expect a lockdown simply because the government and cabinet will be far more comfortable talking about that than defending the PM. If it is a choice between 100 angry MPs in his own party or him apologising properly there can only be one answer.
No, I think it's more the other way round. It's his central band of supporters (the usual-suspect Brexit nuts) who are now most restless about any further health measures.
It is, but he has precisely zero loyalty to them or anyone else. He just wants to get through the next month with less talk about his lies. That is achieved with lockdown, then people will tune off politics for Xmas and NY anyway.
We really needed to have been turbo charging boosters earlier. A lot of people are going to get infected over Christmas and New Year. Fingers crossed it really is milder.
Yeah we really screwed up the boosters. We aren't even due to offer them to all adults until the end of January, and yet Omicron will be dominant in December. There are going to be a lot of sick people over the next few months, we just don't know how sick yet.
As I have said before, it is not just the really sick people and the dead who we need to worry about (tho these numbers MIGHT be frightening and even calamitous - or not)
We also need to worry about the many millions who will get just sick enough to need a week in bed. Something like flu.
Because OMICRON THE BASTARD is so infectious it will take down almost everyone with some kind of infection over this winter. Breaking through boosters here, reinfecting prior sufferers there
If 30 million Brits are suddenly unable to do their work, for a week or two, WTF happens then? Has such a thing ever occurred before? Who drives the trains and buses? Who delivers the milk and bread? Who, and I say this with a genuine tremble in my throat, WHO KNAPS THE OBSIDIAN BUTT-PLUGS?
My kid’s class all had to write in the big class book this week, “people that help us”. There were the usual doctors, nurses, mummy and daddy and what not. He wrote “the milkman”. Dunno whether to be concerned about that…
Michael Gove has just been speaking in a pool TV interview
He said Covid "is a deeply concerning situation" and today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information"
"We absolutely need to keep everything under review"
Looking at the publicly-available info on Omicron, I think what may be happening here is that, although Omicron in a well-jabbed/previously-infected population is usually mild, a small proportion will be sufficiently severe to require at least a short period of hospitalisation. Given that we can expect a huge number of cases very quickly, we're back to the old 'overwhelming the health service' problem, even though the prognosis for those who do get hospitalised is miles better than waves 1 and 2, and the length of stay much less.
If that's right, we are surely going to get some new restrictions, to 'flatten the curve' of cases and thus buy time to get more boosters into arms.
Not great, but anyone who simply says 'no more restrictions!' or 'no vaxports!' without actually bothering to look at the data is nuts.
"today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information" "
The Rt rate for the number of parties in Whitehall during lockdown has gone up to 2.6?
They are going to need to get cracking on reformulating covid vaccines. AZN is basically useless against stopping it with 2 doses, which is what I presume the developing world are giving out.
I guess Pfizer's share price is ticking up this evening?
On a rather bleak day, there is at least the consolation that the preening, arrogant, self-aggrandising little prick of a French president might get beaten after one term. That would be fun
He's an example of someone I got completely wrong. I was delighted by his sudden ascent and victory, and proud of the fact the commune where I have my holiday home voted resoundingly for him (and Le Pen came 5th in the first round, after Hamon). Since when he has turned out to be one of the most breathtakingly arrogant and narcissistic politicians around. The fact he named En Marche after his own initials should have been a clue.
Not completely ineffectual - he has got some things done - but I'm not a French citizen or taxpayer so it's the image on the world stage that matters and on that he's been tiresome.
But French presidents have always taken on certain airs and graces. One of my earliest political experiences was seeing President Mitterrand waft past on the Champs Elysees in his presidential car on Bastille day while the MIrage jets flew past overhead. He exuded a quiet, monarchical power.
There's an interesting demonstration of loyalty going on with Boris. He clearly has some from his cabinet.
May or Major would have been long gone. Sadly Thatcher was too. All in less dire circumstances.
I find that really hard to believe looking at him, and his cabinet. Esp after Sunak nodding along to Blackford at pmqs. The others you mention would have gone of their own accord because they knew the game was up. Anyway Thatcher had fought round 1 of a leadership challenge, May had come 5th in national elections. Those are serious political events, scandals are fluff until hard evidence is to hand.
Boris is presiding over a political catastrophe of unmatched horror. None of the cabinet are publically sabre-rattling. Whatever else might be going on that's a very good demonstartion of loyalty (of course to the party too).
Or, they are too clever for that and going to run on a ticket of ostensible ultra loyalty to the FLSOJ™ until the last possible moment, knowing how vital that is to securing the popular Boris vote in an election. A man may smile and smile and be a villain. And get busy on WhatsApp.
We really needed to have been turbo charging boosters earlier. A lot of people are going to get infected over Christmas and New Year. Fingers crossed it really is milder.
Yeah we really screwed up the boosters. We aren't even due to offer them to all adults until the end of January, and yet Omicron will be dominant in December. There are going to be a lot of sick people over the next few months, we just don't know how sick yet.
As I have said before, it is not just the really sick people and the dead who we need to worry about (tho these numbers MIGHT be frightening and even calamitous - or not)
We also need to worry about the many millions who will get just sick enough to need a week in bed. Something like flu.
Because OMICRON THE BASTARD is so infectious it will take down almost everyone with some kind of infection over this winter. Breaking through boosters here, reinfecting prior sufferers there
If 30 million Brits are suddenly unable to do their work, for a week or two, WTF happens then? Has such a thing ever occurred before? Who drives the trains and buses? Who delivers the milk and bread? Who, and I say this with a genuine tremble in my throat, WHO KNAPS THE OBSIDIAN BUTT-PLUGS?
That's the style of pandemic that all the government's pandemic planning was targeted at. So as long as they have the pandemic plan still in a drawer somewhere, and didn't shred all the copies in a fit of rage during the first lockdown, then we'd still be well set to deal with that scenario.
All sorts of government agencies, and key infrastructure companies (think, National Grid, etc) will have done pandemic-preparedness exercises where they rehearsed how they would cope with staff being ill at high rates while keeping the key systems ticking over.
Michael Gove has just been speaking in a pool TV interview
He said Covid "is a deeply concerning situation" and today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information"
"We absolutely need to keep everything under review"
Looking at the publicly-available info on Omicron, I think what may be happening here is that, although Omicron in a well-jabbed/previously-infected population is usually mild, a small proportion will be sufficiently severe to require at least a short period of hospitalisation. Given that we can expect a huge number of cases very quickly, we're back to the old 'overwhelming the health service' problem, even though the prognosis for those who do get hospitalised is miles better than waves 1 and 2, and the length of stay much less.
If that's right, we are surely going to get some new restrictions, to 'flatten the curve' of cases and thus buy time to get more boosters into arms.
Not great, but anyone who simply says 'no more restrictions!' or 'no vaxports!' without actually bothering to look at the data is nuts.
"today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information" "
The Rt rate for the number of parties in Whitehall during lockdown has gone up to 2.6?
You're right. It will be a lockdown. Hard lockdown. Just listen to the words they are using. "Very challenging new information". This is like Delta Deja Vu All Over Again Redux 2.0 The Sequel, but Worse, Revisited
The case loads will be so high any idea of tiers or shifting rules for hospitality or tightening usage of masks will look pathetically trivial. The urge to press the big red Emergency Button will be overwhelming. They will press it
Christmas party just got cancelled, one hour before it was due to begin.
I wish they'd stop prevaricating and either:
- full lockdown now - full lockdown boxing day
OTOH, Edinburgh is buzzing tonight, so my emergency shadow party should be fun
Are there Christmas markets this year? The ones normally by Waverley I mean.
Yup. I do not like them. Trash the gardens.
Too cold in January to enjoy the gardens anyway. I vote yay to the Christmas markets. But now you've got me thinking, where isn't there a nice open square in Edinburgh they could do this in? Time to pull down the silly column and that cafe thing in St Andrews Square and pedestrianise it. Then we can fill it with stalls in December and not trash the hedges.
They did have a n. o. s. - right there next to the Royal Scottish Academy and the gardens, but they've overflowed it.
The Unionists would howl if you demolished the Dundas column.
I was just googling who it even was, since I had no idea. Sadly, I think it would be easier to remove it if the man had zero to do with slavery. Oh well, perhaps Charlotte Square instead? Though probably a bit too curtain twitchy around there.
We really needed to have been turbo charging boosters earlier. A lot of people are going to get infected over Christmas and New Year. Fingers crossed it really is milder.
Yeah we really screwed up the boosters. We aren't even due to offer them to all adults until the end of January, and yet Omicron will be dominant in December. There are going to be a lot of sick people over the next few months, we just don't know how sick yet.
As I have said before, it is not just the really sick people and the dead who we need to worry about (tho these numbers MIGHT be frightening and even calamitous - or not)
We also need to worry about the many millions who will get just sick enough to need a week in bed. Something like flu.
Because OMICRON THE BASTARD is so infectious it will take down almost everyone with some kind of infection over this winter. Breaking through boosters here, reinfecting prior sufferers there
If 30 million Brits are suddenly unable to do their work, for a week or two, WTF happens then? Has such a thing ever occurred before? Who drives the trains and buses? Who delivers the milk and bread? Who, and I say this with a genuine tremble in my throat, WHO KNAPS THE OBSIDIAN BUTT-PLUGS?
Who will shave my parmesan?
I have perfected the design for a largish pure-fission nuclear weapon that will crumble Parmesan, a million tons at a time. There is a small problem with burnt bits, and the radioactive mutant zombies... But that's science for you...
Ms Stratton is dumped carrying the baby (ie doing what she was told to do, practice the PR stuff, and wasn't at the party) cos she is blonde and female?
Grandma got run over by a reindeer Walking home from our house Christmas Eve You can say there's no such thing as Santa But as for me and Grandpa, we believe
She'd been drinking too much eggnog And we'd begged her not to go But she forgot her medication And she staggered out the door into the snow When we found her Christmas morning At the scene of the attack She had hoof prints on her forehead And incriminating hoof marks on her back
Now we're all so proud of Grandpa He's been taking this so well See him in there watching football Drinking beer and playing cards with cousin Belle It's not Christmas without Grandma All the family's dressed in black And we just can't help but wonder Should we open up her gifts or send them back?
Now the goose is on the table And the pudding made of fig And a blue and silver candle That would have just matched the hair in grandma's wig I've warned all my friends and neighbors Better watch out for yourselves They should never give a license To a man who drives a sleigh and plays with elves
Grandma got run over by a reindeer Walking home from our house Christmas Eve You can say there's no such thing as Santa But as for me and Grandpa, we believe
Ramp up of boosters looks to have started - up almost 50k on the same day last week.
In a few days' time, half of those who have had a second dose will have had a booster. That should cover the vast majority of those with high risk of hospitalisation.
Michael Gove has just been speaking in a pool TV interview
He said Covid "is a deeply concerning situation" and today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information"
"We absolutely need to keep everything under review"
Looking at the publicly-available info on Omicron, I think what may be happening here is that, although Omicron in a well-jabbed/previously-infected population is usually mild, a small proportion will be sufficiently severe to require at least a short period of hospitalisation. Given that we can expect a huge number of cases very quickly, we're back to the old 'overwhelming the health service' problem, even though the prognosis for those who do get hospitalised is miles better than waves 1 and 2, and the length of stay much less.
If that's right, we are surely going to get some new restrictions, to 'flatten the curve' of cases and thus buy time to get more boosters into arms.
Not great, but anyone who simply says 'no more restrictions!' or 'no vaxports!' without actually bothering to look at the data is nuts.
Well, maybe, but if the people being hospitalised with Omicron are not that ill, and don't require intensive treatment with oxygen, etc, then that sounds like the situation the Nightingale hospitals were set up to deal with, and we can fire those up again and send the vast majority of Covid patients there.
It does sound like the Omicron wave might be a lot like the pandemic we were originally expecting.
There's an interesting demonstration of loyalty going on with Boris. He clearly has some from his cabinet.
May or Major would have been long gone. Sadly Thatcher was too. All in less dire circumstances.
I find that really hard to believe looking at him, and his cabinet. Esp after Sunak nodding along to Blackford at pmqs. The others you mention would have gone of their own accord because they knew the game was up. Anyway Thatcher had fought round 1 of a leadership challenge, May had come 5th in national elections. Those are serious political events, scandals are fluff until hard evidence is to hand.
Boris is presiding over a political catastrophe of unmatched horror. None of the cabinet are publically sabre-rattling. Whatever else might be going on that's a very good demonstartion of loyalty (of course to the party too).
They will be looking for someone else to wield the knife, because they want the crown.
"Loyal until it was time to regretfully tell the PM it was the end....."
I wonder if they are trying some Covid behavioural nudge strategy. All these dire warnings and challenging new data...leading people to queue up for boosters in their hordes (certainly the queue at the vax centre today was something to behold, and we just did our biggest ever booster day yesterday in England) and voluntarily dial down the social interaction. Which from all the anecdotes and cancelled reservations is exactly what is happening. With no financial support for the hospitality industry in what should be one of their peak times of year.
Christmas party just got cancelled, one hour before it was due to begin.
I wish they'd stop prevaricating and either:
- full lockdown now - full lockdown boxing day
OTOH, Edinburgh is buzzing tonight, so my emergency shadow party should be fun
Are there Christmas markets this year? The ones normally by Waverley I mean.
Yup. I do not like them. Trash the gardens.
Too cold in January to enjoy the gardens anyway. I vote yay to the Christmas markets. But now you've got me thinking, where isn't there a nice open square in Edinburgh they could do this in? Time to pull down the silly column and that cafe thing in St Andrews Square and pedestrianise it. Then we can fill it with stalls in December and not trash the hedges.
They did have a n. o. s. - right there next to the Royal Scottish Academy and the gardens, but they've overflowed it.
The Unionists would howl if you demolished the Dundas column.
I was just googling who it even was, since I had no idea. Sadly, I think it would be easier to remove it if the man had zero to do with slavery. Oh well, perhaps Charlotte Square instead? Though probably a bit too curtain twitchy around there.
Ddidn't know about the slavery, was thinking more of his role as imperial satrap, but that's a good point.
No, that's the book festival which is nice and civilised. ... argh, just checked: "For the first time, the markets will be stretching out to various locations across the city including West Princes Street Gardens and George Street between Castle Street and Charlotte Square"
Michael Gove has just been speaking in a pool TV interview
He said Covid "is a deeply concerning situation" and today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information"
"We absolutely need to keep everything under review"
Looking at the publicly-available info on Omicron, I think what may be happening here is that, although Omicron in a well-jabbed/previously-infected population is usually mild, a small proportion will be sufficiently severe to require at least a short period of hospitalisation. Given that we can expect a huge number of cases very quickly, we're back to the old 'overwhelming the health service' problem, even though the prognosis for those who do get hospitalised is miles better than waves 1 and 2, and the length of stay much less.
If that's right, we are surely going to get some new restrictions, to 'flatten the curve' of cases and thus buy time to get more boosters into arms.
Not great, but anyone who simply says 'no more restrictions!' or 'no vaxports!' without actually bothering to look at the data is nuts.
Well, maybe, but if the people being hospitalised with Omicron are not that ill, and don't require intensive treatment with oxygen, etc, then that sounds like the situation the Nightingale hospitals were set up to deal with, and we can fire those up again and send the vast majority of Covid patients there.
It does sound like the Omicron wave might be a lot like the pandemic we were originally expecting.
Is there a health service ANYWHERE that is over-staffed?
Not sure about that, though in Switzerland on the rare occasions when I had anything to be treated to waiting list seemed to be zero. In the UK in the late 2000s we got it down to max 18 weeks for everything, 2 weeks for anything urgent and 4 hours for A&E, and that seemed pretty reasonable - I remember thinking that we didn't need to improve further apart from certain specialities and should turn to other priorities.
As an aside, I note that Switzerland had peak Pandemic figures today, and is now officially considering a hard lockdown on December 14th
The lights of Europe blah de blah
Will we beat them to it?
If AZ VE is zero, then we are looking at ton of new cases soon.
There's an interesting demonstration of loyalty going on with Boris. He clearly has some from his cabinet.
May or Major would have been long gone. Sadly Thatcher was too. All in less dire circumstances.
I find that really hard to believe looking at him, and his cabinet. Esp after Sunak nodding along to Blackford at pmqs. The others you mention would have gone of their own accord because they knew the game was up. Anyway Thatcher had fought round 1 of a leadership challenge, May had come 5th in national elections. Those are serious political events, scandals are fluff until hard evidence is to hand.
Boris is presiding over a political catastrophe of unmatched horror. None of the cabinet are publically sabre-rattling. Whatever else might be going on that's a very good demonstartion of loyalty (of course to the party too).
They will be looking for someone else to wield the knife, because they want the crown.
"Loyal until it was time to regretfully tell the PM it was the end....."
Oh god, of course yes. The point was that despite the situation it hasn't happened yet. I know you understood the point in the first place. Come along.
Michael Gove has just been speaking in a pool TV interview
He said Covid "is a deeply concerning situation" and today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information"
"We absolutely need to keep everything under review"
Looking at the publicly-available info on Omicron, I think what may be happening here is that, although Omicron in a well-jabbed/previously-infected population is usually mild, a small proportion will be sufficiently severe to require at least a short period of hospitalisation. Given that we can expect a huge number of cases very quickly, we're back to the old 'overwhelming the health service' problem, even though the prognosis for those who do get hospitalised is miles better than waves 1 and 2, and the length of stay much less.
If that's right, we are surely going to get some new restrictions, to 'flatten the curve' of cases and thus buy time to get more boosters into arms.
Not great, but anyone who simply says 'no more restrictions!' or 'no vaxports!' without actually bothering to look at the data is nuts.
Sorry to drip on but if you watch the video from SA its highly unlikely that you will get admitted to hospital for just Covid if you have 2 vaccines, they have no data on 3 vaccines yet.
Yes, it's highly unlikely (probably), but 'highly unlikely' multiplied by a very large number can still be a lot of people, which is why the government may need to try to mitigate the number in order to buy time to get those boosters into arms.
On a rather bleak day, there is at least the consolation that the preening, arrogant, self-aggrandising little prick of a French president might get beaten after one term. That would be fun
He's an example of someone I got completely wrong. I was delighted by his sudden ascent and victory, and proud of the fact the commune where I have my holiday home voted resoundingly for him (and Le Pen came 5th in the first round, after Hamon). Since when he has turned out to be one of the most breathtakingly arrogant and narcissistic politicians around. The fact he named En Marche after his own initials should have been a clue.
Not completely ineffectual - he has got some things done - but I'm not a French citizen or taxpayer so it's the image on the world stage that matters and on that he's been tiresome.
But French presidents have always taken on certain airs and graces. One of my earliest political experiences was seeing President Mitterrand waft past on the Champs Elysees in his presidential car on Bastille day while the MIrage jets flew past overhead. He exuded a quiet, monarchical power.
Yes, Macron does not have that innate dignity. He always looks like a small man who has just been ignored and is trying to hide his fury, or he oozes a sense of his own innate superiority, like an overripe Camembert. Those are his two modes. Neither is good
Michael Gove has just been speaking in a pool TV interview
He said Covid "is a deeply concerning situation" and today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information"
"We absolutely need to keep everything under review"
Looking at the publicly-available info on Omicron, I think what may be happening here is that, although Omicron in a well-jabbed/previously-infected population is usually mild, a small proportion will be sufficiently severe to require at least a short period of hospitalisation. Given that we can expect a huge number of cases very quickly, we're back to the old 'overwhelming the health service' problem, even though the prognosis for those who do get hospitalised is miles better than waves 1 and 2, and the length of stay much less.
If that's right, we are surely going to get some new restrictions, to 'flatten the curve' of cases and thus buy time to get more boosters into arms.
Not great, but anyone who simply says 'no more restrictions!' or 'no vaxports!' without actually bothering to look at the data is nuts.
"today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information" "
The Rt rate for the number of parties in Whitehall during lockdown has gone up to 2.6?
You're right. It will be a lockdown. Hard lockdown. Just listen to the words they are using. "Very challenging new information". This is like Delta Deja Vu All Over Again Redux 2.0 The Sequel, but Worse, Revisited
The case loads will be so high any idea of tiers or shifting rules for hospitality or tightening usage of masks will look pathetically trivial. The urge to press the big red Emergency Button will be overwhelming. They will press it
Yep. I am feeling very low about what's looming. Just a question of whether they push the button next week or leave until christmas eve or even hold back until 2nd Jan.
Christmas party just got cancelled, one hour before it was due to begin.
I wish they'd stop prevaricating and either:
- full lockdown now - full lockdown boxing day
OTOH, Edinburgh is buzzing tonight, so my emergency shadow party should be fun
Are there Christmas markets this year? The ones normally by Waverley I mean.
Yup. I do not like them. Trash the gardens.
Too cold in January to enjoy the gardens anyway. I vote yay to the Christmas markets. But now you've got me thinking, where isn't there a nice open square in Edinburgh they could do this in? Time to pull down the silly column and that cafe thing in St Andrews Square and pedestrianise it. Then we can fill it with stalls in December and not trash the hedges.
They did have a n. o. s. - right there next to the Royal Scottish Academy and the gardens, but they've overflowed it.
The Unionists would howl if you demolished the Dundas column.
I was just googling who it even was, since I had no idea. Sadly, I think it would be easier to remove it if the man had zero to do with slavery. Oh well, perhaps Charlotte Square instead? Though probably a bit too curtain twitchy around there.
Ddidn't know about the slavery, was thinking more of his role as imperial satrap, but that's a good point.
No, that's the book festival which is nice and civilised. ... argh, just checked: "For the first time, the markets will be stretching out to various locations across the city including West Princes Street Gardens and George Street between Castle Street and Charlotte Square"
Yeah, I saw on his Wikipedia pages something about "Harry IX" and skipped over it. I certainly didn't mean to start any conversation about independence or slavery. I just think Edinburgh could use a public square that isn't hemmed in with railings or dotted with furniture. Where do you put the big screen when Scotland are playing Argentina in the 2022 world cup final?
I wonder if they are trying some Covid behavioural nudge strategy. All these dire warnings and challenging new data...leading people to queue up for boosters in their hordes (certainly the queue at the vax centre today was something to behold, and we just did our biggest ever booster day yesterday in England) and voluntarily dial down the social interaction. Which from all the anecdotes and cancelled reservations is exactly what is happening. With no financial support for the hospitality industry in what should be one of their peak times of year.
The trouble with this is it assumes we are run by intelligent strategic thinkers. I err towards Leon being right that the temptation to push the lockdown button will prove irresistible, even if there’s still nothing out of South Africa to justify panic. It takes the PM’s corruption off the front pages and is electorally popular. The trade off is backbenchers won’t like it but we’ve seen just how spineless a group they are in general, and the PM has a considerable client vote on the front benches.
Michael Gove has just been speaking in a pool TV interview
He said Covid "is a deeply concerning situation" and today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information"
"We absolutely need to keep everything under review"
Looking at the publicly-available info on Omicron, I think what may be happening here is that, although Omicron in a well-jabbed/previously-infected population is usually mild, a small proportion will be sufficiently severe to require at least a short period of hospitalisation. Given that we can expect a huge number of cases very quickly, we're back to the old 'overwhelming the health service' problem, even though the prognosis for those who do get hospitalised is miles better than waves 1 and 2, and the length of stay much less.
If that's right, we are surely going to get some new restrictions, to 'flatten the curve' of cases and thus buy time to get more boosters into arms.
Not great, but anyone who simply says 'no more restrictions!' or 'no vaxports!' without actually bothering to look at the data is nuts.
"today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information" "
The Rt rate for the number of parties in Whitehall during lockdown has gone up to 2.6?
You're right. It will be a lockdown. Hard lockdown. Just listen to the words they are using. "Very challenging new information". This is like Delta Deja Vu All Over Again Redux 2.0 The Sequel, but Worse, Revisited
The case loads will be so high any idea of tiers or shifting rules for hospitality or tightening usage of masks will look pathetically trivial. The urge to press the big red Emergency Button will be overwhelming. They will press it
Yep. I am feeling very low about what's looming. Just a question of whether they push the button next week or leave until christmas eve or even hold back until 2nd Jan.
I can't face another three months of lockdown.
It's so depressing. My grandmother lives in Wales and we are supposed to be going out for a Xmas dinner in a pub on the 25th. It is also her 100th birthday in Feb. I can see her spending both days alone :-(
There's an interesting demonstration of loyalty going on with Boris. He clearly has some from his cabinet.
May or Major would have been long gone. Sadly Thatcher was too. All in less dire circumstances.
I find that really hard to believe looking at him, and his cabinet. Esp after Sunak nodding along to Blackford at pmqs. The others you mention would have gone of their own accord because they knew the game was up. Anyway Thatcher had fought round 1 of a leadership challenge, May had come 5th in national elections. Those are serious political events, scandals are fluff until hard evidence is to hand.
Boris is presiding over a political catastrophe of unmatched horror. None of the cabinet are publically sabre-rattling. Whatever else might be going on that's a very good demonstartion of loyalty (of course to the party too).
They will be looking for someone else to wield the knife, because they want the crown.
"Loyal until it was time to regretfully tell the PM it was the end....."
Oh god, of course yes. The point was that despite the situation it hasn't happened yet. I know you understood the point in the first place. Come along.
It is not understanding the point that's hard, it is thinking it is a good one. Make it this time next week and there might be something in it, but this is not YET a political catastrophe. Political catastrophes is electoral defeats and forced resignations. There's loyalty, and there's keeping your powder dry.
There's an interesting demonstration of loyalty going on with Boris. He clearly has some from his cabinet.
May or Major would have been long gone. Sadly Thatcher was too. All in less dire circumstances.
I find that really hard to believe looking at him, and his cabinet. Esp after Sunak nodding along to Blackford at pmqs. The others you mention would have gone of their own accord because they knew the game was up. Anyway Thatcher had fought round 1 of a leadership challenge, May had come 5th in national elections. Those are serious political events, scandals are fluff until hard evidence is to hand.
Boris is presiding over a political catastrophe of unmatched horror. None of the cabinet are publically sabre-rattling. Whatever else might be going on that's a very good demonstartion of loyalty (of course to the party too).
They will be looking for someone else to wield the knife, because they want the crown.
"Loyal until it was time to regretfully tell the PM it was the end....."
That's how BJ's alleged role model WSC played the game in 1940. Ditto Macmillan in 1956.
Dynamics were different for Lloyd George on the way in, in 1916, also on the way out, in 1922. Though of course the later was NOT intra-party; and even more of course, Lloyd George was sui generis.
I've always considered it a Christmas classic and my all time favourite Christmas movie (well the remake starring Richard Attenborough).
But according to TSE I'm guessing this is no longer to be classed as a Christmas movie as it was released in May. Or is May OK, but July is off limits?
Impact of the war, film releases dates were out of kilter.
Michael Gove has just been speaking in a pool TV interview
He said Covid "is a deeply concerning situation" and today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information"
"We absolutely need to keep everything under review"
Looking at the publicly-available info on Omicron, I think what may be happening here is that, although Omicron in a well-jabbed/previously-infected population is usually mild, a small proportion will be sufficiently severe to require at least a short period of hospitalisation. Given that we can expect a huge number of cases very quickly, we're back to the old 'overwhelming the health service' problem, even though the prognosis for those who do get hospitalised is miles better than waves 1 and 2, and the length of stay much less.
If that's right, we are surely going to get some new restrictions, to 'flatten the curve' of cases and thus buy time to get more boosters into arms.
Not great, but anyone who simply says 'no more restrictions!' or 'no vaxports!' without actually bothering to look at the data is nuts.
Well, maybe, but if the people being hospitalised with Omicron are not that ill, and don't require intensive treatment with oxygen, etc, then that sounds like the situation the Nightingale hospitals were set up to deal with, and we can fire those up again and send the vast majority of Covid patients there.
It does sound like the Omicron wave might be a lot like the pandemic we were originally expecting.
...and they will be staffed by who?....
Anyone with first-aid training - St John's Ambulance, cabin crew, the army, etc.
The reason this didn't work in the first wave is that the Covid hospitalised required more intensive medical treatment, which couldn't be done with the basic equipment and first-aid trained staff in the Nightingales. It sounds like the treatment needs for Omicron patients will be more suited to what can be provided.
I wonder if they are trying some Covid behavioural nudge strategy. All these dire warnings and challenging new data...leading people to queue up for boosters in their hordes (certainly the queue at the vax centre today was something to behold, and we just did our biggest ever booster day yesterday in England) and voluntarily dial down the social interaction. Which from all the anecdotes and cancelled reservations is exactly what is happening. With no financial support for the hospitality industry in what should be one of their peak times of year.
The trouble with this is it assumes we are run by intelligent strategic thinkers. I err towards Leon being right that the temptation to push the lockdown button will prove irresistible, even if there’s still nothing out of South Africa to justify panic. It takes the PM’s corruption off the front pages and is electorally popular. The trade off is backbenchers won’t like it but we’ve seen just how spineless a group they are in general, and the PM has a considerable client vote on the front benches.
Locking down for Christmas and completely destroying everyone’s Christmas plans is “electorally popular”. Is it? Is it really?
Michael Gove has just been speaking in a pool TV interview
He said Covid "is a deeply concerning situation" and today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information"
"We absolutely need to keep everything under review"
Looking at the publicly-available info on Omicron, I think what may be happening here is that, although Omicron in a well-jabbed/previously-infected population is usually mild, a small proportion will be sufficiently severe to require at least a short period of hospitalisation. Given that we can expect a huge number of cases very quickly, we're back to the old 'overwhelming the health service' problem, even though the prognosis for those who do get hospitalised is miles better than waves 1 and 2, and the length of stay much less.
If that's right, we are surely going to get some new restrictions, to 'flatten the curve' of cases and thus buy time to get more boosters into arms.
Not great, but anyone who simply says 'no more restrictions!' or 'no vaxports!' without actually bothering to look at the data is nuts.
"today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information" "
The Rt rate for the number of parties in Whitehall during lockdown has gone up to 2.6?
You're right. It will be a lockdown. Hard lockdown. Just listen to the words they are using. "Very challenging new information". This is like Delta Deja Vu All Over Again Redux 2.0 The Sequel, but Worse, Revisited
The case loads will be so high any idea of tiers or shifting rules for hospitality or tightening usage of masks will look pathetically trivial. The urge to press the big red Emergency Button will be overwhelming. They will press it
Yep. I am feeling very low about what's looming. Just a question of whether they push the button next week or leave until christmas eve or even hold back until 2nd Jan.
I can't face another three months of lockdown.
It's so depressing. My grandmother lives in Wales and we are supposed to be going out for a Xmas dinner in a pub on the 25th. It is also her 100th birthday in Feb. I can see her spending both days alone :-(
In all seriousness, I worry about suicide rates in a fourth winter lockdown
I know they were expected to rise before, but they did not. And yet, ANOTHER long cold season of nothingness?
Who the fuck wants to do Zoom again? Walk in a freezing park with a thermos of mulled wine? Stare out of the window as their hair grows down their backs? Start a fucking sourdough?
We've done it all. We've done everything. We've been here and JESUS CHRIST NOT AGAIN GOD HELP ME
Christmas party just got cancelled, one hour before it was due to begin.
I wish they'd stop prevaricating and either:
- full lockdown now - full lockdown boxing day
OTOH, Edinburgh is buzzing tonight, so my emergency shadow party should be fun
Are there Christmas markets this year? The ones normally by Waverley I mean.
Yup. I do not like them. Trash the gardens.
Too cold in January to enjoy the gardens anyway. I vote yay to the Christmas markets. But now you've got me thinking, where isn't there a nice open square in Edinburgh they could do this in? Time to pull down the silly column and that cafe thing in St Andrews Square and pedestrianise it. Then we can fill it with stalls in December and not trash the hedges.
They did have a n. o. s. - right there next to the Royal Scottish Academy and the gardens, but they've overflowed it.
The Unionists would howl if you demolished the Dundas column.
I was just googling who it even was, since I had no idea. Sadly, I think it would be easier to remove it if the man had zero to do with slavery. Oh well, perhaps Charlotte Square instead? Though probably a bit too curtain twitchy around there.
Ddidn't know about the slavery, was thinking more of his role as imperial satrap, but that's a good point.
No, that's the book festival which is nice and civilised. ... argh, just checked: "For the first time, the markets will be stretching out to various locations across the city including West Princes Street Gardens and George Street between Castle Street and Charlotte Square"
Yeah, I saw on his Wikipedia pages something about "Harry IX" and skipped over it. I certainly didn't mean to start any conversation about independence or slavery. I just think Edinburgh could use a public square that isn't hemmed in with railings or dotted with furniture. Where do you put the big screen when Scotland are playing Argentina in the 2022 world cup final?
Also getting in the way are inconvenient wooden untidy things called trees. It would have to be one of the inner periperhal parks such as the Meadows (Uni of E area) or Inverleith (Botanic Gdns area) or between Holyrood Palace and Arthur's Seat (where Yes marches often end).
Seriously, though, I would never go to a major [edit][ New Year event such as fireworks in the central area - there have been bad frights. IMpossible (in my view) combination of pishheads, tricky geography (levels/rails/stairs), and the need to maintain some public trhough access or sell off public access.
There's an interesting demonstration of loyalty going on with Boris. He clearly has some from his cabinet.
May or Major would have been long gone. Sadly Thatcher was too. All in less dire circumstances.
I find that really hard to believe looking at him, and his cabinet. Esp after Sunak nodding along to Blackford at pmqs. The others you mention would have gone of their own accord because they knew the game was up. Anyway Thatcher had fought round 1 of a leadership challenge, May had come 5th in national elections. Those are serious political events, scandals are fluff until hard evidence is to hand.
Boris is presiding over a political catastrophe of unmatched horror. None of the cabinet are publically sabre-rattling. Whatever else might be going on that's a very good demonstartion of loyalty (of course to the party too).
They will be looking for someone else to wield the knife, because they want the crown.
"Loyal until it was time to regretfully tell the PM it was the end....."
Oh god, of course yes. The point was that despite the situation it hasn't happened yet. I know you understood the point in the first place. Come along.
It is not understanding the point that's hard, it is thinking it is a good one. Make it this time next week and there might be something in it, but this is not YET a political catastrophe. Political catastrophes is electoral defeats and forced resignations. There's loyalty, and there's keeping your powder dry.
I'll try to make my posts and their point better in future Ishmael!
I suspect you're not seeing this as clearly as you imagine though.
My brother’s triple-jabbed - the third one was Pfizer 3-4 wks ago. He’s just got covid & feels ‘rough’ & is isolating. Had a Xmas meal out with a load of mates last Friday - all of them vaccinated - 17 out of 21 of them have now tested positive.
Michael Gove has just been speaking in a pool TV interview
He said Covid "is a deeply concerning situation" and today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information"
"We absolutely need to keep everything under review"
Looking at the publicly-available info on Omicron, I think what may be happening here is that, although Omicron in a well-jabbed/previously-infected population is usually mild, a small proportion will be sufficiently severe to require at least a short period of hospitalisation. Given that we can expect a huge number of cases very quickly, we're back to the old 'overwhelming the health service' problem, even though the prognosis for those who do get hospitalised is miles better than waves 1 and 2, and the length of stay much less.
If that's right, we are surely going to get some new restrictions, to 'flatten the curve' of cases and thus buy time to get more boosters into arms.
Not great, but anyone who simply says 'no more restrictions!' or 'no vaxports!' without actually bothering to look at the data is nuts.
"today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information" "
The Rt rate for the number of parties in Whitehall during lockdown has gone up to 2.6?
You're right. It will be a lockdown. Hard lockdown. Just listen to the words they are using. "Very challenging new information". This is like Delta Deja Vu All Over Again Redux 2.0 The Sequel, but Worse, Revisited
The case loads will be so high any idea of tiers or shifting rules for hospitality or tightening usage of masks will look pathetically trivial. The urge to press the big red Emergency Button will be overwhelming. They will press it
Yep. I am feeling very low about what's looming. Just a question of whether they push the button next week or leave until christmas eve or even hold back until 2nd Jan.
I can't face another three months of lockdown.
It's so depressing. My grandmother lives in Wales and we are supposed to be going out for a Xmas dinner in a pub on the 25th. It is also her 100th birthday in Feb. I can see her spending both days alone :-(
In all seriousness, I worry about suicide rates in a fourth winter lockdown
I know they were expected to rise before, but they did not. And yet, ANOTHER long cold season of nothingness?
Who the fuck wants to do Zoom again? Walk in a freezing park with a thermos of mulled wine? Stare out of the window as their hair grows down their backs? Start a fucking sourdough?
We've done it all. We've done everything. We've been here and JESUS CHRIST NOT AGAIN GOD HELP ME
I am having another coffee
Indeed, till this summer I haven't seen a single person except for walking once a week to do shopping except for online and have now been separated from my young lady since 14/03/2020 as she went back to see family in australia then. Frankly they can fuck off if they think I am not going to go party over christmas.
Michael Gove has just been speaking in a pool TV interview
He said Covid "is a deeply concerning situation" and today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information"
"We absolutely need to keep everything under review"
Looking at the publicly-available info on Omicron, I think what may be happening here is that, although Omicron in a well-jabbed/previously-infected population is usually mild, a small proportion will be sufficiently severe to require at least a short period of hospitalisation. Given that we can expect a huge number of cases very quickly, we're back to the old 'overwhelming the health service' problem, even though the prognosis for those who do get hospitalised is miles better than waves 1 and 2, and the length of stay much less.
If that's right, we are surely going to get some new restrictions, to 'flatten the curve' of cases and thus buy time to get more boosters into arms.
Not great, but anyone who simply says 'no more restrictions!' or 'no vaxports!' without actually bothering to look at the data is nuts.
"today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information" "
The Rt rate for the number of parties in Whitehall during lockdown has gone up to 2.6?
You're right. It will be a lockdown. Hard lockdown. Just listen to the words they are using. "Very challenging new information". This is like Delta Deja Vu All Over Again Redux 2.0 The Sequel, but Worse, Revisited
The case loads will be so high any idea of tiers or shifting rules for hospitality or tightening usage of masks will look pathetically trivial. The urge to press the big red Emergency Button will be overwhelming. They will press it
Yep. I am feeling very low about what's looming. Just a question of whether they push the button next week or leave until christmas eve or even hold back until 2nd Jan.
I can't face another three months of lockdown.
It's so depressing. My grandmother lives in Wales and we are supposed to be going out for a Xmas dinner in a pub on the 25th. It is also her 100th birthday in Feb. I can see her spending both days alone :-(
In all seriousness, I worry about suicide rates in a fourth winter lockdown
I know they were expected to rise before, but they did not. And yet, ANOTHER long cold season of nothingness?
Who the fuck wants to do Zoom again? Walk in a freezing park with a thermos of mulled wine? Stare out of the window as their hair grows down their backs? Start a fucking sourdough?
We've done it all. We've done everything. We've been here and JESUS CHRIST NOT AGAIN GOD HELP ME
I am having another coffee
You know, my Friends, with what a brave Carouse I made a Second Marriage in my house; Divorced old barren Reason from my Bed, And took the Daughter of the Vine to Spouse.
I have done the lockdowns to date, teetotal. I feel MUCH better about this one.
My brother’s triple-jabbed - the third one was Pfizer 3-4 wks ago. He’s just got covid & feels ‘rough’ & is isolating. Had a Xmas meal out with a load of mates last Friday - all of them vaccinated - 17 out of 21 of them have now tested positive.
Sorry to drip on but if you watch the video from SA its highly unlikely that you will get admitted to hospital for just Covid if you have 2 vaccines, they have no data on 3 vaccines yet.
Yes, it's highly unlikely (probably), but 'highly unlikely' multiplied by a very large number can still be a lot of people, which is why the government may need to try to mitigate the number in order to buy time to get those boosters into arms.
Yes, this has been the problem throughout the whole crisis. The capacity of ICUs and other parts of hospitals to deal with relatively small (but well above normal) numbers of patients coming in and requiring treatment especially around the provision of oxygen.
I think people would be astonished how few critical care beds there are per head of population which is why even in a normal winter the NHS struggles - it's not because the illness is serious but the capacity to handle the statistically small numbers of those requiring treatment just isn't there.
This has been the public health rationale behind the coronavirus response from day 1 - measures being taken to limit the numbers requiring hospital treatment.
I wonder if they are trying some Covid behavioural nudge strategy. All these dire warnings and challenging new data...leading people to queue up for boosters in their hordes (certainly the queue at the vax centre today was something to behold, and we just did our biggest ever booster day yesterday in England) and voluntarily dial down the social interaction. Which from all the anecdotes and cancelled reservations is exactly what is happening. With no financial support for the hospitality industry in what should be one of their peak times of year.
The trouble with this is it assumes we are run by intelligent strategic thinkers. I err towards Leon being right that the temptation to push the lockdown button will prove irresistible, even if there’s still nothing out of South Africa to justify panic. It takes the PM’s corruption off the front pages and is electorally popular. The trade off is backbenchers won’t like it but we’ve seen just how spineless a group they are in general, and the PM has a considerable client vote on the front benches.
Locking down for Christmas and completely destroying everyone’s Christmas plans is “electorally popular”. Is it? Is it really?
Michael Gove has just been speaking in a pool TV interview
He said Covid "is a deeply concerning situation" and today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information"
"We absolutely need to keep everything under review"
Looking at the publicly-available info on Omicron, I think what may be happening here is that, although Omicron in a well-jabbed/previously-infected population is usually mild, a small proportion will be sufficiently severe to require at least a short period of hospitalisation. Given that we can expect a huge number of cases very quickly, we're back to the old 'overwhelming the health service' problem, even though the prognosis for those who do get hospitalised is miles better than waves 1 and 2, and the length of stay much less.
If that's right, we are surely going to get some new restrictions, to 'flatten the curve' of cases and thus buy time to get more boosters into arms.
Not great, but anyone who simply says 'no more restrictions!' or 'no vaxports!' without actually bothering to look at the data is nuts.
"today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information" "
The Rt rate for the number of parties in Whitehall during lockdown has gone up to 2.6?
You're right. It will be a lockdown. Hard lockdown. Just listen to the words they are using. "Very challenging new information". This is like Delta Deja Vu All Over Again Redux 2.0 The Sequel, but Worse, Revisited
The case loads will be so high any idea of tiers or shifting rules for hospitality or tightening usage of masks will look pathetically trivial. The urge to press the big red Emergency Button will be overwhelming. They will press it
Yep. I am feeling very low about what's looming. Just a question of whether they push the button next week or leave until christmas eve or even hold back until 2nd Jan.
I can't face another three months of lockdown.
It's so depressing. My grandmother lives in Wales and we are supposed to be going out for a Xmas dinner in a pub on the 25th. It is also her 100th birthday in Feb. I can see her spending both days alone :-(
In all seriousness, I worry about suicide rates in a fourth winter lockdown
I know they were expected to rise before, but they did not. And yet, ANOTHER long cold season of nothingness?
Who the fuck wants to do Zoom again? Walk in a freezing park with a thermos of mulled wine? Stare out of the window as their hair grows down their backs? Start a fucking sourdough?
We've done it all. We've done everything. We've been here and JESUS CHRIST NOT AGAIN GOD HELP ME
I am having another coffee
My fear from lockdown is no time to myself. I'm a natural introvert and need quiet time sometimes to recharge. With 3 kids if they were not at school again I would find it very hard to ever get a break. Lockdown effects everyone differently.
Knives to be stuck in to Boris after they're absolubtely trollied in North Shropshire perhaps ?
When was the last time a party fell by 7% between one poll and the company's next?
Again HY is proved foolish to try and rely upon polls taken immediately during or after a breaking story.
Still not a 10% Starmer lead then. Though having said that if photos emerge of Boris at one of these parties then he would have to go, likely replaced by Sunak
I think if you are being honest you are coming to terms that Boris is no longer an asset and time for the 55 letters to go in or at the very least for the 1922 to visit him and ask that he considers his position
This is unsustainable
And finally with Rishi in place I would rejoin and we would be in the same place
And my SNP VI disappears, and I will reconsider who I should vote for next GE. It won't be Duguid, but I could switch back to Lib Dem. Inept as Duguid is, I don't feel the burning motivation to vote SNP just to get rid of him if a sensible person is in Downing Street. It would be really nice to have a calm look at the policy platforms of the different parties without a big fucking Boris klaxon going off in my head all the time. I really do think it's best for Britain that he goes, yesterday if possible.
My brother’s triple-jabbed - the third one was Pfizer 3-4 wks ago. He’s just got covid & feels ‘rough’ & is isolating. Had a Xmas meal out with a load of mates last Friday - all of them vaccinated - 17 out of 21 of them have now tested positive.
My brother’s triple-jabbed - the third one was Pfizer 3-4 wks ago. He’s just got covid & feels ‘rough’ & is isolating. Had a Xmas meal out with a load of mates last Friday - all of them vaccinated - 17 out of 21 of them have now tested positive.
Knives to be stuck in to Boris after they're absolubtely trollied in North Shropshire perhaps ?
When was the last time a party fell by 7% between one poll and the company's next?
Again HY is proved foolish to try and rely upon polls taken immediately during or after a breaking story.
Still not a 10% Starmer lead then. Though having said that if photos emerge of Boris at one of these parties then he would have to go, likely replaced by Sunak
I think if you are being honest you are coming to terms that Boris is no longer an asset and time for the 55 letters to go in or at the very least for the 1922 to visit him and ask that he considers his position
This is unsustainable
And finally with Rishi in place I would rejoin and we would be in the same place
And my SNP VI disappears, and I will reconsider who I should vote for next GE. It won't be Duguid, but I could switch back to Lib Dem. Inept as Duguid is, I don't feel the burning motivation to vote SNP just to get rid of him if a sensible person is in Downing Street. It would be really nice to have a calm look at the policy platforms of the different parties without a big fucking Boris klaxon going off in my head all the time. I really do think it's best for Britain that he goes, yesterday if possible.
Absolutely
The problem is that Boris has got rid of most of the sane people who could take over from him. The bonfire of the talent pre-2019GE removed a lot of people who might be quiet, boring, and just do the job - the equivalent of Starmer. Everyone in cabinet is covered with Boris's odure.
I wonder if they are trying some Covid behavioural nudge strategy. All these dire warnings and challenging new data...leading people to queue up for boosters in their hordes (certainly the queue at the vax centre today was something to behold, and we just did our biggest ever booster day yesterday in England) and voluntarily dial down the social interaction. Which from all the anecdotes and cancelled reservations is exactly what is happening. With no financial support for the hospitality industry in what should be one of their peak times of year.
The trouble with this is it assumes we are run by intelligent strategic thinkers. I err towards Leon being right that the temptation to push the lockdown button will prove irresistible, even if there’s still nothing out of South Africa to justify panic. It takes the PM’s corruption off the front pages and is electorally popular. The trade off is backbenchers won’t like it but we’ve seen just how spineless a group they are in general, and the PM has a considerable client vote on the front benches.
Locking down for Christmas and completely destroying everyone’s Christmas plans is “electorally popular”. Is it? Is it really?
Michael Gove has just been speaking in a pool TV interview
He said Covid "is a deeply concerning situation" and today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information"
"We absolutely need to keep everything under review"
Looking at the publicly-available info on Omicron, I think what may be happening here is that, although Omicron in a well-jabbed/previously-infected population is usually mild, a small proportion will be sufficiently severe to require at least a short period of hospitalisation. Given that we can expect a huge number of cases very quickly, we're back to the old 'overwhelming the health service' problem, even though the prognosis for those who do get hospitalised is miles better than waves 1 and 2, and the length of stay much less.
If that's right, we are surely going to get some new restrictions, to 'flatten the curve' of cases and thus buy time to get more boosters into arms.
Not great, but anyone who simply says 'no more restrictions!' or 'no vaxports!' without actually bothering to look at the data is nuts.
Sorry to drip on but if you watch the video from SA its highly unlikely that you will get admitted to hospital for just Covid if you have 2 vaccines, they have no data on 3 vaccines yet.
Yes, of course it's unlikely, because the median age in South Africa is 28!
Are you really so dense you can't understand that simple point?
Michael Gove has just been speaking in a pool TV interview
He said Covid "is a deeply concerning situation" and today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information"
"We absolutely need to keep everything under review"
Looking at the publicly-available info on Omicron, I think what may be happening here is that, although Omicron in a well-jabbed/previously-infected population is usually mild, a small proportion will be sufficiently severe to require at least a short period of hospitalisation. Given that we can expect a huge number of cases very quickly, we're back to the old 'overwhelming the health service' problem, even though the prognosis for those who do get hospitalised is miles better than waves 1 and 2, and the length of stay much less.
If that's right, we are surely going to get some new restrictions, to 'flatten the curve' of cases and thus buy time to get more boosters into arms.
Not great, but anyone who simply says 'no more restrictions!' or 'no vaxports!' without actually bothering to look at the data is nuts.
Sorry to drip on but if you watch the video from SA its highly unlikely that you will get admitted to hospital for just Covid if you have 2 vaccines, they have no data on 3 vaccines yet.
Yes, it's highly unlikely (probably), but 'highly unlikely' multiplied by a very large number can still be a lot of people, which is why the government may need to try to mitigate the number in order to buy time to get those boosters into arms.
SA is 3 weeks ahead of us and although the population is younger they are nowhere near as vaccinated. I would imagine SA will reach peak in 7-10 days as Omicron spreads so fast. Currently just 6% of ICU beds are taken by those with Covid in SA and not all of these are because of Covid. In June 2021 with the Delta wave they ran out of ICU beds because of Covid.
Michael Gove has just been speaking in a pool TV interview
He said Covid "is a deeply concerning situation" and today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information"
"We absolutely need to keep everything under review"
Looking at the publicly-available info on Omicron, I think what may be happening here is that, although Omicron in a well-jabbed/previously-infected population is usually mild, a small proportion will be sufficiently severe to require at least a short period of hospitalisation. Given that we can expect a huge number of cases very quickly, we're back to the old 'overwhelming the health service' problem, even though the prognosis for those who do get hospitalised is miles better than waves 1 and 2, and the length of stay much less.
If that's right, we are surely going to get some new restrictions, to 'flatten the curve' of cases and thus buy time to get more boosters into arms.
Not great, but anyone who simply says 'no more restrictions!' or 'no vaxports!' without actually bothering to look at the data is nuts.
Sorry to drip on but if you watch the video from SA its highly unlikely that you will get admitted to hospital for just Covid if you have 2 vaccines, they have no data on 3 vaccines yet.
It's unlikely you'll need hospital even if you have no vaccines. It's more about spread. An explosion in cases multiplied by a chance of hospital that is small but big enough = the NHS problem we are desperately hoping to avoid.
Michael Gove has just been speaking in a pool TV interview
He said Covid "is a deeply concerning situation" and today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information"
"We absolutely need to keep everything under review"
Looking at the publicly-available info on Omicron, I think what may be happening here is that, although Omicron in a well-jabbed/previously-infected population is usually mild, a small proportion will be sufficiently severe to require at least a short period of hospitalisation. Given that we can expect a huge number of cases very quickly, we're back to the old 'overwhelming the health service' problem, even though the prognosis for those who do get hospitalised is miles better than waves 1 and 2, and the length of stay much less.
If that's right, we are surely going to get some new restrictions, to 'flatten the curve' of cases and thus buy time to get more boosters into arms.
Not great, but anyone who simply says 'no more restrictions!' or 'no vaxports!' without actually bothering to look at the data is nuts.
"today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information" "
The Rt rate for the number of parties in Whitehall during lockdown has gone up to 2.6?
You're right. It will be a lockdown. Hard lockdown. Just listen to the words they are using. "Very challenging new information". This is like Delta Deja Vu All Over Again Redux 2.0 The Sequel, but Worse, Revisited
The case loads will be so high any idea of tiers or shifting rules for hospitality or tightening usage of masks will look pathetically trivial. The urge to press the big red Emergency Button will be overwhelming. They will press it
Yep. I am feeling very low about what's looming. Just a question of whether they push the button next week or leave until christmas eve or even hold back until 2nd Jan.
I can't face another three months of lockdown.
It's so depressing. My grandmother lives in Wales and we are supposed to be going out for a Xmas dinner in a pub on the 25th. It is also her 100th birthday in Feb. I can see her spending both days alone :-(
In all seriousness, I worry about suicide rates in a fourth winter lockdown
I know they were expected to rise before, but they did not. And yet, ANOTHER long cold season of nothingness?
Who the fuck wants to do Zoom again? Walk in a freezing park with a thermos of mulled wine? Stare out of the window as their hair grows down their backs? Start a fucking sourdough?
We've done it all. We've done everything. We've been here and JESUS CHRIST NOT AGAIN GOD HELP ME
I am having another coffee
My fear from lockdown is no time to myself. I'm a natural introvert and need quiet time sometimes to recharge. With 3 kids if they were not at school again I would find it very hard to ever get a break. Lockdown effects everyone differently.
Yes, my older daughter lives with her mum and they drove each other close to terminal hatred during the earlier lockdowns. She said to me the other day "Dad I don't know if I can do it again"
Knives to be stuck in to Boris after they're absolubtely trollied in North Shropshire perhaps ?
When was the last time a party fell by 7% between one poll and the company's next?
Again HY is proved foolish to try and rely upon polls taken immediately during or after a breaking story.
Still not a 10% Starmer lead then. Though having said that if photos emerge of Boris at one of these parties then he would have to go, likely replaced by Sunak
I think if you are being honest you are coming to terms that Boris is no longer an asset and time for the 55 letters to go in or at the very least for the 1922 to visit him and ask that he considers his position
This is unsustainable
And finally with Rishi in place I would rejoin and we would be in the same place
And my SNP VI disappears, and I will reconsider who I should vote for next GE. It won't be Duguid, but I could switch back to Lib Dem. Inept as Duguid is, I don't feel the burning motivation to vote SNP just to get rid of him if a sensible person is in Downing Street. It would be really nice to have a calm look at the policy platforms of the different parties without a big fucking Boris klaxon going off in my head all the time. I really do think it's best for Britain that he goes, yesterday if possible.
Absolutely
The problem is that Boris has got rid of most of the sane people who could take over from him. The bonfire of the talent pre-2019GE removed a lot of people who might be quiet, boring, and just do the job - the equivalent of Starmer. Everyone in cabinet is covered with Boris's odure.
The main ones who have gone were the pro EU conservatives and while I want Boris gone I still support Brexit
If the day after GE19 somebody would have written that two years later, Labour would be nearly 10 points ahead with Starmer as the most popular leader since Blair and BoJo as unpopular as Corbyn, you would have been laughed out of the room.
Not really, Johnson was always a joke that was going to wear thin sooner or later. He just doesn't do long-term relationships.
Michael Gove has just been speaking in a pool TV interview
He said Covid "is a deeply concerning situation" and today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information"
"We absolutely need to keep everything under review"
Looking at the publicly-available info on Omicron, I think what may be happening here is that, although Omicron in a well-jabbed/previously-infected population is usually mild, a small proportion will be sufficiently severe to require at least a short period of hospitalisation. Given that we can expect a huge number of cases very quickly, we're back to the old 'overwhelming the health service' problem, even though the prognosis for those who do get hospitalised is miles better than waves 1 and 2, and the length of stay much less.
If that's right, we are surely going to get some new restrictions, to 'flatten the curve' of cases and thus buy time to get more boosters into arms.
Not great, but anyone who simply says 'no more restrictions!' or 'no vaxports!' without actually bothering to look at the data is nuts.
"today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information" "
The Rt rate for the number of parties in Whitehall during lockdown has gone up to 2.6?
You're right. It will be a lockdown. Hard lockdown. Just listen to the words they are using. "Very challenging new information". This is like Delta Deja Vu All Over Again Redux 2.0 The Sequel, but Worse, Revisited
The case loads will be so high any idea of tiers or shifting rules for hospitality or tightening usage of masks will look pathetically trivial. The urge to press the big red Emergency Button will be overwhelming. They will press it
Yep. I am feeling very low about what's looming. Just a question of whether they push the button next week or leave until christmas eve or even hold back until 2nd Jan.
I can't face another three months of lockdown.
It's so depressing. My grandmother lives in Wales and we are supposed to be going out for a Xmas dinner in a pub on the 25th. It is also her 100th birthday in Feb. I can see her spending both days alone :-(
In all seriousness, I worry about suicide rates in a fourth winter lockdown
I know they were expected to rise before, but they did not. And yet, ANOTHER long cold season of nothingness?
Who the fuck wants to do Zoom again? Walk in a freezing park with a thermos of mulled wine? Stare out of the window as their hair grows down their backs? Start a fucking sourdough?
We've done it all. We've done everything. We've been here and JESUS CHRIST NOT AGAIN GOD HELP ME
I am having another coffee
My fear from lockdown is no time to myself. I'm a natural introvert and need quiet time sometimes to recharge. With 3 kids if they were not at school again I would find it very hard to ever get a break. Lockdown effects everyone differently.
Yes, my older daughter lives with her mum and they drove each other close to terminal hatred during the earlier lockdowns. She said to me the other day "Dad I don't know if I can do it again"
I take it you've immediatedly called in buidlers to slowly reconfigure the spare room?
Michael Gove has just been speaking in a pool TV interview
He said Covid "is a deeply concerning situation" and today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information"
"We absolutely need to keep everything under review"
Looking at the publicly-available info on Omicron, I think what may be happening here is that, although Omicron in a well-jabbed/previously-infected population is usually mild, a small proportion will be sufficiently severe to require at least a short period of hospitalisation. Given that we can expect a huge number of cases very quickly, we're back to the old 'overwhelming the health service' problem, even though the prognosis for those who do get hospitalised is miles better than waves 1 and 2, and the length of stay much less.
If that's right, we are surely going to get some new restrictions, to 'flatten the curve' of cases and thus buy time to get more boosters into arms.
Not great, but anyone who simply says 'no more restrictions!' or 'no vaxports!' without actually bothering to look at the data is nuts.
Sorry to drip on but if you watch the video from SA its highly unlikely that you will get admitted to hospital for just Covid if you have 2 vaccines, they have no data on 3 vaccines yet.
Yes, of course it's unlikely, because the median age in South Africa is 28!
Are you really so dense you can't understand that simple point?
With a fraction of the vax rates! Which you never mention.
You really are needlessly unpleasant to other posters. Why?
Michael Gove has just been speaking in a pool TV interview
He said Covid "is a deeply concerning situation" and today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information"
"We absolutely need to keep everything under review"
Looking at the publicly-available info on Omicron, I think what may be happening here is that, although Omicron in a well-jabbed/previously-infected population is usually mild, a small proportion will be sufficiently severe to require at least a short period of hospitalisation. Given that we can expect a huge number of cases very quickly, we're back to the old 'overwhelming the health service' problem, even though the prognosis for those who do get hospitalised is miles better than waves 1 and 2, and the length of stay much less.
If that's right, we are surely going to get some new restrictions, to 'flatten the curve' of cases and thus buy time to get more boosters into arms.
Not great, but anyone who simply says 'no more restrictions!' or 'no vaxports!' without actually bothering to look at the data is nuts.
Sorry to drip on but if you watch the video from SA its highly unlikely that you will get admitted to hospital for just Covid if you have 2 vaccines, they have no data on 3 vaccines yet.
Yes, of course it's unlikely, because the median age in South Africa is 28!
Are you really so dense you can't understand that simple point?
"The 27-year-old chief nephrology technologist says he has been swamped with calls from patients desperate for oxygen and who cannot find it elsewhere. But with supply being limited, he is forced to prioritise."
Did he let people die due to lack of oxygen in SA beacuse everyone is so young there?
"The channel made a commercial with the crash of Max Verstappen at Silverstone, followed by the text: Merry Christmas."
""We are extremely disappointed that images are used of a crash, in which someone ended up in hospital," a Red Bull spokesperson said to De Telegraaf. “This is in very bad taste. We hope it will be removed soon.” Sky Sports has now informed Red Bull that the video will be taken offline.""
In FP1 or FP2 Whinger Spice was having a go at Karun Chandhok for getting rid of the corners Mercedes didn't like with his role in reconfiguring the track.
Drakeford has just said that if further lockdowns are required then it is only the UK government and Rishi Sunak who can provide business support. ITV Wales asked for a Welsh government spokesperson to come on the programme but they declined
So much for independence and the coalition with Plaid
Knives to be stuck in to Boris after they're absolubtely trollied in North Shropshire perhaps ?
When was the last time a party fell by 7% between one poll and the company's next?
Again HY is proved foolish to try and rely upon polls taken immediately during or after a breaking story.
Still not a 10% Starmer lead then. Though having said that if photos emerge of Boris at one of these parties then he would have to go, likely replaced by Sunak
I think if you are being honest you are coming to terms that Boris is no longer an asset and time for the 55 letters to go in or at the very least for the 1922 to visit him and ask that he considers his position
This is unsustainable
And finally with Rishi in place I would rejoin and we would be in the same place
And my SNP VI disappears, and I will reconsider who I should vote for next GE. It won't be Duguid, but I could switch back to Lib Dem. Inept as Duguid is, I don't feel the burning motivation to vote SNP just to get rid of him if a sensible person is in Downing Street. It would be really nice to have a calm look at the policy platforms of the different parties without a big fucking Boris klaxon going off in my head all the time. I really do think it's best for Britain that he goes, yesterday if possible.
Absolutely
The problem is that Boris has got rid of most of the sane people who could take over from him. The bonfire of the talent pre-2019GE removed a lot of people who might be quiet, boring, and just do the job - the equivalent of Starmer. Everyone in cabinet is covered with Boris's odure.
The main ones who have gone were the pro EU conservatives and while I want Boris gone I still support Brexit
'Pro EU'
Yes, it's odd how they turned out to be the competent ones... (runs for cover)
But I'm unsure what you said was correct anyway. There were plenty who were willing to see May's deal go through - to accept Brexit - but who were stymied only by Boris's ambition. For instance: do you deny Rory Stewart would have been head and shoulders above Boris in this crisis?
They are going to need to get cracking on reformulating covid vaccines. AZN is basically useless against stopping it with 2 doses, which is what I presume the developing world are giving out.
Mainly Chinese vaccines in the developing world, which were of limited effectiveness against previous variants. No idea how much effectiveness they would add to a boostered dose, bearing in mind two doses of any vaccine isn't enough on its own.
Michael Gove has just been speaking in a pool TV interview
He said Covid "is a deeply concerning situation" and today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information"
"We absolutely need to keep everything under review"
Looking at the publicly-available info on Omicron, I think what may be happening here is that, although Omicron in a well-jabbed/previously-infected population is usually mild, a small proportion will be sufficiently severe to require at least a short period of hospitalisation. Given that we can expect a huge number of cases very quickly, we're back to the old 'overwhelming the health service' problem, even though the prognosis for those who do get hospitalised is miles better than waves 1 and 2, and the length of stay much less.
If that's right, we are surely going to get some new restrictions, to 'flatten the curve' of cases and thus buy time to get more boosters into arms.
Not great, but anyone who simply says 'no more restrictions!' or 'no vaxports!' without actually bothering to look at the data is nuts.
"today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information" "
The Rt rate for the number of parties in Whitehall during lockdown has gone up to 2.6?
You're right. It will be a lockdown. Hard lockdown. Just listen to the words they are using. "Very challenging new information". This is like Delta Deja Vu All Over Again Redux 2.0 The Sequel, but Worse, Revisited
The case loads will be so high any idea of tiers or shifting rules for hospitality or tightening usage of masks will look pathetically trivial. The urge to press the big red Emergency Button will be overwhelming. They will press it
Yep. I am feeling very low about what's looming. Just a question of whether they push the button next week or leave until christmas eve or even hold back until 2nd Jan.
I can't face another three months of lockdown.
It's so depressing. My grandmother lives in Wales and we are supposed to be going out for a Xmas dinner in a pub on the 25th. It is also her 100th birthday in Feb. I can see her spending both days alone :-(
In all seriousness, I worry about suicide rates in a fourth winter lockdown
I know they were expected to rise before, but they did not. And yet, ANOTHER long cold season of nothingness?
Who the fuck wants to do Zoom again? Walk in a freezing park with a thermos of mulled wine? Stare out of the window as their hair grows down their backs? Start a fucking sourdough?
We've done it all. We've done everything. We've been here and JESUS CHRIST NOT AGAIN GOD HELP ME
I am having another coffee
My fear from lockdown is no time to myself. I'm a natural introvert and need quiet time sometimes to recharge. With 3 kids if they were not at school again I would find it very hard to ever get a break. Lockdown effects everyone differently.
Yes, my older daughter lives with her mum and they drove each other close to terminal hatred during the earlier lockdowns. She said to me the other day "Dad I don't know if I can do it again"
I take it you've immediatedly called in buidlers to slowly reconfigure the spare room?
I've offered to take her somewhere else, but of course she's also reluctant to do that, loves her Mum, loves her dog, her schoolfriends....
Michael Gove has just been speaking in a pool TV interview
He said Covid "is a deeply concerning situation" and today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information"
"We absolutely need to keep everything under review"
Looking at the publicly-available info on Omicron, I think what may be happening here is that, although Omicron in a well-jabbed/previously-infected population is usually mild, a small proportion will be sufficiently severe to require at least a short period of hospitalisation. Given that we can expect a huge number of cases very quickly, we're back to the old 'overwhelming the health service' problem, even though the prognosis for those who do get hospitalised is miles better than waves 1 and 2, and the length of stay much less.
If that's right, we are surely going to get some new restrictions, to 'flatten the curve' of cases and thus buy time to get more boosters into arms.
Not great, but anyone who simply says 'no more restrictions!' or 'no vaxports!' without actually bothering to look at the data is nuts.
"today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information" "
The Rt rate for the number of parties in Whitehall during lockdown has gone up to 2.6?
You're right. It will be a lockdown. Hard lockdown. Just listen to the words they are using. "Very challenging new information". This is like Delta Deja Vu All Over Again Redux 2.0 The Sequel, but Worse, Revisited
The case loads will be so high any idea of tiers or shifting rules for hospitality or tightening usage of masks will look pathetically trivial. The urge to press the big red Emergency Button will be overwhelming. They will press it
Yep. I am feeling very low about what's looming. Just a question of whether they push the button next week or leave until christmas eve or even hold back until 2nd Jan.
I can't face another three months of lockdown.
It's so depressing. My grandmother lives in Wales and we are supposed to be going out for a Xmas dinner in a pub on the 25th. It is also her 100th birthday in Feb. I can see her spending both days alone :-(
In all seriousness, I worry about suicide rates in a fourth winter lockdown
I know they were expected to rise before, but they did not. And yet, ANOTHER long cold season of nothingness?
Who the fuck wants to do Zoom again? Walk in a freezing park with a thermos of mulled wine? Stare out of the window as their hair grows down their backs? Start a fucking sourdough?
We've done it all. We've done everything. We've been here and JESUS CHRIST NOT AGAIN GOD HELP ME
I am having another coffee
My fear from lockdown is no time to myself. I'm a natural introvert and need quiet time sometimes to recharge. With 3 kids if they were not at school again I would find it very hard to ever get a break. Lockdown effects everyone differently.
Yes, my older daughter lives with her mum and they drove each other close to terminal hatred during the earlier lockdowns. She said to me the other day "Dad I don't know if I can do it again"
January has always been a crap month. I used to be able to fill it with a couple of weekends away just to break the monotony of the cold weather and dark nights. I must admit the prospect of nothing to look forward to for a second year except weekend walks around the same old streets fills me with dread.
Michael Gove has just been speaking in a pool TV interview
He said Covid "is a deeply concerning situation" and today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information"
"We absolutely need to keep everything under review"
Looking at the publicly-available info on Omicron, I think what may be happening here is that, although Omicron in a well-jabbed/previously-infected population is usually mild, a small proportion will be sufficiently severe to require at least a short period of hospitalisation. Given that we can expect a huge number of cases very quickly, we're back to the old 'overwhelming the health service' problem, even though the prognosis for those who do get hospitalised is miles better than waves 1 and 2, and the length of stay much less.
If that's right, we are surely going to get some new restrictions, to 'flatten the curve' of cases and thus buy time to get more boosters into arms.
Not great, but anyone who simply says 'no more restrictions!' or 'no vaxports!' without actually bothering to look at the data is nuts.
Sorry to drip on but if you watch the video from SA its highly unlikely that you will get admitted to hospital for just Covid if you have 2 vaccines, they have no data on 3 vaccines yet.
Yes, of course it's unlikely, because the median age in South Africa is 28!
Are you really so dense you can't understand that simple point?
"The 27-year-old chief nephrology technologist says he has been swamped with calls from patients desperate for oxygen and who cannot find it elsewhere. But with supply being limited, he is forced to prioritise."
Did he let people die due to lack of oxygen in SA beacuse everyone is so young there?
SA has advantages. Young population a lot of natural immunity. And disadvantages. Low vaccine uptake and a substantial proportion of the population with HIV.
The natural conclusion of this, if the hawks are right, is that almost everyone in the entire country will be self isolating by New Year’s Day, whether they are poorly or not. The exceptions with be those in single person households who never go out and never meet anyone, although how they then eat remains a mystery.
However, this apocalyptic projection strikes me as unlikely.
I guess we’ll see. Lots of hysteria to wade through before then, no doubt.
Michael Gove has just been speaking in a pool TV interview
He said Covid "is a deeply concerning situation" and today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information"
"We absolutely need to keep everything under review"
Looking at the publicly-available info on Omicron, I think what may be happening here is that, although Omicron in a well-jabbed/previously-infected population is usually mild, a small proportion will be sufficiently severe to require at least a short period of hospitalisation. Given that we can expect a huge number of cases very quickly, we're back to the old 'overwhelming the health service' problem, even though the prognosis for those who do get hospitalised is miles better than waves 1 and 2, and the length of stay much less.
If that's right, we are surely going to get some new restrictions, to 'flatten the curve' of cases and thus buy time to get more boosters into arms.
Not great, but anyone who simply says 'no more restrictions!' or 'no vaxports!' without actually bothering to look at the data is nuts.
Sorry to drip on but if you watch the video from SA its highly unlikely that you will get admitted to hospital for just Covid if you have 2 vaccines, they have no data on 3 vaccines yet.
Yes, of course it's unlikely, because the median age in South Africa is 28!
Are you really so dense you can't understand that simple point?
"The 27-year-old chief nephrology technologist says he has been swamped with calls from patients desperate for oxygen and who cannot find it elsewhere. But with supply being limited, he is forced to prioritise."
Did he let people die due to lack of oxygen in SA beacuse everyone is so young there?
SA has advantages. Young population a lot of natural immunity. And disadvantages. Low vaccine uptake and a substantial proportion of the population with HIV.
Indeed, but that does not explain the completely different impacts between Delta and Omicron there.
Knives to be stuck in to Boris after they're absolubtely trollied in North Shropshire perhaps ?
When was the last time a party fell by 7% between one poll and the company's next?
Again HY is proved foolish to try and rely upon polls taken immediately during or after a breaking story.
Still not a 10% Starmer lead then. Though having said that if photos emerge of Boris at one of these parties then he would have to go, likely replaced by Sunak
I think if you are being honest you are coming to terms that Boris is no longer an asset and time for the 55 letters to go in or at the very least for the 1922 to visit him and ask that he considers his position
This is unsustainable
And finally with Rishi in place I would rejoin and we would be in the same place
And my SNP VI disappears, and I will reconsider who I should vote for next GE. It won't be Duguid, but I could switch back to Lib Dem. Inept as Duguid is, I don't feel the burning motivation to vote SNP just to get rid of him if a sensible person is in Downing Street. It would be really nice to have a calm look at the policy platforms of the different parties without a big fucking Boris klaxon going off in my head all the time. I really do think it's best for Britain that he goes, yesterday if possible.
Absolutely
The problem is that Boris has got rid of most of the sane people who could take over from him. The bonfire of the talent pre-2019GE removed a lot of people who might be quiet, boring, and just do the job - the equivalent of Starmer. Everyone in cabinet is covered with Boris's odure.
The main ones who have gone were the pro EU conservatives and while I want Boris gone I still support Brexit
'Pro EU'
Yes, it's odd how they turned out to be the competent ones... (runs for cover)
But I'm unsure what you said was correct anyway. There were plenty who were willing to see May's deal go through - to accept Brexit - but who were stymied only by Boris's ambition. For instance: do you deny Rory Stewart would have been head and shoulders above Boris in this crisis?
I think we know politicians from all sides really made a complete mess of May's deal
They are going to need to get cracking on reformulating covid vaccines. AZN is basically useless against stopping it with 2 doses, which is what I presume the developing world are giving out.
Mainly Chinese vaccines in the developing world, which were of limited effectiveness against previous variants. No idea how much effectiveness they would add to a boostered dose, bearing in mind two doses of any vaccine isn't enough on its own.
This has also occurred to me. AZ has been the vaccine workhorse of the world (and has done a sterling job - until now). We really need to hope it offers SOME protection against serious Omicron or suddenly billions of people are completely exposed, as if there was no vaccine at all
Michael Gove has just been speaking in a pool TV interview
He said Covid "is a deeply concerning situation" and today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information"
"We absolutely need to keep everything under review"
Looking at the publicly-available info on Omicron, I think what may be happening here is that, although Omicron in a well-jabbed/previously-infected population is usually mild, a small proportion will be sufficiently severe to require at least a short period of hospitalisation. Given that we can expect a huge number of cases very quickly, we're back to the old 'overwhelming the health service' problem, even though the prognosis for those who do get hospitalised is miles better than waves 1 and 2, and the length of stay much less.
If that's right, we are surely going to get some new restrictions, to 'flatten the curve' of cases and thus buy time to get more boosters into arms.
Not great, but anyone who simply says 'no more restrictions!' or 'no vaxports!' without actually bothering to look at the data is nuts.
Sorry to drip on but if you watch the video from SA its highly unlikely that you will get admitted to hospital for just Covid if you have 2 vaccines, they have no data on 3 vaccines yet.
Yes, of course it's unlikely, because the median age in South Africa is 28!
Are you really so dense you can't understand that simple point?
"The 27-year-old chief nephrology technologist says he has been swamped with calls from patients desperate for oxygen and who cannot find it elsewhere. But with supply being limited, he is forced to prioritise."
Did he let people die due to lack of oxygen in SA beacuse everyone is so young there?
SA has advantages. Young population a lot of natural immunity. And disadvantages. Low vaccine uptake and a substantial proportion of the population with HIV.
Indeed, but that does not explain the completely different impacts between Delta and Omicron there.
Indeed. People seem to be struggling to grasp this: we are comparing South Africa with … South Africa. Not some faraway land that is entirely demographically different to South Africa!
Michael Gove has just been speaking in a pool TV interview
He said Covid "is a deeply concerning situation" and today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information"
"We absolutely need to keep everything under review"
Looking at the publicly-available info on Omicron, I think what may be happening here is that, although Omicron in a well-jabbed/previously-infected population is usually mild, a small proportion will be sufficiently severe to require at least a short period of hospitalisation. Given that we can expect a huge number of cases very quickly, we're back to the old 'overwhelming the health service' problem, even though the prognosis for those who do get hospitalised is miles better than waves 1 and 2, and the length of stay much less.
If that's right, we are surely going to get some new restrictions, to 'flatten the curve' of cases and thus buy time to get more boosters into arms.
Not great, but anyone who simply says 'no more restrictions!' or 'no vaxports!' without actually bothering to look at the data is nuts.
"today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information" "
The Rt rate for the number of parties in Whitehall during lockdown has gone up to 2.6?
You're right. It will be a lockdown. Hard lockdown. Just listen to the words they are using. "Very challenging new information". This is like Delta Deja Vu All Over Again Redux 2.0 The Sequel, but Worse, Revisited
The case loads will be so high any idea of tiers or shifting rules for hospitality or tightening usage of masks will look pathetically trivial. The urge to press the big red Emergency Button will be overwhelming. They will press it
Yep. I am feeling very low about what's looming. Just a question of whether they push the button next week or leave until christmas eve or even hold back until 2nd Jan.
I can't face another three months of lockdown.
It's so depressing. My grandmother lives in Wales and we are supposed to be going out for a Xmas dinner in a pub on the 25th. It is also her 100th birthday in Feb. I can see her spending both days alone :-(
In all seriousness, I worry about suicide rates in a fourth winter lockdown
I know they were expected to rise before, but they did not. And yet, ANOTHER long cold season of nothingness?
Who the fuck wants to do Zoom again? Walk in a freezing park with a thermos of mulled wine? Stare out of the window as their hair grows down their backs? Start a fucking sourdough?
We've done it all. We've done everything. We've been here and JESUS CHRIST NOT AGAIN GOD HELP ME
I am having another coffee
My fear from lockdown is no time to myself. I'm a natural introvert and need quiet time sometimes to recharge. With 3 kids if they were not at school again I would find it very hard to ever get a break. Lockdown effects everyone differently.
Yes, my older daughter lives with her mum and they drove each other close to terminal hatred during the earlier lockdowns. She said to me the other day "Dad I don't know if I can do it again"
I take it you've immediatedly called in buidlers to slowly reconfigure the spare room?
I've offered to take her somewhere else, but of course she's also reluctant to do that, loves her Mum, loves her dog, her schoolfriends....
What a horrible trial this is
Agreed.
I'm not sure though as to what extent life is just like this. I've just been stressed out by moving house - now it's mostly over what do I do with life!? (This for once is a rhetorical question)
Michael Gove has just been speaking in a pool TV interview
He said Covid "is a deeply concerning situation" and today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information"
"We absolutely need to keep everything under review"
Looking at the publicly-available info on Omicron, I think what may be happening here is that, although Omicron in a well-jabbed/previously-infected population is usually mild, a small proportion will be sufficiently severe to require at least a short period of hospitalisation. Given that we can expect a huge number of cases very quickly, we're back to the old 'overwhelming the health service' problem, even though the prognosis for those who do get hospitalised is miles better than waves 1 and 2, and the length of stay much less.
If that's right, we are surely going to get some new restrictions, to 'flatten the curve' of cases and thus buy time to get more boosters into arms.
Not great, but anyone who simply says 'no more restrictions!' or 'no vaxports!' without actually bothering to look at the data is nuts.
Sorry to drip on but if you watch the video from SA its highly unlikely that you will get admitted to hospital for just Covid if you have 2 vaccines, they have no data on 3 vaccines yet.
Yes, of course it's unlikely, because the median age in South Africa is 28!
Are you really so dense you can't understand that simple point?
"The 27-year-old chief nephrology technologist says he has been swamped with calls from patients desperate for oxygen and who cannot find it elsewhere. But with supply being limited, he is forced to prioritise."
Did he let people die due to lack of oxygen in SA beacuse everyone is so young there?
SA has advantages. Young population a lot of natural immunity. And disadvantages. Low vaccine uptake and a substantial proportion of the population with HIV.
The other advantage is that it is midsummer there, midwinter here, and clearly covid is much easier to catch indoors.
I'd have been more impressed if Robinson had mouthed it to Raab.
The only personal positive from mask wearing for me is that I'm been secretly mouthing 'dickhead' or 'wanker' at other people for the last 18 months and not getting into trouble.
Michael Gove has just been speaking in a pool TV interview
He said Covid "is a deeply concerning situation" and today's Cobra meeting "was presented with some very challenging new information"
"We absolutely need to keep everything under review"
Looking at the publicly-available info on Omicron, I think what may be happening here is that, although Omicron in a well-jabbed/previously-infected population is usually mild, a small proportion will be sufficiently severe to require at least a short period of hospitalisation. Given that we can expect a huge number of cases very quickly, we're back to the old 'overwhelming the health service' problem, even though the prognosis for those who do get hospitalised is miles better than waves 1 and 2, and the length of stay much less.
If that's right, we are surely going to get some new restrictions, to 'flatten the curve' of cases and thus buy time to get more boosters into arms.
Not great, but anyone who simply says 'no more restrictions!' or 'no vaxports!' without actually bothering to look at the data is nuts.
Sorry to drip on but if you watch the video from SA its highly unlikely that you will get admitted to hospital for just Covid if you have 2 vaccines, they have no data on 3 vaccines yet.
Yes, of course it's unlikely, because the median age in South Africa is 28!
Are you really so dense you can't understand that simple point?
"The 27-year-old chief nephrology technologist says he has been swamped with calls from patients desperate for oxygen and who cannot find it elsewhere. But with supply being limited, he is forced to prioritise."
Did he let people die due to lack of oxygen in SA beacuse everyone is so young there?
SA has advantages. Young population a lot of natural immunity. And disadvantages. Low vaccine uptake and a substantial proportion of the population with HIV.
The other advantage is that it is midsummer there, midwinter here, and clearly covid is much easier to catch indoors.
It seems to be spreading in SA anyway. No-one disputes we're going to get a lot of it, it's how many eople it puts in hospital
They are going to need to get cracking on reformulating covid vaccines. AZN is basically useless against stopping it with 2 doses, which is what I presume the developing world are giving out.
Mainly Chinese vaccines in the developing world, which were of limited effectiveness against previous variants. No idea how much effectiveness they would add to a boostered dose, bearing in mind two doses of any vaccine isn't enough on its own.
This has also occurred to me. AZ has been the vaccine workhorse of the world (and has done a sterling job - until now). We really need to hope it offers SOME protection against serious Omicron or suddenly billions of people are completely exposed, as if there was no vaccine at all
Nightmare
The evidence is 2 jabs still protect against hospitalisation and severe Covid, even if boosters are needed to protect against symptomatic Covid
I'd have been more impressed if Robinson had mouthed it to Raab.
The only personal positive from mask wearing for me is that I'm been secretly mouthing 'dickhead' or 'wanker' at other people for the last 18 months and not getting into trouble.
A mask keeps my face nice and warm on the walk to and from school. Then again, a balaclava also used to have the same effect...
Comments
The Unionists would howl if you demolished the Dundas column.
The Rt rate for the number of parties in Whitehall during lockdown has gone up to 2.6?
Not completely ineffectual - he has got some things done - but I'm not a French citizen or taxpayer so it's the image on the world stage that matters and on that he's been tiresome.
But French presidents have always taken on certain airs and graces. One of my earliest political experiences was seeing President Mitterrand waft past on the Champs Elysees in his presidential car on Bastille day while the MIrage jets flew past overhead. He exuded a quiet, monarchical power.
Does BoJo have anyone good advising him?
All sorts of government agencies, and key infrastructure companies (think, National Grid, etc) will have done pandemic-preparedness exercises where they rehearsed how they would cope with staff being ill at high rates while keeping the key systems ticking over.
The case loads will be so high any idea of tiers or shifting rules for hospitality or tightening usage of masks will look pathetically trivial. The urge to press the big red Emergency Button will be overwhelming. They will press it
This chap ...
These days I'm a bit of shambles, but if I was going to work in number 10 every day I'd not be looking like a mobile turnip.
Elmo & Patsy - Grandma Got Run over by a Reindeer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgIwLeASnkw
GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER
Randy Brooks
Grandma got run over by a reindeer
Walking home from our house Christmas Eve
You can say there's no such thing as Santa
But as for me and Grandpa, we believe
She'd been drinking too much eggnog
And we'd begged her not to go
But she forgot her medication
And she staggered out the door into the snow
When we found her Christmas morning
At the scene of the attack
She had hoof prints on her forehead
And incriminating hoof marks on her back
Now we're all so proud of Grandpa
He's been taking this so well
See him in there watching football
Drinking beer and playing cards with cousin Belle
It's not Christmas without Grandma
All the family's dressed in black
And we just can't help but wonder
Should we open up her gifts or send them back?
Now the goose is on the table
And the pudding made of fig
And a blue and silver candle
That would have just matched the hair in grandma's wig
I've warned all my friends and neighbors
Better watch out for yourselves
They should never give a license
To a man who drives a sleigh and plays with elves
Grandma got run over by a reindeer
Walking home from our house Christmas Eve
You can say there's no such thing as Santa
But as for me and Grandpa, we believe
In a few days' time, half of those who have had a second dose will have had a booster. That should cover the vast majority of those with high risk of hospitalisation.
I really hope the government holds its nerve.
It does sound like the Omicron wave might be a lot like the pandemic we were originally expecting.
"Loyal until it was time to regretfully tell the PM it was the end....."
No, that's the book festival which is nice and civilised. ... argh, just checked: "For the first time, the markets will be stretching out to various locations across the city including West Princes Street Gardens and George Street between Castle Street and Charlotte Square"
https://www.visitscotland.com/see-do/events/christmas-winter-festivals/edinburgh/
As a companion for their slightly older child - Covid!
Covid McGillicuddy and Omicron O'Rourke (or even Covid Jones and Omicron Smith) are STRONG monikers.
I can't face another three months of lockdown.
I certainly didn't mean to start any conversation about independence or slavery. I just think Edinburgh could use a public square that isn't hemmed in with railings or dotted with furniture. Where do you put the big screen when Scotland are playing Argentina in the 2022 world cup final?
Dynamics were different for Lloyd George on the way in, in 1916, also on the way out, in 1922. Though of course the later was NOT intra-party; and even more of course, Lloyd George was sui generis.
The reason this didn't work in the first wave is that the Covid hospitalised required more intensive medical treatment, which couldn't be done with the basic equipment and first-aid trained staff in the Nightingales. It sounds like the treatment needs for Omicron patients will be more suited to what can be provided.
I know they were expected to rise before, but they did not. And yet, ANOTHER long cold season of nothingness?
Who the fuck wants to do Zoom again? Walk in a freezing park with a thermos of mulled wine? Stare out of the window as their hair grows down their backs? Start a fucking sourdough?
We've done it all. We've done everything. We've been here and JESUS CHRIST NOT AGAIN GOD HELP ME
I am having another coffee
Seriously, though, I would never go to a major [edit][ New Year event such as fireworks in the central area - there have been bad frights. IMpossible (in my view) combination of pishheads, tricky geography (levels/rails/stairs), and the need to maintain some public trhough access or sell off public access.
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12354687.numbers-cut-for-hogmanay-party/
https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/edinburgh-new-year-party-goers-caught-crush-1516670
I suspect you're not seeing this as clearly as you imagine though.
My brother’s triple-jabbed - the third one was Pfizer 3-4 wks ago. He’s just got covid & feels ‘rough’ & is isolating. Had a Xmas meal out with a load of mates last Friday - all of them vaccinated - 17 out of 21 of them have now tested positive.
https://twitter.com/vicderbyshire/status/1469354766560026624?t=Y6lQ63tQPmlWWFJYoHvW2g&s=19
I made a Second Marriage in my house;
Divorced old barren Reason from my Bed,
And took the Daughter of the Vine to Spouse.
I have done the lockdowns to date, teetotal. I feel MUCH better about this one.
I think people would be astonished how few critical care beds there are per head of population which is why even in a normal winter the NHS struggles - it's not because the illness is serious but the capacity to handle the statistically small numbers of those requiring treatment just isn't there.
This has been the public health rationale behind the coronavirus response from day 1 - measures being taken to limit the numbers requiring hospital treatment.
Even if they don't lock us down no one will go out anyway with that kind of shit happening
Are you really so dense you can't understand that simple point?
https://globalnews.ca/video/8436557/covid-19-infections-surge-255-in-south-africa-in-a-week-but-only-6-icu-beds-occupied
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/6/29/south-africas-third-wave-set-to-be-the-worst-yet
Omicron is nothing like Delta
You really are needlessly unpleasant to other posters. Why?
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/6/29/south-africas-third-wave-set-to-be-the-worst-yet
A quote from this article:
"The 27-year-old chief nephrology technologist says he has been swamped with calls from patients desperate for oxygen and who cannot find it elsewhere. But with supply being limited, he is forced to prioritise."
Did he let people die due to lack of oxygen in SA beacuse everyone is so young there?
Red Bull are unhappy with one of Sky's idents - the one of Max crashing into the wall at Silverstone.
https://www.telegraaf.nl/sport/1204868318/red-bull-extreem-teleurgesteld-in-televisiespotje-engelse-zender-met-crashende-max-verstappen
"The channel made a commercial with the crash of Max Verstappen at Silverstone, followed by the text: Merry Christmas."
""We are extremely disappointed that images are used of a crash, in which someone ended up in hospital," a Red Bull spokesperson said to De Telegraaf. “This is in very bad taste. We hope it will be removed soon.” Sky Sports has now informed Red Bull that the video will be taken offline.""
In FP1 or FP2 Whinger Spice was having a go at Karun Chandhok for getting rid of the corners Mercedes didn't like with his role in reconfiguring the track.
So much for independence and the coalition with Plaid
Yes, it's odd how they turned out to be the competent ones...
But I'm unsure what you said was correct anyway. There were plenty who were willing to see May's deal go through - to accept Brexit - but who were stymied only by Boris's ambition. For instance: do you deny Rory Stewart would have been head and shoulders above Boris in this crisis?
What a horrible trial this is
https://twitter.com/thehistoryguy/status/1469205203320811522
However, this apocalyptic projection strikes me as unlikely.
I guess we’ll see. Lots of hysteria to wade through before then, no doubt.
Cracking tale from @paulwaugh tonight...
Dominic Raab mouthed "wanker" to Nick Robinson during a testy interview on Tuesday on Today programme.
Spokesman for the Deputy PM is no commenting and declined the opportunity to deny it to me just now...
https://twitter.com/MrHarryCole/status/1469368916036177925
And I am not a great admirer of Rory
Nightmare
I'm not sure though as to what extent life is just like this. I've just been stressed out by moving house - now it's mostly over what do I do with life!? (This for once is a rhetorical question)
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/harold-wilson-punched-me-on-my-first-day-at-the-bbc-30477561.html
How's it going. Has anyone bought a 41 year old car yet to avoid it?
I see that Black Cabs are exempt. That was perhaps a good value investment in the Mayor's Election Campaign - first Uber and now this. /cynic.