Current Affairs Coronavirus Thread - Serious stuff !!!

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LouReedwalkonthewildside said:
Lockdown lifting measures next week will be ‘very limited’, No 10 clarifies

Downing Street has said that any relaxation to social distancing measures next week will be “very limited”, as Boris Johnson told Cabinet: “We will advance with maximum caution.”

The assurance came as Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon warned that any dilution of the “stay home” message could be “catastrophic”, and the Welsh government warned against sending “mixed messages” to the public.

There were warnings today that suggestions apparently briefed to friendly newspapers that Mr Johnson is set to give the all-clear for sunbathing, picnics and unlimited exercise risked sending “mixed messages” to the public ahead of what is expected to be a sunny Bank Holiday Friday.

No 10 issued a plea to Britons to stick by existing social distancing rules over the weekend, which require them to leave their homes for only a few limited reasons and to maintain two metre separation when outside.

Briefing cabinet on his plans, Mr Johnson said: “In considering whether there could be any easement of the existing guidelines, we are not going to do anything that risks a second peak.

“We will advance with maximum caution in order to protect the NHS and save lives.

“We will be guided at every step by science and data and we will closely track the impact of any easing of social distancing measure and will not hesitate to tighten the rules if required.”

Mr Johnson’s official spokesman told reporters to expect any relaxation of guidelines next week to be “very limited”, but declined to confirm or deny any details of the proposed changes.

“We are at a critical moment in the fight against the virus and we will not do anything which risks throwing away the efforts and sacrifices of the British people,” he said.

Following a meeting of the Welsh cabinet, a spokesman for Mark Drakeford’s Welsh government warned of the danger that public discussion of possible easing of restrictions risked undermining the “stay home” message and indicated that Cardiff may take a different approach from London.

And Ms Sturgeon said: “I particularly strongly believe for us to drop the clear, well-understood stay at home message right now could be a potentially catastrophic mistake."Downing Street has already started replacing the “stay home” instruction with the words “stay safe” in messages issued on its Twitter feed.

A Welsh government spokesman said: “Some of the reporting in today’s newspapers is confusing and risks sending mixed messages to people across the UK.

“The first minister of Wales will announce the outcome of the cabinet's decision in due course. Our message for this bank holiday remains, stay home, protect the NHS, save lives."

Mr Johnson discussed his plans with the leaders of opposition parties at Westminster following this morning’s cabinet meeting and is expected to speak later with leaders of the devolved administrations.

Speaking at her daily coronavirus briefing, Ms Sturgeon said: “The potential changes that have been reported in the media today have not yet been discussed with the Scottish government or, as far as I know, with the other devolved governments."

The Scottish first minister said she would prefer all four of the nations of the UK to make changes “together at the same pace” but added: “I will not be pressured into lifting restrictions prematurely before I am as certain as I can be that we will not be risking a resurgence of infection rates.”

She said: “If the prime minister decides that he wants to move at a faster pace for England than I consider is right for Scotland, that is his right, I will respect that and I will not criticise him for doing that.”

Downing Street has said throughout the outbreak that it wants the four UK nations to emerge in unison from lockdown, though it has made clear that restrictions could be reimposed in specific areas on a localised basis if new hotspots of disease emerge.

Asked for Mr Johnson’s message to anyone tempted to head for parks and beaches to take advantage of good weather over the long weekend, the PM’s spokesman said: “The social distancing measures are there for a reason and we would encourage everybody to continue doing what they have done so far and stick by the rules and protect the NHS.”
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Their stock in trade is trying to manage a message, not a virus.

I fully expect some lifting of restrictions, and they know that it'll be a dog whistle to everyone that it's "ok" to do more outside.

The name of the game here is to get from under the weight of the furlough payments. They need to undermine first the 'stay at home' message and surreptitiously plant the seed that it's ok to get out and circulate. It's a softening up process.

We should never be anywhere near any end to the lockdown because the lockdown has not provided enough dividends. In fact, we need to see a proper lockdown first to get to a position where the economy can be thought important again. That's not the message of the Tory think tanks and corporate donors though.
 
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PhilM said:
Isn't there usually a lag/delay from initial infection to when the person will initially show symptoms and hospitalisation is even further down the line if that occurs?

If there is to be a rise, I suspect (not a doctor) that it would come in a week or two, which is what my Doctor friend said the NHS have been preparing for.
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The image is from Citymapper showing population movement in Manchester/London.

Basically it has remained low since the lockdown.
 
Joey66 said:
Jog off lol never want to be a Mod, but what's this got to do with the EU plus the last time I looked we ain't left the EU as yet....
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I always wanted to be..........................................................................................................................A Lumberjack !! (Cue song)
;) :cool:;)

Who did the propaganda briefing today then?
 
Bungle said:
My office overlooks the high street and more and more people are about every day, to the point that you'd struggle to believe there were any restrictions in the last few days. I drove past a park on the way home yesterday and the car park was rammed and there were a group of blokes having a kick around, loads walking their dogs and kids playing in the park.

I've seen community support officers approach groups of people in town and have a laugh and a joke and then just leave them sat there enjoying the sun rather than move them on. I appreciate it's a fine balance but there's plenty of people clearly taking the piss still, they'll probably be the same people whining about a lockdown extension without an ounce of self awareness.
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I have heard people saying that in Ireland too but I haven't seen it. The town I work in is where I'm doing shopping now even though it's not the closest town to me just smaller so no queues for the supermarket, but I have not seen 1 student I know in that town since school closed.. they could very well be congregating elsewhere but I've not seen any even walking on the paths.
 
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