I like Prof Van-Tam. He's a highly qualified, no nonsense, epidemiologist, and is one of the three Deputy Chief Medical officers for England; currently advising the government on Covid-19.
What he doesn't know about the present pandemic, isn't worth knowing. Talking of the proposed relaxation of the UK's current restrictions, he said......
"Don't wreck this now, it's too early to relax".
He is, of course, absolutely right. If the virus continues to spread it is only because far too many people continue to behave in an irresponsible manner. Always listen to those who know what they're talking about. Van-Tam does!
This frustration doesn't end here. Mr Ken Marsh, who is the Chairman of the UK's Metropolitan Police Federation recently said "Police don't want to police this. We have had enough of this. It's not policeable. It's not manageable". They can no longer cope with the amount of people hell-bent on spreading the virus. They prefer to catch burglars.
And on the subject of vaccines, I've just heard this morning that France will start giving the British Astra-Zeneca jab. Just be grateful you don't have Macron in charge of your country. What a plonker!
I expected to see a photo of Sarkozy today, not JVT.
ReplyDeleteI thought France had been giving AZ but not to the over 65s?
Correct!
DeleteAs an "over 65" I know that we will be waiting until end of April for a suitable vaccine.
I think 'house arrest' is too lenient for Sarkosy; he should be in the slammer. Nasty man.
DeleteI love JVT .... he really tells it like it is. He is my favourite at the briefings. He was brilliant yesterday .... one journalist asked, yet again, about holidays ! He said there is no answer yet .... what is the obsession about booking holidays ... many countries won’t let us in and yet bookings for holidays are up 1,000 % !!! We need mor JVTam’s !!! XXXX
ReplyDeleteI like that he always leans on the side of caution. It's all well and good giving fixed dates for things to open-up, but one really has to play it by ear. I've never heard him say anything I didn't agree with.
DeleteAgreed with the plonker statement, I've had my Astra Zeneca jab and was extremely happy to have it.
ReplyDeleteWe've put our names forward, and now have to wait. I believe millions of Astra Zeneca vaccines have been waiting in some warehouse for Macron to come to his senses. Today the day arrived, so we may get our jabs before Christmas.
DeleteJVT is the best of the bunch. He explains things and in his gentle way of delivery tells us straight how it is. My housebound parents 95 and 85 had AstraZeneca 4 weeks ago. As time has gone on, the evidence is coming out strong that they are very well protected after just one dose. I had Pfizer. Under 60’s being called up for vaccine where I live. So grateful that the older ones have protection now. Some younger people think they are invincible and it has been so difficult to persuade them otherwise. I feel sorry for our police. They have been trying their best.
ReplyDeleteI also heard this morning that just one jab seems to be doing the job. Maybe the second one will be phased out. It so annoys me that certain people see themselves as invincible. Spreading the virus certainly isn't invincible.
DeleteFauci is respected in our country for the same reason.
DeleteYes, Fauci always seems 'reasoned'.
DeleteYes I always think Van-Tam talks sense.
ReplyDeleteI must say it is only a couple of weeks now before I get my second jab but I still only go for my one walk a day, just round the block.
I bought a Cox's Orange Pippin tree this morning (Tues is my shopping day), so I'm just off to find a home for it.
DeleteI got my two shots of Moderna and am now waiting for my two weeks to pass before I step foot in a near-empty store to buy some nail polish. It might sound frivolous, but it will make me happy. Baby steps.
ReplyDeleteEverybody from every place is complaining about the rollout of the vaccines. It is about supply and demand and, unfortunately, supply is not meeting the demand. I don’t blame anybody as I think the companies who got us these vaccines are doing their best. Politicians, though, well, I won’t go there.
The UK's roll-out of vaccines has been excellent. France's has been DIRE. Dear Macron has been saying that the Brit' Astra Zeneca vaccine doesn't work, but has now had to admit that it does. The French Pasteur vaccine was abandoned as useless. Macron is a twit.
DeleteMany are wondering... when will it be deemed "safe" to live normal lives again? When there are zero new cases? At least four (more contagious) variants have cropped up: U.K. South Africa, Brazil and the U.S.. When everyone has received a vaccine? An estimated 30% of folks still say they wouldn't get any of the available options, based largely on news reports expressing doubts of safety last fall. It took a village to convince my 87 yr. old mother to get hers. Will 70% population vaccination be enough? You and others mention young people breaking rules and being irresponsible. I hate to point out Sweden, France, now Mexico, and soon Florida. We look to the experts. We trust them. Have they remained consistent in their advice? Are they following their own advice? If not, why do we trust them to decide when a normal life can be lived again? Just thoughts. -EM Griffith
ReplyDeleteGovernment advice has been constant throughout. Wear a mask, wash your hands and keep away from others. Some follow all this (we do), others don't. It's those others who are responsible for spreading the virus around; and they couldn't give a shit.
DeleteCro, we follow the guidelines, too. My husband and youngest son (28) have been working from home for a year. Well, days away from a year. No end in sight. We live in CA, and our county is in the purple, most restricted tier, though daily new case counts were down to 9 yesterday. Vaccine roll out has been troublesome enough that they've instituted a lottery to get an appointment. Again, many wonder what will constitute "safe" for returning to normal life?
DeleteMy oldest son also followed all the guidelines, but managed to catch the virus somehow. He had two weeks of unpleasant symptoms, but came out of it OK. We have to be so cautious, but of course our governments want the boost the economy at the same time.
Delete"Don't wreck this now, it's too early to relax". This is so-oo true. Why can't people see it? Our governor is thinking about recalling the face mask mandate because our numbers are going down. But it's too soon. I don't understand people. We need to stay masked, etc. for a while yet. If we don't, we'll lose everything we've gained.
ReplyDeleteExactly; this is the great problem. Far better to remain cautious well beyond the time when we begin to feel safe, otherwise it'll be back to the nightmare again.
DeleteUnfortunately the UK government has not been consistent through out....yes hand washing was deemed important quite early on (very shortly after Johnson said he was shaking hands with everyone to be exact). Mask wearing, however, came in much later....July, if memory serves, ie after the first lock down.
ReplyDeleteTraveller, it's the same in the U.S. at the national level. Recent advice is double masking, continued self-isolation, but also to reopen all public schools. No one (anywhere on earth as far as I know) has detailed specific, clear objectives or requirements for a "safe" return to a pre-pandemic, normal life. Does no one else wonder about that? --EM Griffith
DeleteNow I read Cro’s comment more closely I note he said that government advice had been constant throughout...on that I agree, the Uk government advice has been constant but it sure as eggs are eggs has not been consistent in the UK.
DeleteI don't think we shall ever return to that 'normal life'. We shall all have to be vaccinated annually, new vaccines for new variants found, and we will need to follow a different way of life. This virus (and its spin-offs) is not going away. We will be able to reduce its effects to an acceptable minimum, but not defeat it totally.
DeleteAgree with you Cro...suspect that parts of the west will continue with masks, perhaps no more air kissing strangers and forget about blowing out candles on a cake and then serving it to people!
DeleteAll good moves in my opinion.
As to vaccines, hopefully the nay sayers will come to their senses. I have been amused by the prior naysayers who are now getting the vaccine, not because they want to but, for example, because they think it will be mandatory in the future so are now getting it. Amazing how the Hitchin brothers can be so different.
I agree, too, Cro, but with the understanding that The Spanish Flu killed millions more and at some point, normal life returned. Including hugs and kisses, weddings and funerals, birthday parties (blowing out candles on the cake), sporting events, concerts, movies, etc. There've been pandemics in the past 10-20 yrs., too: Swine Flu, Avian Flu, Legionnaire's Disease, SARS (COVID-19 is in that same family), and more. People will return to a normal life. Governments know this. Some already are. The experts will have to adapt their advice. Some already are.
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