The UK has the worst Covid case rates in Europe now. This data from the FT has been widely shared on Twitter and so I will share it here:
We are an outlier. It is not hard to tell why. This data is also from the FT:
The data is easy to understand. The likelihood that correlation is not an explanation is very low in this case. In the UK we have been encouraged to abandon Covid precautions. It appears that far too many of us have willingly done so. The result is more illness, more hospitalisations and more deaths.
The consequences for those with other conditions are also clear: the NHS cannot provide the care that others need if it is to deal with those at serious risk from Covid. It hardly takes a rocket scientist to work that out.
There is no reason why we have more Covid than other countries unless government choice is taken into account. In June the government chose to say that Covid would soon be over. In July it announced that it was. And our cases rose rapidly thereafter against the trend across Europe, just as our behaviour also changed against that trend.
There is, in that case, a very clear basis for suggesting who is responsible for the current excess deaths from Covid in the UK. It is the government. People in this country willingly accepted restrictions when told it was necessary. As the data makes clear, there was no indication of changed behaviour until the government encouraged it, although it seems that we were always reluctant mask wearers.
In that case blame for the deaths that are happening rests solely on the government, as does the blame for the chaos in the NHS rest solely on them, as does the cost to those who will suffer in the long term as a result.
We have a Covid crisis that is unlike that in any other country in Europe. But that is not because we are epidemiologically different from those in Europe. It was made in Downing Street. And that is where the buck stops. Libertarian politics comes at a price that is counted in excess deaths.
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[…] have already noted this morning that we are living in a Covid crisis made by our […]
Had Johnson caused half a dozen deaths by driving without due care and attention he would now be in jail; but he manages to cause 127,000 deaths by governing without due care and attention, and he is free to strut and preen without any sanction whatever.
A school head is so desperate that he has sent letters to the parents of their school children containing the following:
Advise staff and students to use face coverings in communal areas and corridors
Pupils may use face coverings in class (without a statutory requirement the school can’t insist is also stated)
Good ventilation by opening doors and windows and students can wear coats
Encourage hand washing, good respiratory hygiene, cleaners will clean surfaces of door handles etc. on a regular basis throughout the school day.
The school is clearly desperate to reduce the number of Covid cases and says it is a temporary measure. It has informed Public Health of England of the number of cases, as they are obliged to do.
They have a Covid19 plan but are waiting for guidance.
I believe such guidance will not be produced by Public Health of England since Johnson’s Conservative government is ideologically opposed to any form of guidance.
When will the majority of British citizens comprehend the massively negative implications of such an ideology of NO REGULATION for us all?
I think the big problem is that there is a certain section of the populace that truly believes some, or all, of the following;
a) The Government knows what it’s doing.
b) Two jags is sufficient to protect you.
c) We are British, (yes, there are those not in England who also believe), and are superior and are immune.
d) It’s all a big conspiracy.
These people are selfish, ignorant idiots that are causing more deaths, and the continuation of this crisis with their ridiculous beliefs.
2 vaccinations are not enough to protect you.
I went into hospital at the end of August, on a heart ward. All 4 of us in the same room were given covid on 1st September, having tested negative 3 times before. All 4 of us had had 2 vaccinations.
We were then moved to covid wards. That is very scary. I watched two women die of it.
I discharged myself to self-isolate at home, but my breathing couldn’t cope. When my oxygen levels went down to 77% I agreed to go back to hospital, where I had to go onto oxygen. I had two lots of medication for it, and have blood clots in my lungs.
I am at home now, but still not right. I fall asleep as soon as I sit down.
I cannot understand the government’s position on this, unless they really do want to kill more of us.
My granddaughter tested positive for it yesterday so I have to be tested again. I am hoping that, with all the medication I had, I would be safe but it’s impossible to know.
I offer you all best wishes for your recovery
You ae suffering through no fault of your won
I hope you have the strength to keep delivering the message you have here this morning
Go well
I logged on to work today to find a member of my team has got Covid along with her husband and was talking about working from home.
I told her to sod working and get well.
Talking to other managers where I work it’s widespread.
At my local rugby club our fixture secretary died of it July. He’ll be much missed but he was self-employed with kids!!
It’s not over yet. Not by a long chalk.
Stay vigilant.
Completely agree, it really wouldn’t take much to reduce deaths. It’s apparent from those graphs that reducing large gatherings etc is an easy lever to pull and they just won’t. And don’t get me started on the ‘get back to the office’ brigade
Given Scotland still has a mask mandate and has some of the worst numbers in the UK, I’m not as convinced by causation there, so the government wouldn’t even have to reintroduce mask mandates (though surely for public transport it should be considered)
I live up in a part of Scotland with a very high proportion of retired folk and I’ve been really surprised at the willingness of them to be back to in person clubs and meetings. I’m involved with a number of community clubs that have gone back to in person gatherings (20-50 people in church halls!) under pressure from the elderly members. In the three clubs, I’d estimate only about 10-20% are staying away. Thankfully there have been no outbreaks but I fear it’s only a matter of time. I don’t really know whether they’re following the government lead and don’t think it’s a threat anymore, or if they just don’t care anymore after 18 months of isolation.
People genuinely think it’s over. It’s going to be a big shock if (when) the government are forced to do something to stop the NHS from collapsing in December. I have to think people are going to be very angry.
What awful stories! My sympathies to everyone affected. But it’s what we should expect when we vote for a narcissist deviant who models himself on Donald Trump or Jair Bolsonaro.