O/T. The Government's handling of Covid

[Andy_Faber]

Whilst we are all congratulating the government (or at least its agencies such as the NHS) on the vaccine programme rooll out, its worth noting this - credit by the way is Channel 4 fact checker.

The head of England’s Test and Trace programme, Dido Harding, faced questions from MPs on Wednesday at the Science and Technology Committee.

Defending the scheme’s performance, Baroness Harding said that since September:

“We’ve seen the virus mutate, we’ve seen the new variant emerge, which was something that none of us had, were able to predict”

So is she right?

On 5 May 2020, researchers from the Sheffield Genomics Group published a scientific paper called: “Spike mutation pipeline reveals the emergence of a more transmissible form of SARS-CoV-2” (the technical name for coronavirus).

They identified 13 mutations in the “spike protein”, which is the part of the virus that binds to human body cells, and said their findings had “important implications” for the spread of the disease.

Another study, published on 2 July, looked at a specific mutation in the virus and suggested this may have made it more infectious.

Scientists at Michigan State University published a study in the Journal of Molecular Biology on 23 July that said “most likely future mutations will make SARS-CoV-2 more infectious”.

The journal Nature ran an article on 8 September 2020 warning: “Different SARS-CoV-2 strains haven’t yet had a major impact on the course of the pandemic, but they might in future.”

It might be true that no-one predicted the precise mutations of the variant we’re currently fighting in the UK. But there has been evidence since spring 2020 that mutations were happening and experts warned even then that one or more variants could emerge that would significantly alter the course of the pandemic.

Remember to, that Johnson knew about the mutations in SEPTEMBER but was still promising a "normal" Christmas in NOVEMBER!

Remember that Thicky posted on here a long diatribe from an American that inferred the virus was no more deadlier than the flu!

I'm struggling to grasp if you are blaming Harding, Johnon or Tricky for all that

[ramAnag]

I'm struggling to grasp if you are blaming Harding, Johnon or Tricky for all that

I think it’s just ‘offering some balance’, Andy. At least that’s what you’d call it if you’d said it. .

While you, and a couple of others, are busy banging the drum for UKPLC, which is - hopefully - quite justified as far as vaccine management is concerned, Swale is simply pointing out the other side of the story.

[Trickytreesreds]

I think it’s just ‘offering some balance’, Andy. At least that’s what you’d call it if you’d said it. .

While you, and a couple of others, are busy banging the drum for UKPLC, which is - hopefully - quite justified as far as vaccine management is concerned, Swale is simply pointing out the other side of the story.

But he isn't pointing out, that he was very much onside with the anti lockdown brigade in the early days and his stance was very much on economy first. I'm not against that opinion, but he shouldn't be slinging mud at others, when he himself is as much a mug with his opinions as any mere mortal.

[ramAnag]

But he isn't pointing out, that he was very much onside with the anti lockdown brigade in the early days and his stance was very much on economy first. I'm not against that opinion, but he shouldn't be slinging mud at others, when he himself is as much a mug with his opinions as any mere mortal.

Indeed he was, Tricky...but then many people were misled in what you call the ‘early days’ i.e. 10-14 months ago.
That isn’t really the point though...Swale is quoting from much more recently than that...and however much you and Andy may wish to repeatedly cherry pick the apparent success of the vaccination programme, there is another side to the story.

I’d also point out that, however much sense Swale regularly makes, I’d expect Johnson and Harding to actually be rather better informed given that they’re amongst those running the UK’s response to the pandemic. Ignoring his jibe at you...his criticism of those in authority seems perfectly valid to me.

[Andy_Faber]

I think it’s just ‘offering some balance’, Andy. At least that’s what you’d call it if you’d said it. .

While you, and a couple of others, are busy banging the drum for UKPLC, which is - hopefully - quite justified as far as vaccine management is concerned, Swale is simply pointing out the other side of the story.

Just joshing rA.

One thing I did notice yesterday was that its been suggested in Ireland that Boris takes over their vaccine roll-out, given UK's relative success

[ramAnag]

Just joshing rA.

One thing I did notice yesterday was that its been suggested in Ireland that Boris takes over their vaccine roll-out, given UK's relative success

What again?

Before you back slap Johnson too much - and I sincerely hope it is warranted - perhaps you should read MA’s post #1228 more carefully.

[MadAmster]

Dildo really needs to swot up on what all viruses have always done. They mutate. Always have, always will. It was only a matterof time before this one did.

Many of its predecessors and relatives like SARS, MERS and others mutated themselves into weaker forms. This one has gone the other way. Dutch "experts" are now saying that the UK mutation is not only more infectious, it is also more deadly.

With regard to countries not using the AZ vaccine. South Africa has stopped using it as it is ineffective against the SA variant. If the mutations continue to get more effective than their "mother" we'll never get back to anything other than some kind of lockdown.

[Geoff Parkstone]

Curious isn't it. Andy revels in UK successes re covid, rA revels in our failures. Come the glorious day I think I know who will be first up against the wall.

Only joshing fellas. The new "get out of jail free" card

[ramAnag]

Curious isn't it. Andy revels in UK successes re covid, rA revels in our failures. Come the glorious day I think I know who will be first up against the wall.

Only joshing fellas. The new "get out of jail free" card

Except I’ve never revelled in UK failures...merely acknowledged current Government failures.

I’ll save my ‘get out of jail/only joshing’ card for when it may be needed.

[Geoff Parkstone]

Just had jab, hugely impressive efficient process. Thanks to all volunteers and NHS staff, but most of all a big thankyou to Boris for making Britain number one.