IT
seems that “following the science” does not mean the same for the
likes of Boris Johnson and Sajid Javid as it might for me and you.
What
else can explain this week's frankly bizarre announcement by Boris Johnson that, two weeks early, he can tell us that on July 19
practically all restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of
Covid-19 and the overwhelming of the NHS were to end.
- Jostling
at the bar for service is back.
- Screaming
furious glee down the back of someone's neck is back.
- Joining
in raucous singing and dancing in smoke filled underground caverns is
back.
Yes,
Britain is to return to normal and thus our excesses can once again
feed the economy (and the pockets of these rich bastards). Tim Martin
must be over the bloody moon!
If
it all seems like some OTT BBC sitcom about life in Westminster then
yes, minister, it is.
Before
I really get into my stride let us play memory lane.
- The
R number. Hands up if you can remember this and double stamps if you
can recall the last time you heard it.
- Save
the NHS. No that's too easy... last week and it was another lie.
- Eating
out to help out? Yes, we all can, we did, and we spread the virus
exceptionally well.
I
can obviously go on but why should you let me have fun at your
expense.
Anyway,
back to following the science or, as I like to call it, making it up
as we go along.
On
day one in his new job the chap who cannot quite forget he was once
chancellor stepped into the soiled shoes of Matt Hancock and
immediately erected his first hostage to fortune. “We shall be free
on July 19” said (sort of) Sajid Javid. I did love his shiny
confidence.
But
then he clearly had listened to his briefing from Number 10 on his
appointment for lo and behold, Chubby Checkout, the cheeriest night
club doorman in Britain, was saying the same thing days later.
So
I thought that we should just check out the science, which I hesitate
to tell you, they basically admit. It will get a very lot worse quite
soon.
But
here's what they may have missed. The only possible reason for
lifting all these sensible restraints is to kick start the economy.
Sadly the science says it will not work.
And
why is because of the effects of what they freely admit: The national
sick list is going to be HORRIFIC.
- Millions
will be ill and off work, at least for a few days.
- Tens
of millions may have to be in brief but necessary isolation – and
not at work.
- All
these millions will cost their firms, the health service and the
taxpayer billions.
And
the it gets even worser (yes I know but it will).
For
LONG COVID is abroad and it is blighting the life and work of the
young. You know, the power house that Boris is turning on (or off)
daily. For Long Covid affects the young worse than us oldies and they
could be off work for months, or even ever.
We
have been led this far by fools and charlatans. But now it seems some
homicidal maniacs have been rooted out by the Tory party and
installed in Downing Street.
I
hate to say it but where are Dominic Cummings and Matt Hancock when
you need them most?
The
science says:.
*
It is predicted there could be 2 million covid cases:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/06/data-predicting-2m-uk-summer-covid-cases-prompts-health-fears
*
Ministers
were warned that waiving the requirement for contacts to isolate
immediately on 19 July would result in cases being up to 25% higher
than if waiting another four weeks to do so. -
Guardian
*
Prof Whitty: “Since
there’s a lot of Covid at the moment and the rates are going up, I
regret to say I think we will get a significant amount more long
Covid particularly in the younger ages where the vaccination rates
are currently much lower,” he said at the Local Government
Association’s annual conference.”
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/long-covid-rates-young-people-24472611
*
The Office for National Statistics says: An
estimated 962,000 people living in private households in the UK (1.5%
of the population) were experiencing self-reported "long COVID"
(symptoms persisting for more than four weeks after the first
suspected coronavirus (COVID-19) infection that were not explained by
something else), as of 6 June 2021; this is down slightly from 1.021
million (1.6%) at 2 May 2021.
There
is loads more if you want to look!