Why The Panic From Boris?

[diddlydo]

Just read on the BBC website:

"The South African doctor who treated early cases of the Omicron variant told the BBC countries could be "panicking unnecessarily" and the symptoms she had seen were "extremely mild".

Dr Angelique Coetzee, chair of the South African Medical Association, said she had first encountered the variant in patients who had fatigue, aches and pains, but no cough or change in sense of smell or taste. "We haven't admitted anyone," she said."

Enough said so why is Boris running around like a headless chicken and imposing stupid restrictions?

[dannyk13]

Bois taks his advice from UK specialists not a South African doctor.

[Buenchico]

I'm no great fan of Boris but he seems to be heading in the right direction with this one, simply because he's now listening to advice from the UK's leading scientists which, in turn, is based upon the recommendations of the World Health Organisation.

[jourdain2]

I really don't know. I suppose he doesn't want to have accusations of waiting too long flung at him, but it is O.T.Y. i.m.o..

I heard him trying to frighten us again by informing us that we could catch this new variant 'even if you've had both your jabs' (or words to that effect). That's pathetic - everyone knows you can still catch the current strains of Covid even if double-jabbed. He seems to be flailing around at the moment. I for one have lost faith in him - very weak - unless, of course he's unwell. He's not been the same since he had Covid, so he could have the 'long' sort.

Panic will spread from his reaction I expect and, as you said diddlydo - it's unnecessary at the moment.

[gulliver1]

Because Boris has made so many cock -ups he knows he has exausted his MPs and the public, and he dare not get this one wrong or it will be curtains for him for certain ,so he is playing safe.

[riptide]

Of course she is going to play it down, South Africa will be effected by this. I would go on what our scientists say not theirs. Boris is advised by them and has taken the right action.

[Bobbisox1]

Diddlydo, this is manna from heaven for gully , hahaha

[davebro]

I blame Brexit.

[burlyshirley]

I agree diddly. So much for vaccinations. It's all a big farce now in my opinion.

[theshedman]

Diddly and gulliver back together again pity help us all. I did notice gulliver hasn't got involved in her other thread though on masks. I think maybe there is one thing they don't agree on.

[andres]

Don't make me laugh---Boris panicking. He calmly stands there and says that mask wearing restrictions will be enforced from Tuesday. Hospitality places will be exempt .Tells us he will review the situation in 3 weeks time!
It's about time he did panic and put restrictions in place now. A lot can happen between now and Tuesday let alone the next 3 weeks.

[pat2604]

As per Danny and Chris. Answers 1 and 2!!

[pat2604]

And now Andres. Well said. I detected no panic at all.

[Gromit]

It is not the Omicrom variant that Boris is worried about, it is the Delta variant. But he can’t admit that they have let it get out of control for a third time, so they are dressing this up as a precautionary measure, not the truth which is deaths and daily cases [of the Delta variant] getting out of hand again.

[Deskdiary]

I agree with diddly and jourdain.

This fostering of fear is absurd…but if the mask thread is anything to by, the fear is working.

[davebro]

//not the truth which is deaths and daily cases [of the Delta variant] getting out of hand again.//

Deaths & hospital cases are falling though!

[burlyshirley]

^ But this is only a small site, the views expressed are not the majority view by a long chalk !

[mushroom25]

// It is not the Omicrom variant that Boris is worried about, it is the Delta variant. But he can’t admit that they have let it get out of control for a third time, so they are dressing this up as a precautionary measure, //

if that is the case, could you explain why Israel - who had their Delta peak in August - have closed their borders "because of Omicron"? they have no need of dressing up Omicron, surely?

[pat2604]

Very true Mushroom. Israel is on the ball.

[jno]

by Boris's sstandards, this is panic - remember that with the original outbreak, and with Delta, he preferred to wait a week or two before doing anything, both of which turned out to be serious errors. So good for him finally getting his A into G. If Omicron turns out not to be so bad, restrictions can be eased, but at the moment "better safe than sorry" is a good motto.

[New Judge]

//But he can’t admit that they have let it get out of control for a third time//

There doesn’t seem to be much getting through to you, does there Gromit.

On 5th November, the seven day average of daily deaths stood at 171. Today it is 120 (down 30%). On that same day, the number of patients in hospital with Covid was 9,059. The number on 25th November (the latest available) was 7,633 (down 16%).

What is it you are suggesting is “out of control”? Please don’t say “50,000 daily infections” because we’ve done all that - more than once.