There are three points to make in response to your post.

One, Johnson and co, did indeed outlay much of what would have been similar to my approach early on.....and then bottled it seemingly due to media reaction.

Second, there are countries that didn't go down the economic lockdown and media fear route (the media fear propaganda makes the lockdown almost irrelevant). Belarus didn't lockdown for example but did implement responses during winter ....we could also say Sweden but in reality Sweden did effectively put out propaganda which had the same result as a lockdown....which can be seen in their economic results.

Third, as for being illogical, I will point to the irrationality of worsening an already fatally damaged economy (and other economies) in an unrealistic and failed attempt at controlling a coronavirus....which will never be eradicated due to its nature.

It's probable that all that has happened is that infection has and is stretched out over a far longer period.

The vaccine will hopefully reduce death tolls however the lockdowns would have increased death in other areas now and going forward, not to mention considerably aboard in poorer countries due to cuts in aid.

Edited by Stirlingsays (20 Feb 2021 12.52am)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

This really has been a nightmarish situation for the elderly. In an ideal world we'd be able to neatly separate people out based on age but we don't live in that world. The closest to that is care homes and they have experienced significant tragedy despite best efforts.

And for countless elderly living with family, again it's not as simple as 'get on with it' when the health of loved ones is on the line. Carrying on as normal isn't sacrifice, and isn't difficult, this is. The idea of people demeaning these efforts while viewing themselves as having a wartime spirit for being against the current strategy (while simultaneously writing those very generations off during the pandemic as being 'at deaths door') is of course silly.

The NHS, scientists and the public at large have all done a remarkable job over the past year, and have on the whole shown tremendous dignity. I for one am proud of them and our country.

If the government had elected to prioritise the economy after lockdown one and carried on as normal regardless of the consequences I'd have just got on with things and supported local businesses (as I still try to now in any way I can) but I wouldn't be patting myself on the back for doing so since as with any strategy it comes at a significant cost to some. In fact any course of action looks terrible when compared to what came before it. Most recognise this and blame the hand we've been dealt rather than their fellow man.

Edited by BlueJay (20 Feb 2021 3.14am)

Interesting article by Bel Mooney this morning.
Her Dad has just passed away in a home.
He tested negative for Covid every time including 14 days ago.
His death cert says Covid because there was Covid in the home.
That cannot be right and seriously skews the figures if it is going on.
Don't me wrong - Covid is real but to understand its effects we need to know how many people have really passed away from Covid.I
She says there have been no flu deaths recorded this Winter - she can't be right?????

Edited by The Dolphin (20 Feb 2021 8.45am)

Yup I read it. Obviously this is just one case but I wonder if this highlights bad practice rather than some conspiracy. My mum died of bowel cancer but that is not what the doctor put on the death certificate (I can't remember what it was).

Maybe COVID has just highlighted something that has gone on for decades we just haven't noticed it. It will always be debatable what to put on a death certificate hopefully someone will look at this a bit harder.

One more point

Bel Mooney isn't the only case like this that I have heard of - two other people I 'know' on social media have had the same, and have taken it up with the Coroner's office to have the death certificate changed.

Death certificated generally have to list three causes of, or contributing to death. Thus, whilst your Mum may have had bowel cancer, it could well have caused her to suffer something else, like pneumonia, which was the actual primary cause. I had similar with my Dad.

A stairway to Heaven and a Highway to Hell give some indication of expected traffic numbers

Agreed.

One more point