We need an exit plan from CV 19 restrictions

In the world of the government advisers the UK has to carry on with major restrictions on our freedoms to contain and reduce the incidence of the virus. They want us to do this until a vaccine is available that works well and is accepted by the bulk of the population.

They do have to tell us that of course the present vaccines in trials may turn out not to be effective, or may show side effects that are unacceptable. There may be long delays in developing a successful vaccine. Even when one is available it will take time to produce enough of it and vaccinate enough people with it to allow removal of the controls.

That is why I have been urging Ministers to have a Plan B, a plan for relaxing controls when there is no generally available effective vaccine. Some scientists think Sweden shows that the virus stabilises or wanes after a period of time, as more people have immune systems capable of warding it off without vaccine intervention. Others have a number of proposals to improve treatments, help containment and protect the vulnerable better, so more people can resume a normal life.

We now seem to know the most vulnerable groups are the elderly and those with other conditions like diabetes and obesity. It is possible to devise ways to offer all those most at risk better safeguarding whilst allowing the rest of the population to behave more normally. All those who wish to shield themselves should have access to support to make this possible for them.

Many of the deaths we experienced in the spring came in Care Homes. There could be stronger rules preventing the return of patients from hospital with CV 19, tests for new residents and regular tests for Care Home staff. It would be best if people can keep in touch with their families through on line systems and the phone. Of course people will also want some face to face meetings. These can be organised in gardens, with suitable ways of keeping warm on colder days, or in large meeting rooms with a good circulation of air designed to avoid contamination.

It is important to ensure good infection control in hospitals, preferably by having designated CV 19 hospitals with other hospitals virus free. I await progress reports on a range of possible treatments that some doctors claim can make a difference.

We need a message of hope. There does have to be plan to get us out of lock down whilst avoiding deaths and helping people take sensible precautions to control the disease. We must not allow a large number of good businesses to be written off because they are not allowed to trade at all or under such constraints that they are not commercial.
I am trying to persuade Ministers they need a new plan to restore our liberties.

213 Comments

  1. Sir Patrick Vaccine
    October 1, 2020

    I didn’t understand what concessions the Government gave

    From the Telegraph: “Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, later announced the details of the peace deal (watch him do so in the video below), which will make national Covid measures subject to a vote “wherever possible” provided they do not hold up urgent regulations needed to save lives.”

    It doesn’t sound like anything. Maybe we need a full explanation.

    Reply There will be debates and votes on SIs seeking to control us. To date they have governed without such engagement.

    1. Sir Patrick Vaccine
      October 1, 2020

      Thank you for the reply. “Wherever possible” does sound like a get out clause for Matt Hancock.

      1. Sir Patrick Vaccine
        October 1, 2020

        The Mayor of Middlesbrough, Andy Preston, says he is prepared to defy new tighter lockdown restrictions announced by the Government. Telegraph

        Good to see the Awakening to this lockdown evil

        1. Lynn Atkinson
          October 1, 2020

          Even the Staff at the Palace are revolting! It’s just too much! Time to stop stopping.

      2. Dee
        October 1, 2020

        What Hancocks has said is that Parliament will only be involved for WHOLE Country decision and even that is only provisional by his statement ‘Wherever possible’ in other words the rebels changed or gained nothing. Sooner or later the people of this Country will take the law into its own hands.

    2. Al
      October 1, 2020

      As Matt Hancock has suggested that votes are only needed on national measures, I suspect the government will start to make interdictions on areas e.g. passing restrictions to affect the NorthEast or London specifically and so bypass the need for a vote.

      I hope to be proved wrong, but given the government’s attitude to the rules so far so far I doubt it.

    3. Everhopeful
      October 1, 2020

      I thought exactly that when I read it.
      But it is BETTER and it gives the sensible ones a foot-in-the-door and now they can increase the pressure. ( Please!)
      I do hope the wonderful, sensible ones understand how coup-like this all seems to the poor, trembling ruled-over ones.
      Not good!

    4. Steven Granger
      October 1, 2020

      This is misleading, please correct it and tell the truth. There “may” be debates (but not necessarily votes) on “significant national measures” and this will only be “wherever possible”. I.e. not on the very significant local measures, not on “insignificant” national measures and not when it is “not possible”. Mr Hancock presumably gets to decide what is significant or otherwise and whether or not it is possible and, indeed, whether it will be a debate with a vote. We deserve better from our elected representatives than the craven surrender we got yesterday.

      Reply There will be two such debates and votes next week

    5. Martin in Cardiff
      October 1, 2020

      Plan???

      Who is going to draft that?

      The Government don’t seem to have had one for anything. Not for leaving the European Union, nor for dealing effectively yet civilly with unlawful immigration, nor for the special problems facing Gibraltar, nor for helping the residents of hundreds of flammable tower blocks, nor for anything else.

    6. matthu
      October 1, 2020

      But no debate on regional or metropolitan lockdowns?

    7. Catherine Young
      October 3, 2020

      The swingeing attacks on personal freedoms are clearly unjustified and this has become more apparent by the day. Johnson and Hancock’s illogical and ignorant mishandlings are unforgivable. As to shielding the elderly, they should be given the right to decide if this is what they want, and never have actions “for their sake” imposed upon them.

      1. Linda Bennett
        October 3, 2020

        I totally agree with you …

  2. Lifelogic
    October 1, 2020

    Indeed.

    I understand that Covid is now about the 24th commonest cause of death (plus it is mainly killing very old people) and represent only about 1% of daily deaths. All deaths are sad but clearly the government has it totally out of proportion. The lockdown is now clearly causing more damage and indeed deaths than the virus.

    I have never been impressed by Simon Stevens (lefty & PPE Oxon yet again) but did he really say ‘we are not going to have aged-based apartheid across this country’? What on earth is wrong with sheltering the vulnerable. A great shame the dire NHS and Health Dept. did not do exactly that leading to so many deaths in care homes and of people infected in hospitals.

    1. Lifelogic
      October 1, 2020

      To be fair to Simon Stevens he does have a fairly imposible job. Given given the idiotic way the NHS is funded and stuctured it will always be a dire state run virtual monopoly. It could clearly be run far better than it is even with this appalling structure though. But the structure and thee free at the point of rationing, delay and often incompetence system needs to go at least for all who can afford to pay.

      1. Iain Gill
        October 2, 2020

        Replace the NHS with the Australian or New Zealand systems. Far better for patients of all demographics.

    2. Sir Patrick Vaccine
      October 1, 2020

      Boris Johnson’s father Stanley faces £200 fine after being seen shopping WITHOUT a facemask in his local newsagent

      Stanley Johnson caught without a facemask at a newsagents in West London

      Comes just months after he flew to his Greek villa in defiance of travel warnings
      Today Prime Minister pleaded with the British public to ‘follow the guidance’

      Daily Mail

      I would like to think Stanley is protesting, but maybe he genuinely never heard about these regulations

      1. a-tracy
        October 2, 2020

        If Stanley Johnson is obviously not afraid of this virus at his age and bmi perhaps he knows something that we don’t know.

    3. Lifelogic
      October 1, 2020

      Plus of course the NHS already has active discrimination against older people for many treatments and operations. Often it is justified in my view to prefer treatments for people with many years left to live when resources are clearly limited.

      Surely the NHS CEO “we are not going to have aged-based apartheid” knows this full well?

    4. Sir Joe Soap
      October 1, 2020

      Yes it’s this kind of muddled head thinking which does so much damage. For goodness sake, let’s just accept that people with different age, gender, intelligence, skin pigmentation can be affected differently by many factors in life, including viruses. Simon Stevens along with others in government must surely have read the story of King Canute whilst they weren’t studying STEM subjects.

    5. Everhopeful
      October 1, 2020

      Don’t forget that the UN target of reducing premature ( ie younger people) deaths by a third by 2030 actually does discriminate against the elderly whatever they claim.

      Governments have become very good at taking people’s money ( pension savings, savings, tax paid etc.) and using it as they choose ( to do the bidding of higher authorities).

      They say that is part and parcel of our voting system.

      How convenient!

      1. Everhopeful
        October 1, 2020

        Oops.
        Sorry…I mentioned money because of all the taxes the elderly have paid in their lifetime only to find that there is no provision for them.

        1. Lifelogic
          October 1, 2020

          When you pay in advance for things you get what you are given or not given and lump it. Even worse if it is the state you have paid.

          I hear lots of NHS paid GPs are using Covid as an excuse to do virtually nothing for their NHS patients. This while happily still doing private work. The system rather encourages this.

    6. Christine
      October 1, 2020

      Indeed. Which leads many of us to believe something else more sinister is going on.

      1. Christine
        October 1, 2020

        Latest ONS figures for week 38 shows 1,197 deaths from flu (5 year average 1,394) and only 139 deaths from COVID.

        1. glen cullen
          October 1, 2020

          never to be shown on any news channel

    7. Lifelogic
      October 1, 2020

      Just got this depressing email from Cambridge University:-

      “This morning the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stephen J Toope, announced that the University of Cambridge aims to divest from all direct and indirect investments in fossil fuels by 2030 as part of the University’s plan to cut its greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2038, more than a decade before the date set by the UK government.”

      Cambridge University are clearly governed by idiots now too. Hopefully the colleges will be able to be rather more sensible. Then again even Trinity now has a rather dubious Master (not even a Nobel Prize to her name). It seems Troope is Canadian with degrees in English, European History and Law so perhaps he does not understand energy, the laws of physics, engineering, climate or the likes. But surely someone there could explain reality to him?

      Perhaps a good time to buy the shares in this sector?

  3. Sir Patrick Vaccine
    October 1, 2020

    The Prime Minister and his two Doctators do not seem to care about people like this.

    Travel agent breaks down as she reveals Covid crisis is killing company she’s run for 20 years – saying she’s made only £120 this month but still has to pay an employee £500 under ‘cr***y’ furlough scheme

    Daily Mail Travel-owner-Kate-Harris-breaks-Covid-looks-set-close-business.html

    1. Everhopeful
      October 1, 2020

      It is what they WANT.
      They are RESETTING THE ECONOMY in the cruellest way possible.
      They don’t care about anyone except their globalist masters.

      1. HS
        October 2, 2020

        It is what they WANT.
        They are RESETTING THE ECONOMY in the cruellest way possible.
        They don’t care about anyone except their globalist masters.

        ….
        spot on
        but dont worry the fools will not get away with it.

    2. Andy
      October 1, 2020

      The PM cares about himself.

      Maybe he cares for a handful of his kids. Maybe.

      But he doesn’t care about anyone else. Never has. Never will.

      You all knew that last December and you all voted for him anyway.

      1. Edward2
        October 1, 2020

        Another ridiculous unsubstantiated slur.
        Just making things up like some cheap troll.
        Give it a rest

      2. Lynn Atkinson
        October 1, 2020

        Just shows you how bad the alternatives were!

  4. Javelin
    October 1, 2020

    Based on the wall to wall negative comments in the press Boris has more than done enough to destroy the credibility of the Cabinet.

    A 0.2% death rate at present, the vast majority in over 75s with pre-existing conditions and severely damaging millions of under 40s lives. The virus will be around for years and years, based on the existing rules so will the lockdown. So when the rules change, as they will, then how do the Government justify the about turn. They can’t.

    1. Simeon
      October 1, 2020

      Neither the cabinet nor the wider Parliamentary party has any credibility. Voting against the rolling over of these powers, as seven Tories did – though not JR – is something, but no-one sane and sensible could remain as a Tory MP. Resigning the whip and declaring independence is the only credible move.

      The government can’t justify anything they have done with reason, because none of what it’s done has been governed by reason. But then, when did reason ever come in to governing the country? Remember, ‘data’ is now king (though intelligent interpretation of data is nowhere).

      If JR were serious about a message of hope he wouldn’t be propping up the clowns*

      * Some people have an intense distrust, or even phobia, of clowns. Some see evil personified in clowns. I won’t be the one to gainsay them.

      Reply The issue is how you best influence the majority which the government still commands. I want to be effective.

      1. Simeon
        October 1, 2020

        Despite your best efforts over many decades, the Tory party is what it is. How effective have you been? To be fair, how effective could you have been?

        I don’t like your chances of effecting a reversal of the coronavirus measures your government has taken, however you exert what influence you have. The government will do as it pleases, and enough of your colleagues, even if you don’t, will give them there full support. History insists so.

        Regards,

    2. MPC
      October 1, 2020

      Yes I looked at data from the NHS last night and really the figures for deaths are rising very slightly but are minuscule proportionally. I am exercising free choice to go to our office in Birmingham today taking all the public transport safeguards. Now we have a good amount of information on who are at risk it’s time for this government to trust in people’s common sense and assessment of risk to themselves.

    3. Caterpillar
      October 1, 2020

      The Govt could put in place some of Sir John’s suggestions in parallel, and there are many others. It can also improve the relevance, analysis and transparency of much of the data to bring down the fear message. The Govt can move to being consistently clear with guidance for people’s buy in and not threats.

      There is nothing fundamental to prevent a move to competence. The P.M. could sack Hancock and Sunak. The P.M. could take a long look at his advisers. The conservative party could take a very long look at its leader.

    4. Ian @Barkham
      October 1, 2020

      +1

    5. Hope
      October 1, 2020

      The younger members of society ie those under 50 years will not forget.

      Those over 65 years and those with underlying health issues are at most risk. Everyone else learn to help them and et them carry on.

      1. Caterpillar
        October 1, 2020

        I think those in their fifties losing jobs and savings, not retiring until late 60s (which will be a poorer retirement)but struggling to ever find work again will not forget. Hancock and Johnson have and continue to cause this, while Sunak and Johnson look to pursue ageist policies that favour the young with decades of opportunity in front of them. It is sad to say, but they have and continue to enact vile policies.

  5. DOMINIC
    October 1, 2020

    It is my fundamental belief that both this Tory government and the treacherous, sinister Labour opposition have both embarked on a course of action using the issue of public health safety whose intent is the permanent destruction of the peoples liberties, freedoms and of our civil world

    Something imperceptible changed in 1990 when the odious Clarke brought down MT. It was a sense that liberty and democratic accountability had somehow died with MT’s demise. That the intent of her downfall was the replacement of libertarianism and the individual with something much more political and imposing. What we are seeing today emanates from that fateful moment in Paris when MT was interviewed by John Sargeant. A shiver down my spine, went. I could almost the flame of freedom and liberty flicker into nothingness. And so it has proven

    Both main parties have brought us here today. On the verge of brutal authoritarianism. The London based, woke fascist political, bureaucratic and public sector managerial class that transcends all parties are determined to silence dissent using all means necessary, violent if necessary using paid thugs of the State

    And the British voter continue to vote for this cancerous party in government and continue to vote for that rancid, racist party in opposition

    The agenda is a cross-party agenda and it is one determined to protect the Status quo from harm and to increase the power of those in power.

    The voter must challenge this by not voting for the Tory-Labour conspiracy.

    And PM Johnson? Well, he knows that his actions are utterly reprehensible and yet does he care? Of course he doesn’t. He’s concerned with his own future and protecting his vile party from harm

    And Mr Redwood. Yes, lots of words, fine words but carefully chosen words so as not to offend the party leader and the whips. Well, that ain’t good enough from an elected rep when freedom is being extinguished

    Our hope is now the Reform Party to prevent the Tory-Labour-Labour’s socialist client state from destroying our civil world and our nation using all legal and illegal methods and any means

    1. Sir Patrick Vaccine
      October 1, 2020

      Believe or not the Lib Dems voted against renewing the Coronavirus Act, as did the entire Parliamentary Green Party

      Voting Against Renewing Coronavirus Act

      Allaince Party – 1
      Conservative – 7
      Green -1
      Labour – 6
      Liberal Democrat – 9

    2. Ian @Barkham
      October 1, 2020

      +1

    3. Everhopeful
      October 1, 2020

      +1
      First paragraph spot on IMO.
      Remember how we all wondered why they were dumbing down education?
      Now we know!
      Never mind Brexit…our govt. is answering to a higher, global authority.
      And everything they are doing proves it.

    4. Lester Cynic Beedell
      October 1, 2020

      Well said Dominic, I’m in a state of despair, the government have managed to destroy our country in a matter of months, I also think that there’s an agenda being played out.
      The sight of a policeman punching an elderly lady in the stomach during the anti-lockdown demonstration in Trafalgar Square and the arrest of the German doctor did nothing to reassure me, we are truly lost!

    5. Jim Whitehead
      October 1, 2020

      Dominic, I have read your comment and I regret to declare that I can not but endorse and support your analyses. And something must be done a la Peter Hitchens.

    6. Andy
      October 1, 2020

      Your hope is Farage?

      I guess next time he might get more votes than a bloke dressed as a dolphin.

      1. NickC
        October 1, 2020

        Well, he certainly got enough votes to be voted into your toy parliament enough times.

        1. hefner
          October 3, 2020

          NickC, Into a toy parliament maybe but also helped by a more balanced voting system possibly reflecting more what the electorate thinks.

    7. Syd
      October 1, 2020

      Yes Dominic.
      I have an overwhelming sadness and frustration, emanating from the feeling that our Politicians are merely puppets, being operated by Puppet Masters who have an international Base and an interest that does not involve the citizens of the U.K.
      I will always be a conservative, but I will never again vote for the Conservative Party.
      Why vote for a movement that despises you?
      Why vote for a party that turns its back on MT, the greatest Prime Minister in living memory?

    8. beresford
      October 1, 2020

      And how will you prevent the new politicians from being bought by the same people who bought the old ones? This is the age-old problem of ‘agency’, once you delegate authority over your life to a second party you risk that authority being used in their interest rather than yours.

      1. Lynn Atkinson
        October 1, 2020

        Destroy the professional politician.

        1. Anonymous
          October 2, 2020

          No more knighthoods for a start

    9. James Bertram
      October 1, 2020

      Agreed, Dominic. The current crop of politicians and political parties have failed us badly. They do not care for democracy sufficiently. We need new blood, new parties, and a new political system.
      Perhaps that may result after Brexit? Perhaps the Swiss model might work better here?

      1. Lynn Atkinson
        October 1, 2020

        Oh Great! The Swiss have just been browbeaten into accepting free movement from the EU!

    10. agricola
      October 1, 2020

      If the present incumbents and the opposition screw up to the extent you suggest, the door opens wide for Nigel Farage and Reform. The triggers are the resolution of Brexit and a Covid survival plan that allows normal economic and social activity pending a vaccine. Despite all the current control there are elements in our society whose behaviour suggest they believe they can never be shot down, and compound it with a total disregard for how it might affect other more vulnerable members of society. There seems to be no reaction by government to curb such behaviour.

      You are right though, the controls pile one on another. Passports, Driving Licences, Mobile Phones, Bank Cards, Store Cards, all containing information of more use to authority than the end user. I can imagine the day , when like your pet Labrador, you are chipped for scanning as and when.

      1. Lynn Atkinson
        October 1, 2020

        Farage has had an open goal for decades. He can’t kick a ball. Once you all accept that nasty fact, we can get on with recovering the Tory Party for Conservatism.

    11. Ian Turner
      October 1, 2020

      I voted for Sir John at the last election and thought his “fine words” were eminently sensible. I don’t always agree with him but (by and large) I think he represents his constituents very well.

    12. Christine
      October 1, 2020

      People had their chance to vote for Nigel’s party at the election but they let him down. They only have themselves to blame. If Nigel, one of the greatest politicians in this country, couldn’t break the two party system then I don’t hold out much hope for the future.

      1. forthurst
        October 1, 2020

        Farage pulled the plug on all his candidates selected to stand in Tory held seats.

    13. Richard
      October 1, 2020

      +1 Great post.

    14. Fishknife
      October 1, 2020

      Dear Dominic,
      I hear, feel and totally reject your council of despair.
      Our motorcycle of governance is just suffering from neglect and it is up to every one of us to reinflate its tyres and get it going again after 50 years of foreign misrule.
      True there is a headwind in the form of the MSM and its insatiable desire to carp, but it has belittled itself and lost our trust.
      After Brexit we have the opportunity to put new valves in our tyres. Central management of candidate selection was a viable MO but in the information age more accountability and better selection criteria are called for. The power really has to be closer to the people.
      The silent majority have a pretty good idea of what’s best for them but they do need a jolt of enthusiasm to grasp the Covid future which Boris, love him or revile him, can’t give us this year.
      What we can do is recognise that T&T isn’t a remedy, any more than a vaccination could/will be – with masses flooding in and out of the country and no ability to accurately test for contagion or reliably isolate.
      The handle bars need to be grasped and now is the time to accept that a lot of people need to retrain NOW, not in April. Universities are suffering and the existing system is defunct. We need a system fit for the post Brexit world.
      We need to take a leaf from the nay-sayers and never let a crisis go to waste.

    15. DavidJ
      October 1, 2020

      +1

  6. Lifelogic
    October 1, 2020

    I had missed the news that the excellent Prof. Michael Levitt had actually written to Prof Ferguson and Imperial College (way back in Feb) pointing out how his figure were about a factor of 12 too high and offering to share the proof/explanation for this. Only alas to be brushed of by them. Why? I learned this from the excellent Planet Normal podcast just out.
    An excellent video of Prof. Levitt complaining about how so many “scientists” have been corrupted. failed or politicised (by this pandemic),

    They are even more so in Climate Alarmism in my opinion.

    My estimate at the time (based largely on the cruise ship figures with age adustments) was about 100,000 UK deaths (caused or accelerated by the virus) which will surely be about right in the end.

    1. Lynn Atkinson
      October 1, 2020

      Deaths from CV19 309 as we speak. Looks like this is going to be decades of lockdown before we reach you magic number and turn the key. By that time will anyone have the courage to go outdoors?

  7. SM
    October 1, 2020

    Sir John, please excuse a rather longer post than usual. You write about a Plan B for the NHS, but from the accounts of NHS care from pensioner friends in the UK, there is no coherent Plan A, a view reinforced for me by today’s news about the Health&Safety Committee’s report on the NHS.

    A very sickly 76yr old friend has a regular meeting scheduled for next week (October) with her oncologist (by telephone of course), for which she needs a blood test timed within 48hrs of the meeting. She was offered a test in January ’21. She telephoned and emailed every relevant dept and her GP, but was offered NO help.

    This Monday, she managed to contact a helpful clerk in the phlebotomy clinic at her local DGH, and was offered an appointment for THAT AFTERNOON! Unfortunately, this was too distant from her consultation to be useful. The clerk asked the patient what email address she had been given for her search for an appointment, and laughed when informed of it. “Oh, that’s useless, let me give you our secret one for the future…” she said.

    Please note that my friend’s ‘care’ – which is not just for cancer but also other very serious issues – is under the aegis of the Redbridge, Barking & Havering Hospital Trust in urban Essex rather than being lost in the depths of some rural fastness.

    Yesterday, I read about the deplorable problems existing in many NHS maternity units across the country, with a persistent emphasis on the refusal of staff to acknowledge any failures – this will not surprise anyone who, like me, has had much to do with the NHS ‘behind the scenes’ as well as being a patient and carer over decades. I do not, principally, lay the blame at the feet of professional staff – it is senior management that is useless and incompetent and needs ruthless culling and replacement.

    So, good luck with Plan B – you’ll need it.

    1. Fred H
      October 1, 2020

      Sadly your experiences and observations are all too common.

    2. Lynn Atkinson
      October 1, 2020

      It’s the medical staff who cause the £66 million successful insurance claims every year. They leave the swabs in wounds etc.

    3. Everhopeful
      October 1, 2020

      By contrast and right at this moment across the road…two ambulances and a paramedic car, quite a few people in those hazmat suits. Road blocked…been there at least an hour. Blue lights flashing.
      Apparently attending one house.
      No car accident or anything.
      What on Earth are they doing?
      Yet no one can see a doctor or get an appointment.

  8. Sea Warrior
    October 1, 2020

    There are a range of opinions coming to this site – but very few posters comment on those whose experience of COVID fall short of death. We would do well to remember that many – tens of thousands? – are going to suffer a heavily degraded quality of life for months or years ahead. Saving people from that is more important than allowing teenagers to dive headlong into the ‘university experience’. Restrictions must stay – but only be applied where and when they are necessary.

    1. Sharon
      October 1, 2020

      Sea Warrior

      I don’t believe dying or suffering from cancer is meant to be very pleasant either…but many sufferers are being denied treatment.

      There has to be fairness and a balance. Currently it all seems tipped in favour of possible Covid patients..

    2. Lynn Atkinson
      October 1, 2020

      My brother-in-law had a heart operation early in the year and caught CV19 at the hospital. He was very sick – he was in a weak state post op as anyone would be. Fully recovered. No ‘degraded life’ whatsoever. He’s 65.

      1. Lynn Atkinson
        October 1, 2020

        PS the medics did not know he had CV19 at the time. They did a test in April to confirm! Maybe he recovered so well because they did not treat him for CV19!

    3. a-tracy
      October 2, 2020

      Sea Warrior. There are people tested positive with covid 19 who don’t have any symptoms, no temperature, no loss of taste or smell, no significant cough. It was reported this week that of 500 tested in a meat process plant there were 150 covid19 + unaware they were ill.

      Back in March/April 2020, we had very few tests, therefore, the figures of people very ill with covid19 [and with the NHS at that time not knowing how to treat it quickly and effectively] were of an unknown ratio: very ill -v- those that contracted it without illness.

      You talk about University students contracting it but how many of them went on to treatment either drugs or hospital?

  9. Adam
    October 1, 2020

    The presently-healthy population is much bigger than the risk.
    It is only the Risk that should be detained in Quarantine, not everybody else.

    The old folk are less mobile and the fully-retired do not do much work.
    Quarantine restricts them less.

    The younger folk who need education and work should be free to go.

  10. Bob Dixon
    October 1, 2020

    Good on you.You should hunt our the younger M.P’s and pass on your accumulated Knowledge.

  11. Al
    October 1, 2020

    Would it not be faster to find out if Vitamin D actually helps against Covid-19 than wait for a vaccine to be developed? As it helps against flu and against other variants of coronavirus, it would be a cheap, already-available, alternative.

    Matt Hancock wrongly told the Commons that Vitamin D trials showed it was ineffective against COVID-19 when no trials had actually taken place. Surely the reasons for dismissing a possible cheap and effective way of raising resistance should be investigated? If the officials mislead him, then they should be let go.

    Sadly it would mean that locking people down through the good weather with no access to outdoors did actually make things worse, as sunlight is the best way to get it.

    1. cornishstu
      October 1, 2020

      There has been a trial, be it a small clinical trial in a Spanish hospital, vitamin D was administered to those seriously ill with Covid-19 the results were positive. Vit D in the form of Calcifediol was used to speed up absorption as this is what the body converts D3 to. https://www.ippmedia.com/en/features/first-clinical-trial-support-vitamin-d-therapy-covid-19 . Harvard has just started a lager trial in the US using D3. There has appeared to be an aversion to using cheap off the shelf treatments either dismissing out of hand or rubbishing by those calling the shots in respect to this pandemic.

  12. Jonah
    October 1, 2020

    “We now seem to know the most vulnerable groups are the elderly and those with other conditions like diabetes and obesity. ” we knew in April. If this virus was killing people of all ages with no underlying conditions the current approach would be understandable – There seems to be no consideration for people with other illness, people who’s livelihoods are being destroyed and that’s without even considering how on earth are we going to pay for all this?
    I think it’s time for people to step back and take stock of the situation!

    1. Everhopeful
      October 1, 2020

      AND those groups of people are more vulnerable to EVERYTHING!

  13. davews
    October 1, 2020

    Whitty can scare us all with magnified graphs but it now seems that the vast majority of ‘cases’ have no symptoms whatsoever.Hospital cases and ICU patients are indeed slowly increasing but they may not all have symptoms of COVID, just another positive test taken while they are in hospital. Why is this disease still being treated as a fate worse than death when the most common symptom is no symptom at all?
    I feel very much like that travel agent most days, wanting to break down in tears at this horrible world we are living in at the moment. Can your government not just see sense?

    1. Fred H
      October 1, 2020

      The fact that he can stand there and succeed in scaring people half to death should almost be ‘aiding and abetting suicide’.

      1. Lynn Atkinson
        October 1, 2020

        Surely the PM should be fined for inciting people in the North East to break the law?

  14. Dave Andrews
    October 1, 2020

    This PM doesn’t do plans, he just follows the latest MSM campaign.
    Here’s a plan – say to everyone to resume their normal lives, making decisions about protecting themselves and others by whatever means they feel appropriate.

  15. Peter
    October 1, 2020

    Meanwhile untrustworthy Tobias has been suggesting mandatory vaccinations overseen by the Army.

    Some ‘message of hope’ from him.

  16. Everhopeful
    October 1, 2020

    Got an e mail from my Tory MP just now.
    I am livid.
    No answers re his voting intentions.
    No answers to our emails to him about present situation.
    Just ASKING ME FOR MONEY TO SUPPORT THE HOMELESS via his charity run!
    Plus a link to the crazy govt’s draconian Covid rule book.
    Why doesn’t he save his energy for politics and dip into the four 🌟 hotel budget??

    1. Lynn Atkinson
      October 1, 2020

      Write and tell him the entire British nation will n]be homeless in short order unless they get a grip. Good that he is fit enough to run well though – he’ll need it!

  17. JayGee
    October 1, 2020

    I no longer trust Boris Johnson.
    I have no confidence in the government.
    I am sick and tired of being manipulated by politicians who think they are better than me.
    I have had enough of their lies.
    I will not live my life according to their crappy standards.

  18. Ian Wragg
    October 1, 2020

    The government is still planning a 2 week circuit break lockdown in October.
    This will be the final straw for many businesses.
    Boris and his publicly funded advisors don’t care if we have 5 million pounds unemployed.

    1. Sharon
      October 1, 2020

      Ian

      If this is true about the ‘circuit break’ (aka national lockdown) and Parliament votes this time, if last night is anything to go by, that’ll fly through too.

      I despair! Maybe I’ll awaken soon to find it’s all been a bad dream!

  19. Sir Joe Soap
    October 1, 2020

    Your ideas might be fine, but it seems to be beyond the wit of government to organise such systems.

  20. Ian @Barkham
    October 1, 2020

    Sir John

    I don’t believe we need an actual exit strategy. Just as no one could have foretold this virus no one has the slightest idea how to manage it. So exit from the unknown?

    For now and urgently this Country needs to become a full free Democracy. None of us signed up to living in an authoritarian Dictatorship. Give us the advice if there is any such thing available, then let us work out how to manage things in our own environment.

    As for the virus any vaccine will reduce but not cure, so the common sense logic is we (and I mean we) have to adapt and learn to live with it until like all viruses it dies out.

    Without radical change in the mode of Government, they will cease to have meaning and come the next election it would be barely possible for any in the HoC to get elected again. Boris is now a spent entity that needs discarding, he is a Dictator that is achieving nothing. He will jump to attention for the Cancel Culture, Play to the WOKE audience, bend to the will XR doctrine, he is refusing the ‘Clean Break’ from the EU. In fact he will do anything that does not involving trusting and listening to the People that voted him in.

    1. Ian @Barkham
      October 1, 2020

      From todays Telegraph, more or less what most contributing here are saying

      “The “war” on coronavirus cannot be won by imposing increasingly tough restrictions on human behaviour, a World Health Organisation (WHO) expert has warned.”

      “Dr David Nabarro said the only way to “get ahead” of the virus was to maintain public support for choosing to “do the right thing” and not by imposing increasingly difficult rules.”

      Boris and his left wing government have lost the trust and help of the people. Because those of us that are obeying the rules are the same ones that would heed advice, but resent the threats.

  21. Jim
    October 1, 2020

    Excellent thinking Sir John. An opportunity to lead from the front. Bring back a full Parliament and the House of Lords as well. Set an example showing us that there is nothing to be frightened of, that the ‘science’ and ‘danger’ is overstated. Merely a touch of flu. Show us what you are made of.

  22. Freeborn John
    October 1, 2020

    We need a plan to eliminate the virus. Anything else is wishful thinking that will costs more lives and money in the long run.

    1. Lynn Atkinson
      October 1, 2020

      Oh why stop there? Let’s hold our breath until we turn blue unless they eliminate disease, war and injustice as well!

      1. hefner
        October 3, 2020

        What a good idea. Will you show us how it is done?

  23. Sharon
    October 1, 2020

    I still feel it’s not for government to have a plan B.

    If people want to be careful about where they go or who they meet, that’s fine, but it’s not for government to decide.

    I had a conversation with a friend the other day, and She was telling me how children making crafts for the elderly at her church. My comment was, in a large church hall with tables spaced out, why can’t the elderly come and do some crafts themselves. Her response was rather as the government’s- they’re too vulnerable!

    Do these elderly people have no say in their lives any more?

  24. Zorro
    October 1, 2020

    You could have chosen to make a stand along with some of your braver colleagues yesterday but you chose to vote with the government for the Coronavirus Bill. Your reply to my post in the Brady amendment blog is below….

    Reply Our aim is to get debates and votes on the individual restrictions of our liberties, which the government promised yesterday. The Coronavirus Act contains necessary powers to make compensation payments and organise health and welfare which Meant it was always going to pass with a large majority.Many of the controls and powers you and I dislike have been taken under older legislation on the Statute book. repeal of the CA does not free us.

    The Coronavirus Act is obscene as I have st out before on the blog, in particular, the lack of post mortem procedures and other medical issues. I do not believe the government and neither should you. Talk is cheap especially from our Dreaded Health Commissar Mat Hang Kok.

    You are correct about some of the oppressive measures being taken under PHA 1984 (how apt) but this again is a grotesque stretching of the legislation which concerns quarantining of the sick not the healthy!

    This is why they focus on the canard of ‘asymptomatic’ transmission. They deem that the healthy are suspected of being sick – everyone is a suspect who has to prove their innocence, a modern day Loi de Prairial. This is madness as well as absolute tyranny!

    zorro

    Reply we are getting debates and votes on 2 of the control SIs next week

  25. Everhopeful
    October 1, 2020

    Why do they think a vaccine is the answer?
    They say it is a coronavirus.
    Coronaviruses are very hard to vaccinate against.
    They know that.
    Why do they think there is a new flu jab every year and that it is not very effective. Especially if they guess the strain wrongly.
    Aren’t the US and UK already paying out vast sums re swine flu compensation. And probably others.
    Oh..I forgot …they changed the law on that one! So Covid vac gets free run.
    Nastier and nastier!!

  26. Aaron Shone
    October 1, 2020

    I would suggest that for the past 6 months, we’ve put up with government advice, listening to experts and experiencing Liberty restricting lockdown. The virus is still with us, and it’s time to change the approach. Clearly a continual, ongoing rolling lockdown is having an affect, but only in a limited and specific way to reduce infection numbers, not to actually ensure the economic well being of the country and its citizens.

    I am personally getting bored with the whole thing, the novelty has worn off and I sympathise with all those people who are trying to socialise and get on with their lives, but being penalised for doing so.

    Listening to Government experts reminds me of people who say 1 person killed in a road traffic accident is one too many, we must get the death value to zero by enforcing rules that cars must travel at 4 mph at all times to increase survivability. Unfortunately people will die, from disease, old age, medical complications. The ethical and moral judgement is to reduce this as much as possible, with ‘possible’ meaning within wider constraints, not ‘reduce to zero’. It seems the government advisors want to reduce the medical deaths to zero by restricting social interaction to zero.

    I don’t want to live in such a stagnant, isolated society. It there was a political party that prioritised individual freedom and choice, and personal responsibility rather than centrally dictated restrictions, I would vote for them in an instant.

    I also see the humour in government ministers trying to articulate the difference lockdown rules on radio 4, and getting them wrong. When lawmakers don’t understand the rules, perhaps, just perhaps, the whole think is getting a little to complex. Keep it simple, a principle that works across multiple disciplines, not not currently in government lockdown rule making.

  27. Bryan Harris
    October 1, 2020

    JR – Thank you for pursuing a new plan to restore our liberties.

    Any delay in finding an effective vaccine then would work in favour of those that want to keep us locked down…

    That vaccines are seen as the only exit from this situation speaks volumes about the advisor’s lack of experience and imagination.

    What has been done to analyse why some people just shrug off the virus? NOTHING!

    In this drug dependent world we put far too much faith in drug companies that make a vast fortune from every virus that comes along.
    We do have the opportunity to look wider than a quick fix that will likely have major side effects — Improve the diet generally of people, but also find ways to make us all as strong as those that just shrug off the virus — We don’t need drug companies for that…!

    1. Lynn Atkinson
      October 1, 2020

      I will never have the vaccination.

      1. Bryan Harris
        October 2, 2020

        The way this authoritarian government is going we may not have a choice — no matter how good or harmful that vaccine will be.

        With digital id’s now legal, and just around the corner, we will then have a chip implanted under our skin to perform as a health passport – which will monitor behaviour and inhibit what we can do and where we can go.

        I sometimes imagine that health passports were the real reason for all of this and a major goal of the NWO

  28. Bill B.
    October 1, 2020

    The seven Conservative MPs who voted against renewing the Coronavirus Act:-
    Peter Bone.
    Philip Davies.
    Philip Hollobone.
    Esther McVey.
    Desmond Swayne.
    Charles Walker.
    William Wragg.

    I would vote for any of them as my MP.

    1. Everhopeful
      October 1, 2020

      Did JR vote for it then?

      1. zorro
        October 1, 2020

        Yes, JR voted for it. Ironically, Johnson and Raab didn’t….

        zorru

    2. Anonymous
      October 1, 2020

      The seven Conservative MPs who voted against renewing the Coronavirus Act:-
      Peter Bone.
      Philip Davies.
      Philip Hollobone.
      Esther McVey.
      Desmond Swayne.
      Charles Walker.
      William Wragg.

      I would vote for any of them as my MP.

      ….
      future generations of school childrenvwill be taught they are heroes.

      1. Lynn Atkinson
        October 1, 2020

        A couple of them voted for Mays Treachery Agreement.

  29. Johnny Dubb
    October 1, 2020

    Only 7 tories voted to retrieve our freedom and democracy. Party before country we are used to. Party before freedom not so much. No shame, only self justification. Bowing down to microbes like Hancock.

    1. Everhopeful
      October 1, 2020

      Utterly shattering.

    2. Caterpillar
      October 1, 2020

      And only one of the previous leadership candidates, blue collar tory Esther McVey. Meanwhile Hancock picks fight with Middlesborough.

  30. agricola
    October 1, 2020

    A Plan B suggests a fall back position. We need a Plan A based on the experience of what to do and what not to do from the evidence of the past six months. Key to returning the economy to normal operation, while a vaccine remains unavailable, is frequent testing that would give most people a health practique. With such they could work , partake of the hospitality industry and airlines. When UK companies have produced machines that can detect Covid within an hour, and the UK government health industry has ignored such to the point where they export rather than sell in the UK, it is incumbent on government to explain in detail why their test and trace is too inadequate to achieve a return to normality.

    In the UK my experience is that the GP health service has gone into hibernation. Want an appointment, “We only do phone appointments”. I fly back to Spain and get an appointment to see a real live GP in three days, meaning I can arrange a flu jab, blood tests and the next years prescriptions, in a country, if you believe the UK media, that is suffering a worse Covid experience than the UK. My impression is that the administrative element of our health service, that which is distant from front line, and government are running around like headless chickens.

    1. Caterpillar
      October 1, 2020

      It does seem that some GPs are not providing the service they are contracted to provide.

  31. Stred
    October 1, 2020

    There are more cases of covid in the North and fewer in the South apparently. The testing is being concentrated in the North. Well, there’s a surprise.
    They just don’t get it. Vallance tells us that they now know that that increased testing does not result in increased numbers of cases. Boris tells us that we must carry on with the fight and keep leaving the restaurant at ten. Lock up the Welsh and the Geordies. The then, when we find that we don’t have another 65,000 deaths from covid and we’re dropping dead from heart attacks and cancer instead, he can claim that it worked.
    This country lead the world once because of the work of great scientists and inventors. We still have independent thinkers and they have written clear explanations about the reasons for the increased numbers of false positive tests being ten times the real rate and that most of the real ones are with younger people with no symptoms. Could Boris have read these and could he understand them is he had? We really are being lead by donkeys.

  32. Mary M.
    October 1, 2020

    I am so disappointed and very angry that even Steve Baker and Graham Brady themselves accepted the sop from the Government yesterday – that Parliament can have a say on any future national coronavirus lockdowns. Such mealy-mouthed comments from them! Both men used the word ‘Grateful’ in their response to Matt Hancock’s ‘We will consult Parliament; wherever possible . . .’ (Pull the other one.)
    Would a government of any country in its right mind have another national lockdown when it’s easy enough to control the general populace by just having local lockdowns here and there, with no parliamentary scrutiny needed?
    And only 90 minutes in which to debate something so important! At least, that’s what Matt Hancock disingenuously said, but Speaker Lindsay Hoyle gently chastised him, saying that more than 90 minutes would have been allowed.
    What about any retrospective debate about the infringement of people’s liberty caused by the Coronavirus Act 2020 since March? Now, without any scrutiny, we’re stuck with these unhygienic masks for another six months at least, the wearing of which for all we know is contributing to the increase in ‘cases’.
    And what about the elderly stuck in care homes, not able to see family and friends freely? On-line systems are just not good enough and are in fact proving to be confusing and stressful. Most elderly people I’ve spoken to would rather take the risk of getting Covid-19 than spend their twilight months and years in isolation.

    Reply The Brady amendment has changed things. We get two debates and votes on SIs controlling people next week

    1. Mary M.
      October 1, 2020

      Thank you for this clarification, Sir John. I hadn’t found anything in the newspapers about debates and votes on SIs next week. My spirits are slightly lifted.
      Mary M.

  33. Fred H
    October 1, 2020

    A plan that has some credibility and that lasts for more than a couple of days would be a start. For weeks now the announcements were preceeded in some way (leaked intentionally) trying to soften up the public to more punitive measures which always turn out to be as clear as polluted pond water.
    Geographic changes are too numerous and muddled, virtually no penalties are nor can be carried out, so they are ignored regularly. Wild estimates seek to maintain control where almost none exists where it matters. Older, vulnerable people continue to take the measures which are common sense, younger ones appear to think it won’t happen to them and live their lives regardless of risk to others.
    Get a grip!

  34. Anonymous
    October 1, 2020

    John, we do not need politicians anymore, they do more harm than good. We need to look at alternative models.

    1. Lynn Atkinson
      October 1, 2020

      Such as?

  35. James Bertram
    October 1, 2020

    Good summary, Sir John – Plan B needed.
    It’s now a matter of getting the idiot government to see sense – or getting rid of them.

  36. a bad dream
    October 1, 2020

    Well, that ain’t good enough from an elected rep when freedom is being extinguished


    he is right, there comes a time you need to take gloves off.

  37. BetterTimes
    October 1, 2020

    A sensible comment Sir John.

    “The most vulnerable groups are the elderly and those with other conditions like diabetes”…what a shame that the Government/supermarkets don’t agree about those with “diabetes”.
    They offer online shopping, priority slots to those over 70…but those with diabetes are completely ignored.

  38. miami.mode
    October 1, 2020

    On numerous occasions when completing official forms I am asked my ethnicity, age, sex etc.

    Why is this not apparently required information when people are tested for CV 19 so that the government can get accuracy into their findings and let us all know the precise details? How can the government formulate plans without knowing properly what’s happening?

  39. Ian Turner
    October 1, 2020

    The Government doesn’t need to protect most of the elderly – we are already doing that for ourselves. In our area the chances of getting Covid are probably very low but our chances of surviving it are on the low side too, so why take that chance? The fact is that most of us won’t take that gamble.

    Stick with Hands, Face and Space but encourage the young to get back to a more normal life because we have to learn to live with this problem. By all means protect the NHS but if there is no economy left, there will be no NHS either. So “Protect the Economy” should now be the new catchphrase.

    Get real and get back to work and play but be sensible about it (OK, a hard ask for some I’m sure). Us Oldies will take care of ourselves. The Government should focus on the folk who are unable to do that.

    1. Caterpillar
      October 1, 2020

      Don’t “encourage” just allow. Sunak encouragwd and rhis does not give rise to stable behaviour patterns under which the virus suppresses with lower infection rates. The Govt oscillates between mixing everyone and mixing no one. So no to “encourage” yes to normal + hygiene and space.

  40. hefner
    October 1, 2020

    The ConservativeHome website has details of the Conference Party Programme and of the Online Fringe meetings. As put by Charlotte Gill they might also show which ministers are up and down (and additionally which MPs are invisible for any practical purpose).

  41. glen cullen
    October 1, 2020

    Plan B which should be plan A, is indeed the herd immunity – let the virus run free and medicate only those who have a serious condition

  42. JimS
    October 1, 2020

    “We now seem to know the most vulnerable groups are the elderly and those with other conditions like diabetes and obesity.”

    There must be many who find themselves in the first category and who have now joined the other two categories as a direct consequence of government action.

    The purpose of the pre-virus legislation was to permit the locking up of the sick to save the healthy. It has been abused so that now the healthy are locked up to make them sick.

    There is surely more than a ‘virus’ behind this shut-down? Davos versus the Deplorables?

  43. Iain Gill
    October 1, 2020

    Never has a single issue revealed how badly suited our ruling class, the political class, the senior public sector, and indeed much of the senior private sector are at actually making decisions, swapping between the big picture and the detail in multiple dimensions, prioritising, putting together roadmaps to success, dealing with parallel changing events, understanding where to get the best people to solve problems from. Our public school biased, many issues not up for debate, incestuous non meritocratic, system is killing us quite literally both economically and from lots of illnesses that we are not treating as much as Covid itself.
    Its all descended into a farce.
    My mother is very old, probably slipping slowly into dementia, I can tell when I speak to her on the phone that her memory is going. But she lives alone in an area that is totally locked down. No body else at all is supposed to visit her. She was doing very nicely with various friends dropping in from time to time to help with the housework, shopping, cooking, house repairs and all the rest of it. I live hundreds of miles away, if I drive up and stay the weekend I am supposedly breaking the rules. We cannot leave old ladies stuck on their own isolated like this, with nobody checking the progression of the various ailments that come with that kind of age. It is simply nonsense. If you asked her she would say she would rather take the risk of dying from Covid than dying having never seen her grand children again, and what right exactly does the state have to mess with such a decision.
    My money will run out shortly and having paid masses of taxes over many years I will be destroyed by the double whammy of the state printing work visas for skills already massively in oversupply, and from the depression caused by the mishandling of Covid. If you think I can feed my kids on universal credit you must be mad. Are we the core wealth earners of the country so easily dismissed? Its not going to be pretty if this is the decision and lack of support.
    Meanwhile I am being let down by multiple public sector organisations which are actively lying and failing in the basics of their duties. All at home on full pay no doubt. While we are giving illegal immigrants rooms in 4 star hotels…
    This cannot go on. Forget the polls, there will be a revolution soon.

    1. a-tracy
      October 2, 2020

      The public sector ‘safe jobs and guaranteed defined benefit pensions’ have absolutely no idea what it feels like to be a private-sector worker/ self-employed / locked out of your workplace, everywhere you turn your excluded from this provision or that provision because of doing things right such as a) saving b) saving for your old age because we don’t get guaranteed income from the age of 60 c) mortgaging your own home.

      You can always tell the people on this board who are retired ex-public service workers on decent pensions or in safe jobs paid to work from home.

  44. Christine
    October 1, 2020

    The Government has lost perspective. The draconian measures they have put in place are causing more deaths than COVID ever will. One million breast screenings missed, diabetic tests not being done, cancer checks not carried out, heart problems not being investigated, mental health and suicides increasing. I went for my annual flu jab this week and the chemist said she would run out of the under 65s vaccine within days and couldn’t get any more. The list goes on and for what? Pinning hopes on a vaccine that could be years off and not even work. Let the vulnerable shield if they want to but let the rest of society get back to as near normal as possible.

  45. Steven
    October 1, 2020

    I suggest the resignation of the entire parliament, the sacking of all the “experts” that have caused this disaster, a public inquiry into the vested interests and possible criminal actions of all those involved including the funding of media organisations by big pharma. That would be a good start.

  46. villaking
    October 1, 2020

    Sir John, this is exactly the point and I am thankful at least one elected representative sees it. The logical extension of the current government policy is that we live with these restrictions possibly forever. This is a despairing message and makes the UK a country I no longer want to live in. Many people will feel desperate thoughts when this is fully understood. The government response to the pandemic was an astronomical overreaction and it seems to me they are unable to face up to this. It is deeply unfortunate that such a large section of the population urged them to follow the policies of a brutal dictatorship (China) in dealing with this and beyond comprehension that even now very few regret it. Nobody seems to be pointing out that there is no evidence that lock downs even work whilst there is much evidence that they do not. Furthermore, the impact on wider healthcare is now having devastating consequences which, combined with the imminent economic depression will cause deeper despair. This dystopian, dehumanized world is not one many of us will cope with in the long term. I wish your view had wider traction in the House.

  47. A.Sedgwick
    October 1, 2020

    I do wonder if all those making these decisions have had children progressing to University. In normal times it can be traumatic with future mental health consequences. The change from school control to living away from home and self maintenance can be difficult for some.
    Continuing home contact and support can be vital so when you have students locked up in digs and the likes of Sturgeon hoping they can go home for Christmas I expect to hear some critical medical voices. So far I have not.

  48. Richard1
    October 1, 2020

    Dead right.

    If you will allow it here is a link to an interview with the former CSO of Pfizer who says there is a high chance the ‘second wave’ is in fact a mass of false positives:-

    https://hubpages.com/politics/Pfizer-Chief-Science-Officer-Second-Wave-Based-on-Fake-Data-of-False-Positives-for-New-Cases-Pandemic-is-Over.

    An interview on TalkRadio is also available with this scientist.

    Sweden is not doing mass testing, is not doing a second lock-down or anything like it and is not seeing its hospitals full of ill people.

    It is increasingly clear the UK govt – like other govts – have got this wrong and their policies are doing huge damage. But lets remember the left – Starmer et al – were and still are just arguing for more and more shut downs. So there will be some loss of face for Boris but no need to take any notice of the left who have been even more wrong.

  49. Ian Wilson
    October 1, 2020

    There’s more sense in this post than is offered by all the Cabinet combined. My personal view as a 79-y-o is that the economy should not be wrecked to protect those of us with limited life expectancy anyway. I would prefer to risk myself rather than impoverish my children and grandchildren.

    What I also fear for generations to come is another economic meltdown caused by the crippling unscientific ‘zero carbon’ momentum which will return us to mediaeval standards of living and possibly life expectancy, all to tackle a probable non-problem.

  50. NickC
    October 1, 2020

    The exit plan from cv19 restrictions?

    Given that currently cv19 is only moderately infectious, with a low rate of serious illness and death, and the profile of the vulnerable is known, I would copy Sweden.

    In particular I would immediately lift all restrictions on the under 60s, and scrap all fines for individuals. Masks would become optional – if you’re frightened, wear one. I would allow HCQ with zinc and vit D on the NHS, as a prophylactic and early treatment.

  51. Anonymous
    October 1, 2020

    Thousands of doctors revealing it is all a political hoax are still being removed from youtube.

    1. Fred H
      October 1, 2020

      I wondered what all the doctors have been doing. If believed to be a hoax -why aren’t they working?

      1. glen cullen
        October 1, 2020

        Like teachers – they get paid whether they’re at work or not

  52. Newmania
    October 1, 2020

    Sweden , herd immunity ..yada yada .

    After you.

    1. No Longer Anonymous
      October 1, 2020

      You’re below the at-risk age.

      What on earth are you worried about ?

    2. Edward2
      October 1, 2020

      Doing better than some nations that had lockdowns.

  53. DaveK
    October 1, 2020

    Sir John,

    In this internet age, you don’t have to be too suspicious to wonder about certain things, such as keeping the panic going when it has subsided to such a low level. The connections/relationships between various companies and groups with the educational establishments/Medical Experts (Doctators ;-)/Health Secretary/PM whose stated aim is to have Global vaccination and ID. The vaccination seems to be seen as a silver bullet, however if like most vaccines it will lose it’s effectiveness as the virus mutates as many other coronavirus treatments appear to do, will this become an annual occurrence? Moving the goalposts to mention cases and play down hospital admissions and deaths to justify further restrictions just leads to annoyance by the compliant majority. When you can see that “we” are behaving, for example R Rate falling from 1.7 to 1.1 from 1st September in England being “told off” irritates even more. Stating as the PM did yesterday that there is only one way to deal with this proves to me that we are in an agenda-driven situation much like the climate change “solutions”.

  54. Philip P.
    October 1, 2020

    Sir John, I agree but all of this was surely obvious months ago. ‘Urging’ is getting nowhere, I’m afraid.

  55. Tabulazero
    October 1, 2020

    No mention of the UK caving in once more on fishing ?

    Just to summarise the lattest British proposal
    – 3 year status-quo.
    – Problem quicked down the road with talks to take place.
    – EU sustainability rules to apply in the meantime.

    => Looks like the UK is heading toward a new 3 year transition period

    It’s a bad day when you have to use COVID to distract from BREXIT.

    1. glen cullen
      October 1, 2020

      +1

  56. BOF
    October 1, 2020

    If there is not a rapid exit plan from this Government imposed insane policy of ‘fighting’ and ‘defeating’ the virus that is currently a long way down the list of killer diseases, then Alexander Johnson will be presiding over the Conservative party exit plan from Government for a very long time indeed. Even many conservatives would celebrate.

  57. Ian @Barkham
    October 1, 2020

    Ursula von der Leyen has just shown what a despicable shower she and her overlords are.

    Complaining about a Law that the EU broke, by not agreeing leaving terms and trade at the same time as laid down in EU Law. Simply meant what ever they said from then on was spurious. In engineering to break up the UK through obscure back door nuances just shows how despicable the EU Commission is. I feel sorry for the peoples of Europe that have to endure this tyranny without any democratic say.

    So today the EU is to take the UK to their Political Court to assert their right to rule on what happens in the UK.

    1. Lynn Atkinson
      October 1, 2020

      Great that they are showing their hand!

  58. RichardP
    October 1, 2020

    I would like to thank the 24 MPs who voted against renewing the provisions in the Coronavirus Act last night. They at least value our freedoms and our democracy. It’s a shame there aren’t more like them.

    1. Zorro
      October 1, 2020

      Indeed….ahem

      Zorro

    2. L Jones
      October 1, 2020

      When my MP stated that she was going to vote for Sir Graham’s amendment, I wrote to thank her.
      Today I wrote again to tell her I was disappointed and sickened.

      1. Sharon
        October 1, 2020

        I’ve just looked at the list of ayes and was horrified to see that 330 MPs voted for it!!! Including my MP and John Redwood! That really shocked me!

        1. Caterpillar
          October 1, 2020

          Supposedly Mr Hancock will allow votes in weeks ahead where possible, but will have to continue to take emergency decisions when needed.So clearly there is no change to dumb dictatorship just a confirmation to drag things out.

          The votes are shocking.

    3. glen cullen
      October 1, 2020

      +1

  59. David Williams
    October 1, 2020

    There is competition going on for who can be the most draconian. Conservative versus labour. UK government versus devolved regions (especially Scotland). We must turn that around.

  60. Enigma
    October 1, 2020

    Who profits from the vaccine?

    1. Zorro
      October 1, 2020

      Those who have shares in big pharma companies and those who are working with similar organisations to push the vaccine agenda.

      Zorro

      1. Enigma
        October 1, 2020

        Not Sir Patrick Vallance surely?

  61. mongoose
    October 1, 2020

    There will never be – never can be – a safe and effective vaccine against a mutating RNA coronavirus. The notion is an absurdity.

    There can only ever be a partially effective vaccine that can become part of the flu jab spectrum. This will be announced to get great applause, the drug companies will dine out on it and we will get back to establishing a natural herd immunity based on mass exposure and mutation to a lower IFR/lethality.

    1. Everhopeful
      October 1, 2020

      They can’t even make sure they have enough flu vaccine.

  62. Sharon
    October 1, 2020

    “They want us to do this until a vaccine is available that works well and is accepted by the bulk of the population.“

    Well good luck with that! This means that potentially we could be living under these conditions indefinitely. This is totally unsustainable and wholly unrealistic.

    The stupid thing with the virus, it’s following the usual pattern of viruses. So with some light “guidelines” with businesses and individuals doing what works best for their individual circumstances, the virus may well have blown over by now. Each Lockdown just pauses the spread.

    In March, I supported the government’s efforts, but not now – they are behaving like mad dictators, and won’t apparently even listen to other views. And I cannot believe that around 80% of people support the Lockdowns. That’s not what I’m seeing and hearing!

    1. L Jones
      October 1, 2020

      Sharon – re polls.
      There is a very interesting article in Lockdown Sceptics (.org) from someone who used to be on the grandly named ”Yougov Panel”. It’s telling.
      There’s another one from a surgeon who speaks of ”Public Health Medics”.
      Both well worth a read.

      1. Sharon
        October 1, 2020

        L

        I’ve read the Lockdown Sceptics account on polls – very telling. But I’ll checkout the second read you suggest. Thanks!

    2. Anonymous
      October 1, 2020

      In March, I supported the government’s efforts, but not now – they are behaving like mad dictators


      You should have known that in March, the info was available, everything.

  63. Fred H
    October 1, 2020

    So Stanley Johnson goes shopping without a mask…..and Corbyn joins a dinner party with 8 others.
    She (Mrs) leaves Boris to go to Italy for a holiday.

    What an example to set to the people – in mental anguish, fearing Covid, sick, unemployed, despondent, politically furious? Any number of issues about the Government and what it is doing, demanding and NOT doing.

    Life in the UK is becoming a national laughing stock.

    1. Fred H
      October 1, 2020

      Mine was an hour earlier! And it spells it out rather more clearly.

  64. Norman
    October 1, 2020

    Two points, Sir John.
    (1) A relative of mine who I was visiting weekly over 100 miles away is hoping I will be able to go again soon. She has already had a mild illness that was confirmed as Covid-19. As long as I wear PPE and keep 2 m away, I will be allowed to visit – that is, as soon as the weekly staff monitoring shows no further positive tests – which so far, it has. But at least there is hope that I shall be allowed to go in quite soon. The patient is bedridden, in her own room, so it cannot be outside. Thank goodness for balanced common sense, in the midst of a hyper-charged risk-averse culture.
    (2) You have advocated well for a sensible UK exit strategy – now long overdue, and absolutely vital. The fact that many other countries, including some of the poorest with their already most vulnerable now approaching starvation as a direct result of strict lockdown policies, causes one to question what madness is driving this whole thing, globally. I understand there are people out there who, through influential organizations like the UN/WHO, have an agenda (e,g. population control) that would never pass any democratically run system of government. Is this the supra-national governance of an unseen globalism exerting itself? I’m pretty sure that it is, which is why it’s vital our own government is held much more to account as a matter of urgency.

  65. Pat
    October 1, 2020

    The problem comes from people who see “fighting Covid” as a virtue in and of itself, rather than a means to an end. It is difficult to convince them how small the problem has become, as that negates their “virtue”.

    1. L Jones
      October 1, 2020

      Well said, Pat. For many, it may well be the most exciting thing that’s ever happened in their very cloistered and narrow lives.
      For others, no doubt, it’s been a very comfortable few months taking public money for doing nothing.
      Why should any of these wish for the situation to end?

    2. Ex-Tory
      October 1, 2020

      +1

  66. a-tracy
    October 1, 2020

    Perhaps elderly patients instead of going into care homes should go into some of these hotels your government have chosen to put out of business. Near to hospitals. Ensuite rooms. Catering inhouse. Cleaning teams available. Then put medical nursing staff to live in and give them rooms in the hotel test them all weekly, these new tests that give results quickly.

    The nightingales would never have been suitable as the little cabins weren’t enclosed.

    1. glen cullen
      October 1, 2020

      Good idea, put all elderly in 4*hotels and all immigrants in the nightingale complex

      1. Lynn Atkinson
        October 1, 2020

        We are sending all illegal immigrants from France, back. That needs to be backdated so that they ALL go back.

    2. Fred H
      October 1, 2020

      well they would all have Covid, what are you wanting to protect them from?

  67. a-tracy
    October 1, 2020

    “Some scientists think Sweden shows that the virus stabilises or wanes after a period of time”

    There are lots more people without symptoms getting tested routinely through their workplaces. Many more people are told they’re covid+ without any symptoms whatsoever, no temperature, no cough, no loss of smell or taste. Perhaps this was the same picture last March when hardly any tests were done.

    Yesterday I read one meat plant tested 500 people 150 were covid+ unaware they had it.

    1. glen cullen
      October 1, 2020

      The Spanish flu/covid global pandemic only lasted 2 years and that’s without modern medicine or treatment

      This pandemic has already lasted a year due mainly to humanities attempt to stop it

      1. Caterpillar
        October 1, 2020

        Yes. U.K. is hiding data. The positive test results that are published daily need to state which are symptomatic / asymptomatic on day of test and whether it is pillar 1 or pillar 2. This part is easy, it is just reporting.

        Some have called for either viral culturing or non-RNA antigen tests of at least some of the positives, particularly so called aymptomatics. It could just be non-viable i.e. non-infectious RNA

        1. glen cullen
          October 1, 2020

          I just can’t get my head around the fact that with all our technology and advancement in medicine we’re no better than those in 1918

          1. Caterpillar
            October 2, 2020

            +1

          2. hefner
            October 4, 2020

            That must win the prize for the most ridiculous comment on this blog for a long while: Average life expectancy during the 1918-19 pandemic 40 years, in 1920-23 : 58.9 years, in 2017 world average both sexes 72.2 years.

  68. Everhopeful
    October 1, 2020

    Boris’ Dad…No mask out shopping.
    Mr Corbyn holds a party with more than 6.
    Well…..

    1. Caterpillar
      October 1, 2020

      And in yesterday’s pess conference Prof Whitty indicated that he would try to stick to the rules/laws … try?

      Are the fines an entrance fee for the wealthy?

  69. Tom Rogers
    October 1, 2020

    Didn’t some of us say, right at the beginning, that it was all unnecessary?

  70. Barbara
    October 1, 2020

    Sir John, I am surprised you voted for this nonsense to continue. We are being shut down on the basis of fake data. As various people have shown, the false positive rate (between 0.8 and 4%, so take a middle figure of 2.3%), which is a percentage of PERSONS TESTED (not of persons with a positive result), gives a higher number than the number of positives we have.

    20 million have been tested. 2.3% of 20 million = 460,000 FPs.

    Numbers of supposed positive – 423,000.

    1. L Jones
      October 1, 2020

      Barbara – we are wondering the same. It is as if these people are far more interested in their wage packets than they are about the people who are actually WORKING to fill those packets. And for how long? Just as long as it takes to fill their coffers to keep them comfortable while the rest of us starve or squirm?

  71. John Waugh
    October 1, 2020

    The wealth producing private sector workers are now looking like slaves worried about making a living and all the rest . They are being controlled by the public sector people who mainly get their money whatever.

  72. ian
    October 1, 2020

    It all about prevention, not cure, vitamins and H tablet, the H tablet should make available over the counter in every chemist in the country, it no different to taking a vitamin once a week, but of cos, as usual, it all comes down to money and power up against 60 tablets for a pound and shutting as many small businesses to give others a bigger share of the market at the end the day it all about the stock market and fewer workers on lower wages for a bigger share price.
    Next year they will open up even without a vaccine after shutting small businesses and cutting staff and then apply for more work visas for overseas workers to keep wages down.

    1. L Jones
      October 1, 2020

      Perhaps Sir John has never modified his ”blog” so that we can ”vote up” those with whom we agree. Instead we have to formulate some sort of reply. I’d rather just say I agree, actually.
      And I do.

    2. Caterpillar
      October 1, 2020

      Ian,

      Yep, the low income model of the economy that the Conservatives wish to continue running as confirmed by Patel’s inadequate income threshold, amongst other things is absurd (politist word I could find).

  73. ian
    October 1, 2020

    Never let a good crisis go to waste.

    1. glen cullen
      October 1, 2020

      Its going to be milked and milked and milked

  74. Lindsay McDougall
    October 1, 2020

    it is clear that we must remove the shackles from our economy in order to generate more revenue and prevent the government’s taxation revenue from declining too much.

    The country’s fiscal position is a disaster. There will inevitably be a need to subsidise public transport to some extent, we need to spend more on health care and at the moment the government is only willing to consider free at the point of consumption services, and the cost of welfare will inevitably rise as the number of unemployed increases.

    The country’s monetary policy is a disaster. The method of QE chosen by the government and the BoE results in a substantial bung to the richest 5% of the population whilst adding to the State debt that the rest of us have to pay. Ultra-low interest rates ensure the survival of the fattest, not the fittest, with house prices sky high and other asset price inflation. The overall result is an economy in which the ultra-rich and the wealthier pensioners are stuffing the working population out of sight.

    In a previous blog, I have suggested interviewing at least 500 of the new COVID-19 cases each day in order to determine the places they have visited and the gatherings they have attended between 4 and 10 days previously, the period within which they are most likely to have been infected. The government should ensure rapid analysis of this data and prompt publication of daily summaries. Until this is done, I am going to make my recommendations based on the most probable causes of transmission.

    Public transport maximum occupancy rates should be limited to about 30% of capacity in order to ensure a minimum of one metre spacing. Spot checks should be carried out and operators should be fined if they exceed the limit.

    At the moment places of worship may admit as many groups of six as they want to, provided only that there is one metre spacing between groups. That’s far too generous and risky, especially considering that religion is of no economic value. I suggest that religious services are organised using low attendances and Zoom, the way that parliament meets.

    The rule of six is good for many families – two grandparents, two parents and two children. For families with more than two children, permits for a larger group could be obtainable from local authorities. Somewhat reluctantly, such family meetings should be confined to public parks. I wouldn’t trust families meeting in gardens not to go inside, especially with winter coming.

    And if these restrictions don’t work, we should just let the disease rip.

    1. L Jones
      October 1, 2020

      ”Is good for many families”? Let’s take a guess here – it’s good for YOURS – right? Your little group? How utterly selfish,
      Perhaps you should do some proper research rather than rely on the ”information” your Facebook ”friends” give you,

      Pity really. You generally talk sense.

  75. ian
    October 1, 2020

    Forecast for S&P 500 in 2022 over 5000 and the FTSE at all-time highs, you could make it up.

    1. glen cullen
      October 1, 2020

      but banks still instructed by this government not to pay dividends, you couldn’t make it up

  76. ian
    October 1, 2020

    The high in the markets won’t come till 2023/4 and then that high won’t be beached for another 26 years. Central bankers will come to an end when the bottom is in and have thrown everything the public have at it even buying shares of companies in the open market to no avail,
    I am still on track on for this forecast since 2012.

  77. No Longer Anonymous
    October 1, 2020

    I wish the government would stop listening to the polls. They don’t count until furlough is stopped and the tax rises and full unemployment have come in.

    This disease could well run into 2022.

    There will be nothing left. Life is going to be utterly miserable and I don’t think people realise it yet.

    1. glen cullen
      October 1, 2020

      Are you suggesting with all our professors and saga, billions to the NHS, continued lockdown – that this pandemic will run for longer than the spanish pandemic of 1918

      1. Caterpillar
        October 1, 2020

        glen cullen,

        This is the Govt’s strategy. The Govt intends to do everything it can to stop community immunity building up. It was this that suppressed the virus in 1920 and offered some protection thereafter against related viruses. The PM’s policy is explicitly to leave us needing a vaccine, and this could go on.

        Sadly the PM, Hancock and Sunak are part of the problem.

        1. Simon Coleman
          October 1, 2020

          Yes, that is the policy. It’s obvious, as all sensible alternatives to a vaccine have been ignored by the gov’t. Sensible scientists such as Heneghan and Sikora have also been ignored. Once the policy is understood, then the question is – Why? Sadly, a great many people seem to be unable to get that far.

        2. glen cullen
          October 1, 2020

          Agree

    2. Lynn Atkinson
      October 1, 2020

      The disease could well run into 2222!

  78. Iain Gill
    October 1, 2020

    I see the elected Mayor of Middlesbrough is on the TV rejecting the new lockdown announced by the government, and promising to ignore the measures.

    Everything he said made complete sense to me.

    The Government has lost the plot completely. Lets see the elected mayor get nicked by the police for ignoring the measures eh? Somehow I dont think so.

    As predicted this whole mess is degenerating into ever more of a farce every single hour.

    Come on John tell the government in no uncertain terms they are making massive mistakes here.

  79. Mary M.
    October 1, 2020

    Thank you for this clarification, Sir John. I hadn’t found anything in the newspapers about debates and votes on SIs next week. My spirits are slightly lifted.
    Mary M.

  80. Richard
    October 1, 2020

    Re “sensible precautions to control the disease”, here is one practical idea:
    “Yet vitamin D is unbelievably cheap, particularly if bought in massive bulk by a government under a negotiated contract. It could have been made freely available, without massive cost, to all aged 70 and above, or with co-morbidities that make them vulnerable to the virus —especially for those locked-down care home residents who often have little access to the sunshine that creates vitamin D…
    And now, months later, a gold standard test of vitamin D on coronavirus has finally arrived. It shows vitamin D has extraordinary benefits, reducing incidence, seriousness and mortality by 50% or more.” https://capx.co/covid-vitamin-d-and-what-happens-when-statistics-are-revered-but-not-understood/ https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-vitamin-d-reduces-infection-and-impact-of-covid-19-studies-find-12081132

  81. Dee
    October 1, 2020

    The question I want answering is this.
    If Boris and Hancocks think that what they are doing is the right course of action.
    How come we are the worst affected Country in Europe and one of the worst affected in the World?

    1. matthu
      October 1, 2020

      And the funny thing is, the more false positives thrown up by the pillar 2 testing, the worse affected we are.

    2. Iain Gill
      October 1, 2020

      because despite many obvious and blatant mistakes and examples of poor practise by the NHS and public sector they always seek to blame the individual citizens. because too much is centralised (badly) and we have a rubbish public school class in positions of power completely and utterly out of their depth.

  82. Simon Coleman
    October 1, 2020

    Yes, in any sane world there would be an alternative exit strategy to a vaccine. But, far from even considering alternatives, the gov’t (or whoever is actually running the country) is ramping up the vaccine rhetoric. I saw a Conservative MP (might be a minister, not sure) openly talking about vaccine passports next year. The veiled suggestion – it seems to me – is that you will need one of these passports to get your basic freedoms back. Those who refuse the vaccine (for legitimate reasons) will continue to face restrictions. If anyone knows any more about these passports…

  83. Jenny Green
    October 7, 2020

    I agree, that we ( the many of us who think that the dangers to the whole country, to be vastly exaggerated) need desperately some common sense to be applied to this whole situation. Please John Redwood, and those Conservative MP who see the damage being done to this country insist this stops.

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