Coronavirus

[Nearly Sane]

Corrupt and stupid


https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/perth-kinross-councillor-claims-covid-22679363?fbclid=IwAR3lkQ0DHZKY9mJ2WpaEuycEyAPdu1iWioEfW0wWhk_QfUeGrLuUcwJiy84

[Nearly Sane]

Meanwhile useless Covid blockers

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-africa-54087605

[Nearly Sane]

Continued problems testing NHS staff


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54156889

[Nearly Sane]

Have to say this seems right to me.

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/bbc-scotland-announces-u-turn-22701022?fbclid=IwAR39iQUK0CcPEPny8oVKaYClARLwg55DfIrO3Et3JJBXS06QZHe2pBORq04

[jeremyp]

Have to say this seems right to me.

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/bbc-scotland-announces-u-turn-22701022?fbclid=IwAR39iQUK0CcPEPny8oVKaYClARLwg55DfIrO3Et3JJBXS06QZHe2pBORq04

Have to say: hasn't she got anything better to do with her time? I'm not saying the daily briefings shouldn't happen. In fact I wish the UK daily briefings were still happening, but they could easily be done by the minister in charge of health or some lesser official.

[Gordon]

Have to say: hasn't she got anything better to do with her time? I'm not saying the daily briefings shouldn't happen. In fact I wish the UK daily briefings were still happening, but they could easily be done by the minister in charge of health or some lesser official.

I think they are very worthwhile and watch them regularly - she also takes questions from journalists and doesn't do the wiffle-waffle you see from the likes of Boris the liar.

[jeremyp]

I think they are very worthwhile and watch them regularly - she also takes questions from journalists and doesn't do the wiffle-waffle you see from the likes of Boris the liar.

I do not dispute the value of the daily briefing. I only question the need for them to be conducted by the First Minister every day.

[Nearly Sane]

Have to say: hasn't she got anything better to do with her time? I'm not saying the daily briefings shouldn't happen. In fact I wish the UK daily briefings were still happening, but they could easily be done by the minister in charge of health or some lesser official.

I'm not sure there is. It's an hour or so a day and it's dealing with the main concern of the govt at this time. It provides continuity at a time when many people are worried. Note the main issue with the story here was BBC Scotland's decision to stop showing the briefings, and thinking people could access them on line. Given many of those most concerned about Covid are elderly and in a group less likely to access online, this seemed the wrong decision to me.

[jeremyp]

I'm not sure there is. It's an hour or so a day and it's dealing with the main concern of the govt at this time.

It's a whole hour or more every day of the First Minister's time. There's absolutely no reason for her to do it, unless she's got nothing else to do.

Note the main issue with the story here was BBC Scotland's decision to stop showing the briefings, and thinking people could access them on line. Given many of those most concerned about Covid are elderly and in a group less likely to access online, this seemed the wrong decision to me.

I'm not saying they shouldn't be shown. I'm saying it is unnecessary for the First Minister to be doing them rather than somebody else like the health minister, for example.

[Nearly Sane]

It's a whole hour or more every day of the First Minister's time. There's absolutely no reason for her to do it, unless she's got nothing else to do.

I'm not saying they shouldn't be shown. I'm saying it is unnecessary for the First Minister to be doing them rather than somebody else like the health minister, for example.

Yes, I got your point, I was just pointing out that the story was not about the continuation of the briefings or who is doing them.

If you are trying to show how seriously it's being taken, it seems a perfectly sensible reason to me to have the briefing done by the FM,

[Nearly Sane]

The number of infections in France and Spain are now at higher levels than the initial peaks - though much of that may be to do with more testing. Given that there was a fairly close correlation with France, Spain and Italy in the first peak, I'm wondering what is significantly different this time with Italy which doesn't seem to be experiencing anything like a similar surge.

[jeremyp]

If you are trying to show how seriously it's being taken, it seems a perfectly sensible reason to me to have the briefing done by the FM,

The very fact of having a daily briefing would do that. Even at the height of the crisis, the UK wide briefings were handled perfectly well by several of the government ministers on a rotating basis (even after the PM had recovered). Frankly, I think Sturgeon is grandstanding, unless she really has got fuck all else to do and I don't believe that.

[Nearly Sane]

The very fact of having a daily briefing would do that. Even at the height of the crisis, the UK wide briefings were handled perfectly well by several of the government ministers on a rotating basis (even after the PM had recovered). Frankly, I think Sturgeon is grandstanding, unless she really has got fuck all else to do and I don't believe that.

There were lots of comments when Johnson did very few briefings that he wasn't taking it seriously. Covid is the big story and the big thing that action is being taken on. Why the FM should not take that into account just seems odd to me.

[Nearly Sane]

Anyway apparently we should be listening to Van Morrison


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-54194408

[Nearly Sane]

In addition to the benefit of showing how seriously the Scottish govt is taking Covid, I think having the FM doing the briefing highlights the possible changes overall in lockdown, and says to people that they should take it seriously


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-54203794

[jeremyp]

There were lots of comments when Johnson did very few briefings that he wasn't taking it seriously.

Boris Johnson was very seriously ill with COVID19. Any claims that he wasn't taking it seriously are bullshit.

Covid is the big story and the big thing that action is being taken on. Why the FM should not take that into account just seems odd to me.

But every day the First Minister of Scotland goes on telly to read out some routine statistics. It would be far better if a minion did it most days and the First Minister came on only when there are serious developments, for example, when there is a policy change.

[Gordon]

But every day the First Minister of Scotland goes on telly to read out some routine statistics. It would be far better if a minion did it most days and the First Minister came on only when there are serious developments, for example, when there is a policy change.

She does more than that though, such as dealing with questions: it shows leadership, and allows continuity of messaging.

[Nearly Sane]

Boris Johnson was very seriously ill with COVID19. Any claims that he wasn't taking it seriously are bullshit.
But every day the First Minister of Scotland goes on telly to read out some routine statistics. It would be far better if a minion did it most days and the First Minister came on only when there are serious developments, for example, when there is a policy change.

The questions about taking it seriously started way before he had Covid. If you think it can be done by a 'minion', you aren't taking it seriously.

[Nearly Sane]

Dido, Queen of Carnage

https://amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/sep/18/matt-hancock-test-and-trace-dido-harding?__twitter_impression=true

[Nearly Sane]

Eejit!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-54205353

[jeremyp]

The questions about taking it seriously started way before he had Covid. If you think it can be done by a 'minion', you aren't taking it seriously.

If you think that the only way for the First Minister or Prime Minister to demonstrate they are taking it seriously is to stand up and read the statistics out every day, then you are part of the problem. It's a facile "appearances are more important than substance" attitude and I despise it.

[jeremyp]

Eejit!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-54205353

Yes he is, but he probably isn't the only person to contribute to the spike. Bolton has a population of about 200,000 people, so the spike is around 400 new infections. Unless it happened a month or two ago, it's unlikely all those 400 infections came from one person.

[Nearly Sane]

If you think that the only way for the First Minister or Prime Minister to demonstrate they are taking it seriously is to stand up and read the statistics out every day, then you are part of the problem. It's a facile "appearances are more important than substance" attitude and I despise it.

If you don't think appearances are part of the substance here then you are not thinking clearly.

[Nearly Sane]

Yes he is, but he probably isn't the only person to contribute to the spike. Bolton has a population of about 200,000 people, so the spike is around 400 new infections. Unless it happened a month or two ago, it's unlikely all those 400 infections came from one person.

The report doesn't say that he was solely responsible so not sure what you are arguing about

[SteveH]

Dido, Queen of Carnage