Coronavirus update - NO MORE RESTRICTIONS

[Hilts]

Re: Coronavirus update

This playing politics is getting ridiculous on all sides now.

It is far too important for our leaders to play party games

I dont think they did yesterday to be fair.

I thought Drakeford and Johnson did what they should. Be cautious.

[Elwood Blues]

Re: Coronavirus update

Im certain they know and are preparing for the start of vaccination. I saw no difference in Drakeford or Johnsons response.

I certainly didnt read his answer as we will decide what to do when we get it.

How else do you interpret the quote then.

Let's put it this way

If Boris said we will decide how to use it when it is available, Sir Keir would (rightly) rip him apart at the next PMQ's for not having a plan!!

[Vindec]

Re: Coronavirus update

All parties responded cautiously yesterday.

The only real difference was when few tougher questions were asked Drakeford answered clearly and confidenly whereas Boris immediately starts stuttering , stammering and struggled to get his sentences out.

All these arguments are really unnecessary and disguise the fact that the likely availability of the vaccine should be celebrated and not be the subject of political differences.

[Croesy Blue]

Re: Coronavirus update

All these arguments are really unnecessary and disguise the fact that the likely availability of the vaccine should be celebrated and not be the subject of political differences.

I think the caution from the government was more to stop people coming out of a lockdown and just acting like things are normal.

It's definitely a massive thing to be celebrated but we still need to get to the point where people are getting it before letting our guard down.

[Hilts]

Re: Coronavirus update

All these arguments are really unnecessary and disguise the fact that the likely availability of the vaccine should be celebrated and not the subject of political differences.

Of course.

Its great news. Im actually stunned. 90% effective. Isnt the flu 50%?

[Rjk]

Re: Coronavirus update

All these arguments are really unnecessary and disguise the fact that the likely availability of the vaccine should be celebrated and not be the subject of political differences.

It's fair enough for the papers or the general public to celebrate this, but I wouldn't want Drakeford or Johnson celebrating this yet, cautious but hopeful seems to be the right tone at this stage.

[Croesy Blue]

Re: Coronavirus update

Of course.

Its great news. Im actually stunned. 90% effective. Isnt the flu 50%?

Yeah 50-60% on a good year I think.

The good thing about it being 90% is even if some people are reticent to take it, the herd immunity isn't as important when it's this strong.

I hope they can release some info to show people vaccines don't have latent issues (other than in one case I think) and the way these are made there is almost no chance of latent issues.

You might get short term side effects like the flu jab but as long as what they've told us about the trials is right they're perfectly safe.

Conspiracy theorists will have a field day though.

[lisvaneblue]

Re: Coronavirus update

I would assume that the arrangements to store and distribute a potential vaccine that looks like it'll be available in a few weeks are being looked at by someone., surely you don't believe they're really just sitting on their hands?

However, I think it is right for Drakeford to exercise caution, as if he came out with a statement saying that "hooray the vaccine is nearly here, we're all saved" then you'd see a lot of people suddenly caring a lot less about social distancing measures.

It is also worth considering that there are other companies working on vaccines - one or more of these may turn out to be more effective than the Pfizer one, or not require such extreme temperatures to give them a useable shelf life. So I can understand the comments about it being one companies message.

If we get the Pfizer vaccine here in Wales, and it sits around for weeks because we have nothing put in place for it, while people are dying in large numbers then yes absolutely the blame would stand at the door of the Welsh govermnent - however it is just speculation that that is going to happen.

I hope e get several effective vaccines. Pfizer is good news because the others in development work in a similar way. They will all need to be stored in the same way as the Pfizer vaccine. I doubt others will be more effective than 90%. 50% is considered good

[lisvaneblue]

Re: Coronavirus update

Like he said....nothing to do with party politics

I’d be saying the same things whatever party the person represented

[lisvaneblue]

Re: Coronavirus update

It's fair enough for the papers or the general public to celebrate this, but I wouldn't want Drakeford or Johnson celebrating this yet, cautious but hopeful seems to be the right tone at this stage.

Drakeford disappointed me as he suggested that the data should be read carefully because it came from a a competitor company in this field. The data was published by Pfizer but it was the results of a 43,000 patient study conducted in a controlled way by doctors in many parts of the world.

Bojo just stumbled through and said it was good news.

The study is exciting because the results are so good and the side effects apparently low. Further Pfizer, like AZ, has taken a business risk and already made millions of doses.

If our regulatory authorities approved the drug for use today it could be leaving the factory tomorrow. This isn't a maybe in the future thing, this is now. Even Pfizer say its ready to roll.

[A Quiet Monkfish]

Re: Coronavirus update

And based on the UK (English) Government's record on the virus so far, I say (to borrow from another country) Vive Le Difference!

I'm not sure anything he's done differently to England has had any material difference. I'm not sure that much that has been done/not done in other countries has had much impact. Italy, France and Spain have imposed far more strict lockdowns/restrictions/curfews that the UK, yet have all had pretty much the same 'results'. Wales has a few built up areas - the rest is mountains and sheep, just like Cornwall. High figures in the Valleys, low in the hills. Mr Pastry & Co. haven't been that effective, despite what us Welsh would like to think..

[cyril evans awaydays]

Re: Coronavirus update

I’d be saying the same things whatever party the person represented

Apologies. I got you mixed up with someone with a similar user name who has heaped the blame for England's frailties on government agencies, civil servants and scientists and Wales's on governing politicians

[lisvaneblue]

Re: Coronavirus update

Apologies. I got you mixed up with someone with a similar user name who has heaped the blame for England's frailties on government agencies, civil servants and scientists and Wales's on governing politicians

I'm pleased that you spotted your error

[the other bob wilson]

Re: Coronavirus update

Just 444 new cases reported in Wales;-

https://public.tableau.com/profile/public.health.wales.health.protection#!/vizhome/RapidCOVID-19virology-Public/Headlinesummary

[Rjk]

Re: Coronavirus update

I'm not sure anything he's done differently to England has had any material difference. I'm not sure that much that has been done/not done in other countries has had much impact. Italy, France and Spain have imposed far more strict lockdowns/restrictions/curfews that the UK, yet have all had pretty much the same 'results'. Wales has a few built up areas - the rest is mountains and sheep, just like Cornwall. High figures in the Valleys, low in the hills. Mr Pastry & Co. haven't been that effective, despite what us Welsh would like to think..

It isn't just the Welsh who think so - polls in England have consistently shown that people there think the Welsh government has handled it more effectively than the UK government.

I have plenty of sympathy for all of the European governments trying to feel their way through this, as it is something that is completely new to all of us. I'm sure every country has made mistakes, and learned a lot, but we are still a long way from being able to deliver the kind of response they saw in the far east IMO.

It just seems to me that a lot of the worst mistakes that I'm aware of have come from the UK government - undoubtedly that'll be because they are under the most scrutiny here, but still I'd challenge anyone to say they've done well.

Late to lock down twice, Test and trace, PPE procurement, really confusing messaging to the public (barnard castle etc), the ventilator project

The other nations in the UK aren't performing MUCH differently in terms of outcomes in fairness.

At wales' door I suppose you can say they were also late to lockdown in the first instance, and perhaps in a couple of weeks we'll be saying that the 2nd lockdown should have lasted longer. They built a hospital in the Stadium that they didn't need, then dismantled it and are building another one.

I'm sure there are plenty more examples for both.