UKMT April 2020 - The Betacoronavirus and the Virgin Atlantic

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Debate & Discussion > UKMT April 2020 - The Betacoronavirus and the Virgin Atlantic

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Maugrim: Feb 16, 2011; I eat your face

Jedit posted:

Just as well, nobody's that big a fan of you.

I suspect that was :thejoke:

E: cat tax

Maugrim fucked around with this message at 08:09 on Apr 3, 2020

# ? Apr 3, 2020 08:04

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# ? May 24, 2024 15:50

Azza Bamboo: Apr 7, 2018; THUNDERDOME LOSER 2021

A good cat.

I like how their whiskers are white

# ? Apr 3, 2020 08:19

knox_harrington: Feb 18, 2011; Running no point.

A mate's daughter picked a great time to get appendicitis. Perforated last night while the hospital was deciding whether they could give up a bed for her (but surgery went OK subsequently).

# ? Apr 3, 2020 08:43

Jippa: Feb 13, 2009

How do I stop twitter from showing me what people have liked? I'm sure it doesn't usually do this? I'm just seeing a load of them this morning.

# ? Apr 3, 2020 09:04

Qwertycoatl: Dec 31, 2008

Jippa posted:

How do I stop twitter from showing me what people have liked? I'm sure it doesn't usually do this? I'm just seeing a load of them this morning.

Click on the sparkly star thing (on the top right for me), choose "show newest tweets on top"

# ? Apr 3, 2020 09:09

Lunar Suite: Jun 5, 2011; If you love a flower which happens to be on a star, it is sweet at night to gaze at the sky. All the stars are a riot of flowers.

Qwertycoatl posted:

Click on the sparkly star thing (on the top right for me), choose "show newest tweets on top"

Just remember that this setting will randomly undo itself �when you�re away for longer� because Twitter insists it knows better than me what I want to see, and what I want is the opinions of the dumbest people on this plagued rock.

# ? Apr 3, 2020 09:14

Cerv: Sep 14, 2004; This is a silly post with little news value.

delete your twitter account and un-bookmark the website

# ? Apr 3, 2020 09:14

Jippa: Feb 13, 2009

I was clicking through my settings and didn't change anything. Then clicked back to home and it's all back to normal. Not a liked tweet in sight. So weird.

# ? Apr 3, 2020 09:16

ThomasPaine: Feb 4, 2009; We have no compassion and we ask no compassion from you. When our turn comes, we shall not make excuses for the terror.

knox_harrington posted:

A mate's daughter picked a great time to get appendicitis. Perforated last night while the hospital was deciding whether they could give up a bed for her (but surgery went OK subsequently).

The idea of this kind of thing happening plays on my mind, though I imagine emergency surgical procedures will have to continue to some extent, particularly with a whole group of inexperienced people attempting DIY for the first time.

# ? Apr 3, 2020 09:17

Gonzo McFee: Jun 19, 2010

https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1245658050192527362

lol

# ? Apr 3, 2020 09:42

Gonzo McFee: Jun 19, 2010

https://twitter.com/MetroUK/status/1245752934324936704

All the cancelled surgeries. All the hardship that healthcare services fought. Just puffs off into smoke because it never loving mattered.

# ? Apr 3, 2020 09:49

Josef bugman: Nov 17, 2011; Pictured: Poster prepares to celebrate Holy Communion (probablY)

This avatar made possible by a gift from the Religionthread Posters Relief Fund

Gonzo McFee posted:

https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1245658050192527362

lol

Almost all the replies are dunking on the idea of paying for it.

# ? Apr 3, 2020 09:50

keep punching joe: Jan 22, 2006; Die Satan!

Gonzo McFee posted:

https://twitter.com/MetroUK/status/1245752934324936704

All the cancelled surgeries. All the hardship that healthcare services fought. Just puffs off into smoke because it never loving mattered.

Money isn't real, debt is imaginary.

# ? Apr 3, 2020 09:52

StarkingBarfish: Jun 25, 2006; Novus Ordo Seclorum

Finally managed to get a picture (though it's not very sharp or near) of a Wren! Our neighbour has a bird box and this little fella is in the process of filling it with moss.

Other visitors this morning were a Robin:

and a Great Tit:

# ? Apr 3, 2020 09:55

Renaissance Robot: Oct 10, 2010; Bite my furry metal ass

Gonzo McFee posted:

https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1245658050192527362

lol

Hahahahahaha

No.

# ? Apr 3, 2020 09:55

goddamnedtwisto: Dec 31, 2004; If you ask me about the mole people in the London Underground, I WILL be forced to kill you; Fun Shoe

https://twitter.com/pearlylondon/status/1244904061473902593

# ? Apr 3, 2020 09:57

Junior G-man: Sep 15, 2004; Wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma

Good stuff from the FT this morning, all is not well for Bozza Legernd Government Get It Done. Looks like they're throwing the NHS and CumDommies under the bus for the ongoing shitshow that has been corona management.

quote:

With Johnson under fire, blame game begins over virus crisis
Media criticism intensifies after disclosure that only 2,000 NHS staff have been tested

For the first time since becoming prime minister, Boris Johnson woke to universally negative newspaper headlines on Thursday morning � including from some titles usually supportive of his leadership.

After the government disclosed that just 2,000 National Health Service staff in England had been tested for coronavirus, the Daily Mail declared it was the �Statistic that humbles ministers�. Even the Daily Telegraph, where the prime minister spent most of his journalism career, splashed on virus testing, with the blunt headline �Questions without answers�.

Pressure is mounting on the prime minister as the Covid-19 crisis deepens. Some ministers and Conservative MPs are concerned whether Mr Johnson and his advisers�have a strategy to exit the nationwide lockdown.

Tempers are fraying at the heart of government as it tries to increase testing, boost the supply of protective equipment to NHS staff, and secure more hospital ventilators. �It�s loving tense in there,� said one Tory official, referring to the atmosphere in 10 Downing Street.

A blame game is already under way and, for ministers and their aides, the primary target of their ire is the civil service and what they see as the state machinery�s inability to deliver.

Over the past fortnight, the Downing Street political team has been increasingly at odds with Mark Sedwill, cabinet secretary and head of the civil service, over how best to respond to the crisis.

One Number 10 insider said there was �growing anger� at Sir Mark�s alleged �inability to execute what needs to be done�.

Criticism of Sir Mark is also coming from within Whitehall. His lack of Treasury experience has been identified by several civil servants as a flaw in his skills-set given that the pandemic threatens to wreak huge economic damage.

�People are saying that Jeremy Heywood would have handled things differently,� said one senior civil servant. Lord Heywood, the former cabinet secretary who died in 2018, spent a big chunk of his career at the Treasury.

A Cabinet Office spokesperson, responding to the allegations against Sir Mark, said: �There is no truth to this. The cabinet secretary and PM are working in lockstep to protect the NHS and save lives during this period of unprecedented challenge.�

Gus O�Donnell, another former cabinet secretary, said: �It�s always going to be difficult in Number 10� as Mr Johnson seeks to make trade-offs between �black and white� medical advice and wider considerations about society and the economy.�

One cabinet minister closely involved in responding to coronavirus said the leadership of key public bodies should also shoulder responsibility for the acute challenges.

�The NHS bureaucracy is something to behold. The conversations have been pure �Thick of It�,� said the minister, referring to the BBC political satire.

�They�re proud of their independence and won�t yield for anyone. The same is true for Public Health England: they�re the reason we don�t have more testing. They want to control the whole tedious process.� PHE is responsible for responding to public health emergencies.

The second target for blame for some Conservatives is those advising Mr Johnson, led by his chief aide Dominic Cummings.

One senior Tory insider described certain aides in Downing Street as �inexperienced, unpleasant and naive�.

�There is a lot of tension in there because they realised they are desperately trying to make up ground,� said the insider, claiming that Downing Street �wasted a lot of time� by previously accepting that Britons should be exposed to Covid-19 in order to gain��herd immunity�.

One Downing Street insider defended the Number 10 team: �This is an unprecedented global health crisis and everyone is focused fully on delivering the best possible response.�

Mr Johnson has sought to improve his communications during the crisis by bringing in Isaac Levido, the Australian political strategist who ran the Conservative election campaign last year, and Gabriel Milland, a close ally of Mr Cummings who works for the consultancy firm Public First.

But while the government has honed its message on social distancing, it is struggling to explain its strategy for exiting the lockdown.

Mr Johnson released a video on Wednesday evening, filmed while he is self-isolating after falling ill with Covid-19, in which he said testing was �how we will unlock the coronavirus puzzle. This is how we will defeat it in the end�.

Ultimately, Mr Johnson risks becoming the target for blame. Several Tory MPs expressed concerns about his demeanour in the latest video. �I�m worried he is isolated, unwell and isn�t receiving good advice,� said one MP. Another said he looked �dire� and claimed there were fears�in the parliamentary party that �he doesn�t have a grip�.

These concerns partly stem from how key decisions are made by a small group of ministers in daily meetings involving Mr Johnson, chancellor Rishi Sunak, Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove and health secretary Matt Hancock. These ministers are assisted by Sir Mark, chief medical officer Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance.�

The arrangements have left many Tories feeling perplexed. One cabinet minister not involved in the daily meetings said she �didn�t have a clue� about the basis for the decisions. Another MP said: �It�s like a black box in Number 10. No one knows what is going on.�

Although Mr Johnson bears final responsibility for how the government deals with coronavirus, his high approval ratings in opinion polls suggest the public are giving him the benefit of the doubt for now.

�Everyone is trying their best and he�s not in trouble yet,� said one ally of Mr Johnson. �But the next few weeks are going to be very tough for all of us. It will get worse and he�ll need all the support he can get.�

If Sir Keir is dumb enough to step into this shitshow as a 'national unity' thing, the press and Tories will have found their victim.

# ? Apr 3, 2020 10:00

josh04: Oct 19, 2008; "THE FLASH IS THE REASON
TO RACE TO THE THEATRES"
_{This title contains sponsored content.}

Ah, briefing the press with personal criticism of top civil servants has gone so well for the Tories before.

# ? Apr 3, 2020 10:03

Gonzo McFee: Jun 19, 2010

keep punching joe posted:

Money isn't real, debt is imaginary.

It's not even debt in the traditional sense. It was the government making the government take out a loan from the government to cripple part of the government.

# ? Apr 3, 2020 10:04

Junior G-man: Sep 15, 2004; Wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma

Also get ready for PeasantBadge! Your personal identification that You Are Cleared For Work!

quote:

UK health minister draws up plans for 'immunity certificates'

UK officials are drawing up plans for �immunity certificates� for those who have previously had coronavirus, health secretary Matt Hancock confirmed on Friday morning.

Mr Hancock told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme that there was a �workstream� taking place on how the certificates � or wristbands � could work.

The health secretary, who has only just returned to work after falling sick with Covid-19, conceded that it was not yet known how long people would have immunity to the virus after experiencing it.

But he said it was �highly likely that I�m now immune or have a very high level of immunity� even though this was not certain.

�When science is clear about the point they are immune, people can get back to being normal,� he said. �The big challenge is knowing how longer immunity lasts for.�

Mr Hancock confirmed that his new target of 100,000 daily tests by the end of April applied only to swab tests for infection rather than antibody tests to find out if someone has previously had the virus.

Earlier on LBC radio he refused to say he would resign if the target was not reached.

The government previously had a target of reaching 25,000 swab tests per day and 250,000 tests of both kinds � but there was no specific date put on either target.

Asked why he came back to work after barely a week � when WHO advice is to self-isolate for 14 days � Mr Hancock said he was following the advice of the chief medical officer.

# ? Apr 3, 2020 10:05

Josef bugman: Nov 17, 2011; Pictured: Poster prepares to celebrate Holy Communion (probablY)

This avatar made possible by a gift from the Religionthread Posters Relief Fund

WOW, this absolutely facile mother fucker.

# ? Apr 3, 2020 10:11

keep punching joe: Jan 22, 2006; Die Satan!

The government should probably stop infighting and finger pointing, and get on with managing the spiralling human tragedy unfolding in our hospitals imo.

# ? Apr 3, 2020 10:18

Angepain: Jul 13, 2012; what keeps happening to my clothes

"Statistic that humbles ministers" is actually a very kind headline for the government, as it implies that they are capable of both humility and comprehending statistics

# ? Apr 3, 2020 10:18

sebzilla: Mar 17, 2009; Kid's blasting everything in sight with that new-fangled musket.

Jeremy Corbyn posted:

Dear Seb,

I hope you and your family are keeping safe and well. I would especially like to thank the thousands of you working in key jobs and professions and those organising in mutual aid groups to help your local community.

As I stand down as Leader, I also want to thank you for all the support you have given the party, and me personally, over the last four and a half years. It has been the honour of my life to lead this party. Our members are my inspiration, and I am so proud that we have become a party of nearly 600,000 strong. I have made it a priority to meet members in every part of our country, and I learned so much from you.

So many of the issues we have been campaigning on over the past few years have been thrown into even sharper relief by the Coronavirus crisis. It has highlighted the underfunding in our NHS and social care as a result of damaging and counter-productive austerity, the lack of employment rights at work, the scandalously low level of welfare benefits, as well as housing insecurity and homelessness.

It has also reminded everyone how the people who keep our society running are not the hedge fund billionaires, but the cleaners, nurses, care workers and supermarket staff - so often women and migrant workers on low pay. The strength of our party is that it is rooted in our workplaces and communities in all their diversity.

Over the past five years we have changed the agenda on austerity and how the economy is run. In 2015, opposing austerity was seen as radical; today it is the political mainstream. A majority of the public supports Labour on issues such as public ownership and higher taxes on the richest. We now look forward as a party of economic inclusion, climate justice, peace and human rights.

Of course, we could have achieved so much in government, and I am sorry that under my leadership we did not get there. In 2017 we came close, winning the biggest increase in the popular vote since 1945. Sadly, the 2019 election was a Brexit election and our attempt to bridge the gap between Leave and Remain voters was unsuccessful.

I firmly believe that together we have the ideas, policies, energy and organisation to win a Labour government next time. We can build a society based on social justice, equality, and care for our environment. But it will not come about unless we fight for it.

Our party grew out of local communities and that is where we must focus our efforts, just as we always have. I will continue to campaign on the issues and principles that have motivated me as Leader, as an MP, as a councillor and as a party member for more than 50 years. I can assure you my voice will not be stilled. I'll be out there campaigning for socialism, peace and justice, and I feel sure we'll be doing that together.

Best wishes,

Jeremy Corbyn

I'm not crying, you're crying!

# ? Apr 3, 2020 10:22

Paul.Power: Feb 7, 2009; The three roles of APCs:
Transports.
Supply trucks.
Distractions.

Junior G-man posted:

Also get ready for PeasantBadge! Your personal identification that You Are Cleared For Work!

They... they do realise that some people have relapses?

# ? Apr 3, 2020 10:22

pumpinglemma: Apr 28, 2009; DD: Fondly regard abomination.

Junior G-man posted:

Also get ready for PeasantBadge! Your personal identification that You Are Cleared For Work!

So how long before employers start hiring only PeasantBadge holders, and how long before people start ~~having to infect themselves or die on the streets~~ making the irresponsible choice to break the lockdown?

e: oh my loving god I didn�t even see they were talking about wristbands as an option. How can they not see that will instantly start a black market?

pumpinglemma fucked around with this message at 10:25 on Apr 3, 2020

# ? Apr 3, 2020 10:22

Sad Panda: Sep 22, 2004; I'm a Sad Panda.

Paul.Power posted:

They... they do realise that some people have relapses?

Well no. They don't. Also the small issue that if these are millions of tests run from home then you'll get people claiming that they're just fine and passed it despite not having done so.

# ? Apr 3, 2020 10:27

josh04: Oct 19, 2008; "THE FLASH IS THE REASON
TO RACE TO THE THEATRES"
_{This title contains sponsored content.}

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-52148020

quote:

British Transport Police has admitted wrongly charging a woman who was fined �660 under coronavirus legislation.

Marie Dinou, 41, from York, was arrested at Newcastle Central Station on Saturday after she refused to tell police why she needed to travel.

She was fined by magistrates for breaching the Coronavirus Act.

A police and Crown Prosecution Service review said she was charged under the wrong part of the act. The court will be asked to set the conviction aside.

"There will be understandable concern that our interpretation of this new legislation has resulted in an ineffective prosecution," said British Transport Police Deputy Chief Constable Adrian Hanstock.

So, uh, what's going on here?

# ? Apr 3, 2020 10:29

Oodles: Oct 31, 2005

josh04 posted:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-52148020

So, uh, what's going on here?

Not surprising that the first time they try and enact some legislation they do it in the wrong way. And it�s super easy to wiggle out of if it�s done incorrectly.

# ? Apr 3, 2020 10:33

Wiggly Wayne DDS: Sep 11, 2010

Sad Panda posted:

Well no. They don't. Also the small issue that if these are millions of tests run from home then you'll get people claiming that they're just fine and passed it despite not having done so.

i wouldn't worry about that in the immediate future. the government said last week they wanted commercial kits being able to be bought by the public start of this week and it never happened

instead there's a small update that i don't think the media have noticed yet: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/guidance-on-coronavirus-covid-19-tests-and-testing-kits

quote:

Advice for manufacturers
MHRA is no longer accepting applications to place test kits on the market.

Send enquiries to covidtestingtriage@dhsc.gov.uk.

We are developing specifications for coronavirus (COVID-19) tests and will make these available as soon as possible.

given what was said in last night's briefing about a test kit missing 3 out of 4 positive cases i gather they were flooded with scams/profiteering so they're having to rediscover that the free market isn't about effectiveness or efficiency

# ? Apr 3, 2020 10:34

Communist Thoughts: Jan 7, 2008; Our war against free speech cannot end until we silence this bronze beast!

Junior G-man posted:

Also get ready for PeasantBadge! Your personal identification that You Are Cleared For Work!

lol

it was already funny that germany said "we are planning to do this" and everyone acted as if they'd already done it

now we're going "we are thinking about planning to do what the germans are planning to do" and presumably trying to pitch it as something already underway

# ? Apr 3, 2020 10:36

Jel Shaker: Apr 19, 2003

Boris is on borrowed time, I say ignoring the last 5 years

# ? Apr 3, 2020 10:36

Comrade Fakename: Feb 13, 2012

josh04 posted:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-52148020

So, uh, what's going on here?

"Marie Dinou" sounds like she might not be white.

# ? Apr 3, 2020 10:45

Josef bugman: Nov 17, 2011; Pictured: Poster prepares to celebrate Holy Communion (probablY)

This avatar made possible by a gift from the Religionthread Posters Relief Fund

sebzilla posted:

I'm not crying, you're crying!

This reason is why I am sticking in Labour. If Corbyn was able to, then I should to.

# ? Apr 3, 2020 10:46

sinky: Feb 22, 2011; Slippery Tilde

josh04 posted:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-52148020

So, uh, what's going on here?

The woman is black.

# ? Apr 3, 2020 10:46

josh04: Oct 19, 2008; "THE FLASH IS THE REASON
TO RACE TO THE THEATRES"
_{This title contains sponsored content.}

Comrade Fakename posted:

"Marie Dinou" sounds like she might not be white.

sinky posted:

The woman is black.

I specifically meant why the case was dropped, given the "bang to rights" write-up it's still getting even in that article. :eng99:

But it was probably as prosaic as this:

Oodles posted:

Not surprising that the first time they try and enact some legislation they do it in the wrong way. And it�s super easy to wiggle out of if it�s done incorrectly.

# ? Apr 3, 2020 10:49

Stormgale: Feb 27, 2010

josh04 posted:

I specifically meant why the case was dropped, given the "bang to rights" write-up it's still getting even in that article.

But it was probably as prosaic as this:

As I understood it from when it came up there's nothing in the legislation that says you have to provide ID or a reason for travel as I understand it. And they detained her for failing to provide them.

# ? Apr 3, 2020 10:54

knox_harrington: Feb 18, 2011; Running no point.

Stormgale posted:

As I understood it from when it came up there's nothing in the legislation that says you have to provide ID or a reason for travel as I understand it. And they detained her for failing to provide them.

I know the answer to this is going to be "no" but it feels like police officers should be personally liable for this kind of negligence. At least in civil court?

# ? Apr 3, 2020 11:04

thrashingteeth: Dec 22, 2019; depressive hedonia
always tired
taco tuesday

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-51952607

I don't know why this really got me this morning, she's so young and had three kids

E: I just now noticed they said she died "with Covid-19" so loving annoying man. Her sister said she was normally healthy and she died on a loving ventilator. Nah bro, the BBC are even more full of poo poo than usual.

thrashingteeth fucked around with this message at 11:12 on Apr 3, 2020

# ? Apr 3, 2020 11:09

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# ? May 24, 2024 15:50

Angepain: Jul 13, 2012; what keeps happening to my clothes

A virus was present in a mortality-related incident

# ? Apr 3, 2020 11:15

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Debate & Discussion > UKMT April 2020 - The Betacoronavirus and the Virgin Atlantic

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