The Chinese government gave us a problem, lied about it, and didn’t really give us much warning. At this point (and as is well documented on these pages I really really dislike the Chinese government) the buck passes to the rest of the world.
The warning the Chinese government did give was largely ignored by policy makers in this country.
A mixture of (understandable but negligent) unwillingness to believe it was that serious, poor/conflicting advice, and civil service bureaucracy led to a very slow response when it came. Really April 1st (irony noted) before requests were being put out for all the stuff we need, a week after lockdown started.
Since then a series of promises re tests, PPE, ventilators etc have been made and broken. Bureaucracy, incompetence and magical wish fulfilment thinking probably to blame.
The accuracy of data (not just from here) and the disease and economic modelling seems to have been woefully inadequate, and at least some of the latter beset by professional jealousies.
People are dying (not just directly due to the virus) the economy is going down the pan, other countries are handling this better.
It is the obligation of any engaged citizen to ask questions, criticise and point out failure, poor communication, lazy thinking, lack of accountability AND successes. So let’s hope the drop in hospital deaths figures is maintained, and that the NHS, currently with loads of capacity apparently, continues to cope. And that the promises, if they are still relevant, are delivered on.