I'm glad I didn't watch QT, watched C4 News. I know C4 is hated by some on ere, but it's international coverage is second to none. Europe as a whole has been incredibly complacent from the start compared to S Korea and some other Asian countries, maybe because they had the Sarrs epidemic. Let's hope we are better prepared for the next one, which the scientists tell us will probably be worse.
I think part of the reason the Asian countries have handled this better than Europe so far, is that countries in East Asia are generally more prepared for huge natural disasters. And their people tend to put higher value on their duty to the State, and a bit less value on individual freedom for its own sake. China, Korea, Japan, Singapore... And many others. They have had to deal with the violence of Nature and Man in the past. Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Typhoons, massive flooding, the threat of invasion. South Korea for instance is more or less permanently prepared for an attack from the North at a few minutes notice. As a general observation, I think their people are more willing to obey and cooperate with the authorities under extreme circumstances. Personal freedom is held up as the golden prize in the West, but responsibility to the State and the collective good is much lower down our list of priorities. Indeed in some countries it is considered bad form, or actually in conflict with the notion of personal freedom. So when a situation arises that requires personal freedoms to be restricted for a time, we react with much less instinctive understanding than they do in East Asia. Particularly in the USA and the UK, which were never occupied by hostile foreign powers during WW2, or indeed for centuries. Our ingrained sense of security and invulnerability has made us decadent. ~~~ If the Government was slow to order PPE and made other mistakes out of complacency before the Coronavirus crisis took a grip here, that should be thoroughly investigated when the time is right. If Doctors and nurses are suffering and dying now because of dithering by officials weeks ago, that is an unforgivable scandal. It won't be swept under the carpet. The truth will be revealed in the fullness of time. But NOW is the time to do the best we can from where we are. Get that equipment to the people who need it. Do everything possible to make it happen NOW. We must not undermine the strength of our unity by creating the impression that our Government cannot be trusted to cope with this crisis. By undermining the trust that people must have in those who lead us right now. That is the path to anarchy if the situation gets worse. Political profiteering is just as bad as financial profiteering at this time.
Trump is absolutely desperate to get Americans back to work. He's still talking like the virus is a minor nuisance. He wants some states to lift restrictions as early as next week. He can't bear the thought of China beginning to get its industries going again. Has the Donald even once said that saving lives matters to him? It wouldn't be true of course even if he did say it. But being candid is of little value compared to being an uncaring bully who doesn't give a damn about anybody except himself.
I've stopped watching QT because the Beeb get panel members like her , who are confrontational rather than educational, otherwise they would have someone like Hilary Benn representing Labour. The even invited a woman who had been a NF candidate to the audience recently to sit in the front row, even paid her hotel expenses and sure enough she obliged with a right-wing rant which raised the temperature of the debate by several degrees. I never missed it when Sir Robin chaired it, even went on the audience once.
Was sat out on my patio last night just before 8 and started singing if you all hate Palace clap your hands, got a hell of a response
Lewis Goodall tweeting that the PM has tested positive for the Coronavirus. Can't see it anywhere else. It's been confirmed Having watched the video he's made while self-isolating I'd say he looks pretty unwell, and should concentrate on getting plentyof rest.
That's bad news. I was hoping Boris would only get mild symptoms, perhaps be back at work in a few weeks. I very much hope he pulls through. Not just because he's a human being, but as a symbol of hope for the future.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has also tested positive for Coronavirus. 181 people have died from this in the last 24 hours in the UK. Over 100 died in the 24 hours before that. These are the most difficult of times. But we must not lose our nerve. We must continue to be kind as well as continuing to be careful.
One of our ex-posters, Mike Tyson, is a bus driver, and has posted on twitter that his fellow bus drivers are to be given new shields without holes because some people have started spitting at them.
I really feel sorry for workers like bus drivers. They, like many others, are exposed to the lowest form of human life, brainless scum who have no decency whatsoever. Behaving like that will get them nothing but a slap on the wrist even if they were caught, which of course they virtually never are. We should restore respect in our society, with harsh custodial punishments for anti-social behaviour. I believe in Singapore you can - and will - be jailed for 2 years if you drop litter. In this country, pond-life behaviour like spitting at people, drunkenly abusing them, vandalism, littering (including fly tipping) and offences of that nature deserves a prison sentence of at least one year. No soft sentences, no early release, and no cushy hotel style accomodation. And while they are inside these people should be made to work, contributing in some way to society. Any disruptive behavior while inside just increases the sentence. One extra week per offence.
I couldn’t believe the scumbags that deliberately drilled holes in ambulance tyres in Ramsgate the other day , I’d like to see them suffer !
Utter morons. Anybody caught and proven to be sabotaging our efforts to fight the virus by such witless vandalism should be publicly shamed on TV and in the media. Names and pictures of them should be published. That goes for w*nkers who spit or cough at hospital staff or police as well. In fact I think that has already happened in two cases. Looters and rioters (if it comes to that) should be sprayed and tagged with smart water during incidents of disorder, then picked up later and interned without trial - by the army if necessary - until the crisis is over.
NHS staff are also reporting that their passes are getting nicked, presumably so that people can go shopping at the early hour. I have no words.
There was a guy who posted a video of himself going round a supermarket licking stuff on the shelves. I read he's going to be charged with terrorism. Given how virulent Covid-29, that seems fair enough. The same should be applied to peoe who spit at bus drivers. This is a wartime environment now. Anyone threatening to pass on a potentially life threatening virus can go to prison, with a tattoo to show if they get symptoms, they don't have access to a ventilator or anything else in short supply.
Probably as good a place as any to post a get well soon for Boris. Not my favourite politician but in these times, anyone who gets Covid-19 and recovers is a win for the home team.
