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Thread (1/13)
According to both the Daily Mail and ITV, Prime Minister Johnson said that rather than Institute a further lockdown, he would prefer to see “bodies pile high in their thousands” https://www.itv.com/news/2021-04-26/robert-peston-boris-johnson-did-make-bodies-pile-high-in-their-thousands-comment">https://www.itv.com/news/2021...
According to both the Daily Mail and ITV, Prime Minister Johnson said that rather than Institute a further lockdown, he would prefer to see “bodies pile high in their thousands” https://www.itv.com/news/2021-04-26/robert-peston-boris-johnson-did-make-bodies-pile-high-in-their-thousands-comment">https://www.itv.com/news/2021...
(2/13)
And he has indeed seen them pile up, to the tune of over 150,000 – one of the world’s worst death tolls.
And this despite the fact that the UK is a rich country with a strong science base.
This thread explores how that came to pass. https://99-percent.org/the-best-we-could/">https://99-percent.org/the-best-...
And he has indeed seen them pile up, to the tune of over 150,000 – one of the world’s worst death tolls.
And this despite the fact that the UK is a rich country with a strong science base.
This thread explores how that came to pass. https://99-percent.org/the-best-we-could/">https://99-percent.org/the-best-...
(3/13)
The continual refrain from ministers has been that “we are doing all that can be done.”
The implication is that COVID was virtually impossible to manage – nobody could have done better.
The facts say otherwise. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/uk-coronavirus-deaths-latest-100000-b901230.html">https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/u...
The continual refrain from ministers has been that “we are doing all that can be done.”
The implication is that COVID was virtually impossible to manage – nobody could have done better.
The facts say otherwise. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/uk-coronavirus-deaths-latest-100000-b901230.html">https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/u...
(4/13)
When we look back at our articles, we see many concrete suggestions, some made over a year ago, that the government has still not fully acted on.
And of course, many others have been saying the same things.
They have not been doing all they could.
When we look back at our articles, we see many concrete suggestions, some made over a year ago, that the government has still not fully acted on.
And of course, many others have been saying the same things.
They have not been doing all they could.
(5/13)
For example we pointed out in February 2020 that if the government did not provide adequate financial support for people to comply with the guidelines on isolation et cetera, many would not do so, and the antivirus strategy might unravel. https://99-percent.org/when-mass-impoverishment-collides-with-health-advice/">https://99-percent.org/when-mass...
For example we pointed out in February 2020 that if the government did not provide adequate financial support for people to comply with the guidelines on isolation et cetera, many would not do so, and the antivirus strategy might unravel. https://99-percent.org/when-mass-impoverishment-collides-with-health-advice/">https://99-percent.org/when-mass...
(6/13)
The government was slow to lockdown, even when lockdown was the only way of containing the virus.
We wrote this 26 days before the government finally locked down.
Each week of delay roughly quadrupled the death toll in the first peak. https://99-percent.org/containing-corona-an-update/">https://99-percent.org/containin...
The government was slow to lockdown, even when lockdown was the only way of containing the virus.
We wrote this 26 days before the government finally locked down.
Each week of delay roughly quadrupled the death toll in the first peak. https://99-percent.org/containing-corona-an-update/">https://99-percent.org/containin...
(7/13)
The government was then too quick to unlock – doing so before the incidence had fallen far enough for the UK to have put in place a test, trace and supported isolation system of sufficient scale and efficiency to maintain control over the virus.
https://99-percent.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Ending-Lockdown-v3.pdf">https://99-percent.org/wp-conten...
The government was then too quick to unlock – doing so before the incidence had fallen far enough for the UK to have put in place a test, trace and supported isolation system of sufficient scale and efficiency to maintain control over the virus.
https://99-percent.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Ending-Lockdown-v3.pdf">https://99-percent.org/wp-conten...
(8/13)
Almost as soon as lockdown was in place, the government appeared to flip-flop with its coronavirus strategy. https://99-percent.org/what-is-the-governments-coronavirus-strategy/">https://99-percent.org/what-is-t...
Almost as soon as lockdown was in place, the government appeared to flip-flop with its coronavirus strategy. https://99-percent.org/what-is-the-governments-coronavirus-strategy/">https://99-percent.org/what-is-t...
(9/13)
As late as September last year, when it was clear to the scientists that another lockdown was needed, the government was going to extraordinary lengths to avoid it. https://99-percent.org/happy-new-year/ ">https://99-percent.org/happy-new...
As late as September last year, when it was clear to the scientists that another lockdown was needed, the government was going to extraordinary lengths to avoid it. https://99-percent.org/happy-new-year/ ">https://99-percent.org/happy-new...
(10/13)
Throughout, the government has sought to circumvent normal NHS procedures – even though in many cases nothing useful was delivered.
In the case of PPE, the total costs of these unorthodox procurements comfortably exceed £1 billion. https://99-percent.org/money-for-nothing/">https://99-percent.org/money-for...
Throughout, the government has sought to circumvent normal NHS procedures – even though in many cases nothing useful was delivered.
In the case of PPE, the total costs of these unorthodox procurements comfortably exceed £1 billion. https://99-percent.org/money-for-nothing/">https://99-percent.org/money-for...
(11/13)
In the case of the UK’s test and trace system, which ministers insist on referring to as “NHS test and trace” even though it is no such thing, it is costing us £37 billion!
And its failures are costing us countless lives. https://99-percent.org/whats-in-a-name/">https://99-percent.org/whats-in-...
In the case of the UK’s test and trace system, which ministers insist on referring to as “NHS test and trace” even though it is no such thing, it is costing us £37 billion!
And its failures are costing us countless lives. https://99-percent.org/whats-in-a-name/">https://99-percent.org/whats-in-...
(12/13)
Almost throughout the pandemic, the government has suffered from a number of blind spots, which have combined to deliver the tragic UK death toll. https://99-percent.org/how-did-we-get-into-this-mess/">https://99-percent.org/how-did-w...
Almost throughout the pandemic, the government has suffered from a number of blind spots, which have combined to deliver the tragic UK death toll. https://99-percent.org/how-did-we-get-into-this-mess/">https://99-percent.org/how-did-w...
(13/13)
In conclusion, the government has been both careless of the cost in human lives and incompetent even when it has attempted to mitigate the effects of the virus.
In conclusion, the government has been both careless of the cost in human lives and incompetent even when it has attempted to mitigate the effects of the virus.
