David Spiegelhalter says UK Government are not “treating the audience with respect”
David Spiegelhalter: “Frankly I found it completely embarrassing. We get told lots of big numbers in precise numbers of tests being done... 96,878. Well, thats not how many were done yesterday. That includes tests that have been posted out. We’re told 31,587 people have died. No they haven’t, it is far more than that. So, I think this is... actually... not trustworthy communication of statistics and it’s such a missed opportunity. There is a public out there who is broadly very supportive of the measures they are hungry for details, for facts, for genuine information. And yet they get fed this... what I call ‘number theatre’ which seems to be co-ordinated, you know, by a No. 10 communications team—rather than genuinely trying to inform people about what’s going on. I just wish that the data was being brought together and presented by people who really know it’s strengths and limitations and could treat the audience with some respect.”
UK transport minister claims quarantining overseas arrivals essentially pointless
Australia & many other countries managing the pandemic more successfully judge high risk from overseas arrivals & quarantine them. France has just enacted a 14 day quarantine for anyone arriving in the country, whether a French national or not. Strange that UK thinks it knows better.
The Gogglebox reaction to Boris Johnson’s latest speech
Whilst nearly all of the UK press fawns over baby names while self-flagellating over falling polling numbers over public trust in them it’s worth noting that not everyone seems to have bought the “we’re doing the best we can under the circumstances” line currently being pushed hard by the Government, their communications team and media surrogates.
Dominic Raab shifts blame for any lack of PPE protection for NHS workers
“In terms of the actual kit they're distributed with, that depends on NHS, the Chief Medical Officer, and PHE giving the guidance. That's not done by politicians.”
“We're all humans. But what I can tell you is that we get up in the morning and do our very best.”
Matt Hancock is asked by Cathy Newman whether he worries the government has been “behind the curve” in tackling the coronavirus crisis.