thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-22--Boris Johnson Claims Test And Trace Has Nothing To Do With Stopping The Spread Of Covid

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Boris Johnson has claimed testing and tracing has “very little or nothing to do with the spread and transmission” of coronavirus, after being confronted over the failures of the current system.
The prime minister’s claim comes despite the government’s promise that NHS Test and Trace would “help identify, contain and control coronavirus, reduce the spread of the virus and save lives” when it launched in May.
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The service is designed to catch people infected with Covid-19 through testing, then isolate their recent close contacts and asking them to self isolate in an attempt to stop the virus spreading further than that circle.
It is an approach that has been praised in countries like South Korea, where the virus has been kept largely under control compared to the UK.
Johnson was attempting to defend NHS Test and Trace amid a string of embarrassing failures, which critics say have contributed to the surge in infections that prompted new restrictions announced on Wednesday.
During a debate in the Commons on Tuesday, the PM claimed: “Testing and tracing has very little or nothing to do with the spread and transmission of the disease.
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“The spread and the transmission of the disease is caused by contact between human beings and all the things that we’re trying to minimise.”
Shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth said Johnson was talking “nonsense”, stressing: “When testing breaks down, tracing breaks down, you can’t track the virus and you lose control.”
Here Johnson talks nonsense & reveals he doesn’t even know what he’s doing.
When testing breaks down, tracing breaks down, you can’t track the virus and you lose control.
Johnson let testing become a shambles & now the country has been placed under new national restrictions. https://t.co/cg03MNYNwQ — Jonathan Ashworth 😷 (@JonAshworth) September 22, 2020
In May, health secretary Matt Hancock said NHS Test and Trace would be “vital to stopping the spread of the virus” and would “help us keep this virus under control while carefully and safely lifting the lockdown nationally”.
Following the reopening of schools and the government’s now-reversed advice for people to go back to the office, the UK’s testing system has been struggling to cope.
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NHS Test and Trace’s boss Baroness Dido Harding last week revealed up to 750,000 requests for Covid-19 tests were going unanswered every day, while the government is falling well short of its months-old target to turn around 80% of test results within 24 hours.
Baroness Dido Harding, executive chair of NHS Test and Trace, in Westminster, London PA
Johnson was confronted by Labour MP Stephanie Peacock, who said one of her constituents was told to travel 300 miles to get a test for her son, who was sent home from school with potential symptoms.
Peacock said that despite raising the case with Matt Hancock last week, the constituents’ son still had not had a test, or any contact from the authorities.
“Sadly the reason we are facing greater restrictions is because the government has failed to establish an effective testing system,” she said.
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“Prime minister, when will you fix the testing system?”
Johnson replied: “I increasingly think it’s disgraceful that the Labour opposition continue to blame NHS Test and Trace for the resurgence of the disease.
“There is a complete hiatus in their logic.
“They are talking absolute nonsense.
“Testing and tracing has very little or nothing to do with the spread and transmission of the disease.
“The spread and the transmission of the disease is caused by contact between human beings and all the things that we’re trying to minimise.
“Of course NHS Test and Trace is vital but the way to fix the problem now is for the whole country to follow this package of guidance, drive the R (virus reproduction rate) down and allow both education and the economy to continue.
“But there is a complete flaw in their logic.”
Johnson meanwhile refused to say when the government will meet its target of getting 80% of test results turned around within 24 hours.
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Answering senior Labour MP Yvette Cooper, who asked about timescales, the PM replied: “In spite of the massive increase in testing that we’ve seen - 10% increase in capacity just in the last 10 days or so - we are seeing at the moment 64% of people getting their results in 24 hours.
“I do want to get that up as fast as possible to 80%.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-22--If Christmas Isn't Cancelled, Boris Johnson Will Have To Answer Questions About Eid

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Cropped image of people toasting with champagne celebrating Christmas Alina Rosanova via Getty Images
When we talk about the current government, it’s hard to ignore its clear contempt for the British Muslim community.
And as a British Muslim, I can’t help but feel nauseated at this representation, because paint it whichever way you will, the Islamophobia in government Covid policy is very real.
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The same government that has now endorsed the wearing of face masks in public places is ironically led by a man who labelled Muslim women wearing niqabs and face coverings as “letterboxes” and “bank robbers”.
And comments like these aren’t without their consequences. Anti-Muslim incidents rose by 375% following Boris Johnson’s comments and still, he refused to apologise.
Throughout this Covid pandemic, as people gathered for street parties and filled beaches during the hot weather, Muslims have been repeatedly ignored – and scapegoated.
When Ramadan came around, a month in which Muslims fast and focus on their spirituality and community, Muslims were not able to come together. Nightly prayer congregations and family dinners were abandoned.
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Instead, in the midst of a pandemic we were expected to adjust, to either come together virtually or be left alone and alienated in a time of intense hardship for our communities.
Eid-al-Adha, which I would usually have spent in the park, praying in a congregation of more than a hundred thousand people and then later attending a funfair and eating burgers, while trying not to ruin my new clothes, was a quiet affair. We stayed at home.
But the potential of a Christmas without a big family gathering is just going too far, apparently. What about those of us who have already had to live through our celebrations filled with aching and sadness because they are so far from what we know? Where was our lockdown holiday?
In reality, every minority religious group has been impacted by Covid. The recent Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah was difficult for many who couldn’t attend the synagogue, the upcoming festival of Diwali will be similar.
On the eve of Eid-al-Fitr, lockdown restrictions were announced just two hours before Eid was set to begin. Food shops and preparations had already been done. Our Eid clothes were already ironed and ready to go, families were excited to celebrate together after a tough year. And then that was suddenly snatched away. I shudder to think what would happen if the same were to happen on Christmas Eve.
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Health is the most important thing, that is not what I am contesting. But I am questioning the value the government places on certain communities. Clearly, some are more important than others. And it’s easier to scapegoat minorities for spreading the virus than, for example, disciplining government staff flouting the rules.
Although, Muslims make up almost 5% of the UK’s population, Home Office hate crime figures for 2018-19 show that 47% of the incidents recorded were perpetrated against Muslims.
What’s more, data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in June showed that Muslim males in England and Wales had the highest death rates during the pandemic.
A later report, leaked initially, and then released by the government showed that factors including racism and social inequality could have contributed to the increased risk of Black, Asian and minority communities being impacted by Covid-19.
So cancelling our Eid celebrations wasn’t an isolated incident. There has been a persistent effort made by politicians to demonise and single out British Muslims, starting long before this pandemic.
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There remains a persistent narrative that Muslim communities have higher rates of Covid because we are not following social distancing rules. Of course, it can’t be because of the very real healthcare inequality affecting these communities – findings also supported by Public Health England.
Our celebrations have been cancelled, so much of our way of life has changed, and yet, it’s odd that not many are willing to speak up about the contribution of pubs to rising Covid cases.
So before pointing a finger at people of colour, who are disproportionately affected by this pandemic, how about taking a long hard look at those in power.
Because this is a government more concerned with making loopholes for their rich mates who want to go out hunting, while still blaming minorities who have already had to sacrifice so much. Don’t look at Muslims, blame the government.
Mariam Khan is a writer and activist, and editor of It’s Not About the Burqa.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-22--Jackie Stallone’s Death Widely Reported Using A Photo Of Someone Who Isn’t Jackie Stallone

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The sad news of Jackie Stallone’s death was everywhere on Tuesday morning – and so was a picture of someone who isn’t Jackie Stallone.
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Jackie Stallone PA
But unfortunately, many online news outlets, including the BBC, The Sun, Mirror, The Star, The Hollywood Reporter and Variety, all used a stock image of someone that isn’t actually Jackie.
The death of Jackie Stallone BBC
Jackie Stallone's death Google
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Jackie Stallone's death Google
Jackie Stallone's death Google
The mix-up stems from the 2012 LA premiere of action movie The Expendables 3, which Jackie’s son, Sylvester starred in.
Jackie wasn’t present at the event, but a certain Ivone Weldon was because her son, Les Weldon, was a producer on the film.
Ivone Weldon arrives at the premiere of The Expendables 3 held at TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood Frank Trapper via Getty Images
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And in a case of mistaken identity, Ivonne’s brief moment on the red carpet saw her being wrongly identified as Jackie on several picture agency websites.
We even wrote about the mix up back in 2012 – because yes, we were also caught out.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--Pret A Manger Founder Julian Metcalfe Blasts Boris Johnson's 'Churchillian Nonsense'

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The founder of Pret a Manger has slammed Boris Johnson for doing little more than “sitting down with his Union Jack talking utter nonsense” in the fight against coronavirus.
Julian Metcalfe warned “millions” of jobs were at risk and warned the “welfare of our entire country” was on the line.
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“To turn to an entire nation and to say ‘stay at home for six months’ and spout off some Churchillian nonsense about ‘we’ll make it though’ is terribly unhelpful,” he told BBC Radio 4′s World at One programme.
Metcalfe, the millionaire businessman who also owns Itsu, said the new lockdown restrictions should instead be reviewed “each week, each hour” and warned the chain “may not” exist in a year’s time.
“The talk of six months is criminal,” he said. “We’re losing thousands upon thousands of jobs. How long can this continue.”
Johnson today promised “creative and imaginative” action to protect jobs as he faced calls for a fresh economic rescue package after unveiling new restrictions.
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The damage to the economy could increase if tougher measures are needed, with ministers warning a second lockdown could be required if the new rules are flouted.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is reportedly working on a new German-style scheme to avoid mass unemployment once furlough ends, with the government and firms sharing the cost of topping up wages for employees only able to work part-time due to the pandemic.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--Will There Be A Second Lockdown In England?

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Tougher restrictions could be on the cards in England if people don’t stick to the new measures and Covid-19 cases don’t drop, the prime minister warned.
“If people don’t follow the rules we have set out, then we must reserve the right to go further,” Boris Johnson said in a speech to the nation on September 22.
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England is the only country in the UK that hasn’t banned households mixing indoors. This comes after Professor Chris Whitty told the nation household transmission is one of the key ways the virus is spreading.
So, what are the chances of another proper lockdown?
Do the new measures go far enough?
Professor Paul Hunter, an expert in medicine at the University of East Anglia, says the new measures “will certainly have some impact” on the transmissibility of Covid-19, however the question is whether or not these measures will be sufficient to reverse the increase in cases as we move into autumn.
It’s “doubtful” that the measures will be sufficient to reduce the R value to below 1 before this side of Christmas, he says.
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Meanwhile Professor John Edmunds, a member of Sage, said Boris Johnson’s decision to impose a 10pm curfew on bars and restaurants was likely to have a “trivial” impact on the spread of coronavirus. “I don’t think the measures have gone anywhere near far enough,” he told BBC Radio 4′s Today programme. “In fact I don’t even think the measures in Scotland have gone far enough.”
Reports on September 28 suggest the government is planning to enforce a “total social lockdown” across London and parts of northern England as cases rise, which would mean people would be banned from mixing indoors in these areas.
Dr David Strain, senior clinical lecturer at the University of Exeter, wonders why England hasn’t adopted a rule stopping households from mixing already. “The PM has acknowledged that the majority of transmission is happening socially, but has opted to continue to allow up to six different households to meet in an unregulated manner,” he says.
Closing down restaurants and pubs earlier “will do little to stave the spread” as long as multiple different households can interchangeably meet up, he adds. The Times reported the measure was not recommended by scientific advisers and was adopted by No 10 in an imitation of Belgium’s response to cases rising.
In Dr Strain’s view, the rule of six needs strengthening (“or ideally replacing,” he says) with a mandate that only a limited and nominated number of individuals can get together at all, and that movement between these groups should only happen with a quarantine period in between.
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“This would allow for family units and support bubbles to prepare for significant celebrations such as Christmas and Diwali whilst maintaining other social interactions in the meantime,” he points out.
Nuthawut Somsuk via Getty Images
If the new rules don’t curb the spread, what will happen?
At this stage, local lockdowns in areas where there are outbreaks – which essentially means no mingling between households, hospitality curfews and closures, but continuing to go to work and school, with shops remaining open – are more likely to happen than a full-on national lockdown.
Aside from local lockdowns, it seems more likely the government will follow the suit of other nations and impose a national restriction on households meeting indoors in England rather than a national lockdown. But if we do go into lockdown, it’s likely to be a so-called ‘circuit break’. This means hospitality businesses will close early, or close completely, schools and workplaces stay open, and households will be urged not to mix, for a total of two weeks.
It was reported that scientists from the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) had recommended a ‘circuit break’ should coincide with the October school half-term. “As schools will be closed for one week at half-term, adding an extra week to that will have limited impact on education,” one member told the Financial Times.
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For most schools in England and Wales, half-term will fall from October 19-23 or October 26-30, which gives the government a few weeks to make a move.
So it’s unlikely we’ll have a full-on national lockdown again?
Yes. A proper second lockdown – like the one we faced in March – is unlikely. Even if there is a lockdown, of sorts, the measures would most likely not stop people from working or children from going to school, due to the economic and mental impact.
“If we were forced into a new national lockdown, that would threaten not just jobs and livelihoods but the loving human contact on which we all depend,” Johnson said in his speech. “It would mean renewed loneliness for the elderly and vulnerable, and ultimately it would threaten once again the education of our children. We must do all we can to avoid going down that road again.”
What happens now largely depends on three things: the success of test and trace, the clarity of messaging going forward, and the public’s behaviour.
Dr Rachel McCloy, an associate professor in applied behavioural science at the University of Reading, says there are lessons to be learned from the first lockdown. “While the simplicity of the ‘stay at home, save lives’ message worked, the complexity of the range of rules that followed as lockdown was relaxed gave the impression that the government didn’t really know what was going on or how best to respond,” she says.
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Some of this messaging has been simplified and “illogical loopholes” closed, she notes, offering the example that shoppers and retail staff now both have to wear masks. “To bring about mass public behaviour change, the government needs to keep communication clear and consistent, and to trust the public with the rationale behind the changes they are making,” she says. “Rebuilding trust will be a vital part of this.”
Trust is also a key cog in getting the test and trace system running smoothly. The contact tracing app launched on Thursday and trust in the app is important in getting people to download and use it. Imogen Parker, head of policy at the tech thinktank Ada Lovelace Institute, told The Guardian: “In the UK, uptake is going to be related to trust in government. While we were doing some public work on trust over May, you had the Barnard Castle incident; after that you had the A-level algorithm. But the flip side is that the NHS brand itself is incredibly trusted.”
Evidence suggests contact tracing in the UK is not improving, but getting worse. Figures from September 10 showed 69.2% of “close contacts” are being reached, the lowest weekly percentage since the service first launched. On top of that, Boris Johnson claimed testing and tracing has “very little or nothing to do with the spread and transmission” of coronavirus, after being confronted over the failures of the current system. However in South Korea, where the system is used, the virus has been kept largely under control.
Without public trust, it’s unclear how effective new measures will be in reducing the spread of the virus. “The public is not going to blindly trust government advice when promises are broken over track and trace, comprehensive testing and PPE supplies,” Dr Chris Papadopoulos, principal lecturer in public health at the University of Bedfordshire, wrote for The Spectator.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--Roman Kemp's Harry Styles Impression Is Actually Uncanny

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Just when we’d got over Matt Lucas’ incredible Boris Johnson skit, along comes Roman Kemp with his own impressive impressions.
It turns out the Capital Radio DJ does a mean Harry Styles – and it’s so good, it even got praise from one of the One Direction star’s former bandmates.
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Roman sent Liam Payne a Twitter video after Liam requested he record an alarm as Harry, and you can see just how amazing it is below...
Heard you wanted a Harry alarm @LiamPayne... enjoy x pic.twitter.com/1zN0ELAD79 — Roman Kemp (@romankemp) September 23, 2020
As a comparison, here’s the real Harry talking...
Uncanny, right?
Liam certainly thought so, retweeting Roman’s clip with the caption: “That’s so good! I love that. I’m making this my alarm clock.”
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Will the real Harry Styles please stand up? Shutterstock
Fans wanting to hear more of the real Harry’s dulcet tones were gifted a treat earlier this year, when he recorded a bedtime story for sleeping aid app Calm.
Meanwhile, the Watermelon Sugar singer’s second film role was confirmed earlier this month, as it was revealed he will star alongside Florence Pugh in Don’t Worry Darling.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--No, 90% Of Coronavirus Tests Are Not 'False Positives' And This Is Why

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What at first seems like an incredibly alarming statistic has been circulating on social media, promoted by a small and vocal group of journalists – at least 91% of coronavirus tests in the UK are “false positives”.
If true, the implications would be staggering – the actual scale of the pandemic in the UK is less than a tenth of what we thought and the government has just announced further lockdown restrictions based on faulty data.
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This claim has been seized upon by, among others, radio show host Julia Hartley-Brewer...
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT: Matt Hancock told me on @talkRADIO that the False Positive Rate of Covid tests in the community is "under 1%". Sounds good, doesn't it? WRONG!
An FPR of 0.8% when the virus prevalence is so low means that at least 91% of "Covid cases" are FALSE POSITIVES. https://t.co/f2Z85Lj4cj — Julia Hartley-Brewer (@JuliaHB1) September 18, 2020
Journalist Toby Young, who in an article said health secretary Matt Hancock was “keeping this knowledge from the public for nefarious reasons”...
If Whitty and Vallance had taken questions, I hope someone would have asked them what the projected number of cases would be on 13th Oct if you discount the 91% of “cases” that are false positives. I make it 4,410. pic.twitter.com/qyyAFXCj4P — Toby Young (@toadmeister) September 21, 2020
And even a Tory MP...
The government advisers today need to tell us how they are going to stop false test results distorting the figures. How are they going to calculate an accurate R Number? Data needs improving to improve decisions. — John Redwood (@johnredwood) September 21, 2020
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But there’s one problem – it’s simply not true.
So where did it come from?
Back in July, professor Carl Heneghan, director for the centre of evidence-based medicine at Oxford University and outspoken critic of the current UK response to the pandemic, wrote a piece titled: “How many Covid diagnoses are false positives?”
This article explains, in a nutshell, how tests cannot be 100% accurate and therefore there is a certain margin of error in the results.
Heneghan is particularly interested in “false positives” – those people who test positive for Covid-19 but actually aren’t infected. Health secretary Matt Hancock has said the false positive rate (FPR) for coronavirus tests is “less than 1%”.
But Heneghan has argued that due to a bit of a fluke involving some slightly complicated statistics, the proportion of positive tests that are false in the UK could be as high as 50%.
This theme was then taken up by Dr Michael Yeadon, who in a blog post argued the proportion of positive tests that are false is actually “around 90%”.
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It was this blog and the claim therein that was picked up by Hartley-Brewer and Co.
Are they right?
Yes, but only in a statistical sense. Applied to the real-world, the conclusions don’t stand up and are wildly misleading.
How so?
Well, forgive us but to explain that we need to outline some of those slightly complicated statistics we mentioned earlier.
There are two key terms you need to be familiar with – “test sensitivity” and “test specificity”.
Test specificity
Test specificity is the proportion of people without coronavirus who have a negative test and is a measure of how good it is at avoiding false positives.
The test specificity for coronavirus tests is extremely high and we can work it out from the FPR rate.
We don’t know the actual FPR as we simply don’t have all the data required to work it out just yet. But the “under 1%” from Hancock is the figure used by those mentioned above to reach their conclusions and accuse the government of misinterpreting the figures.
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So if the FPR rate is “under 1%” then the test specificity must be at least 99%.
Test sensitivity
Test sensitivity is the proportion of people with coronavirus who test positive. Worryingly, current coronavirus tests are thought to only have a sensitivity of 80% meaning one in five people with coronavirus who get tested are told they don’t have it.
(This actually means cases are being underreported but that’s not the main concern of this article so we’ll leave it at that.)
Pre-test probability (AKA prevalence)
The prevalence simply refers to how widespread the infection is in the general population.
The latest estimate from the Office for National Statistics suggests even though it is rising, only 0.11% of the population are currently infected with coronavirus based on positive test results.
(There is of course the issue of false negatives here but a high number of these would mean the pandemic is even larger than feared but as this isn’t what people are claiming, we’re going to ignore this as well).
It’s this very low figure that is being used to suggest the number of false positives might be out of control as it means that even a tiny number of false positives can vastly skew the data in the way in which Heneghan and Yeadon propose.
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Every journalist and MP should be asking the PM & Health Secretary: why are we using a Covid-19 test that has 90% false positives?
Read this by @MichaelYeadon3:
Lies, Damned Lies and Health Statistics – the Deadly Danger of False Positives. https://t.co/ibNK0Yt7G5 — Julia Hartley-Brewer (@JuliaHB1) September 20, 2020
How does it skew the data?
At this point we hand over to Sam Watson, senior lecturer at Birmingham University, who told HuffPost UK: “Imagine 1,000 people turn up to the testing centre, and only one person has Covid. That one person has a positive test.
“Of the remaining 999 people, if the FPR is 1%, then you’ll get another nine positive tests from these 999
“So now you’ve got 10 positive tests, but only one of them has covid, so 90% of the positive tests don’t actually have covid.”
The lovely people at The BMJ created this interactive chart where you can see how this works – NOTE: the chart allows you to input the figures yourself, within this article.
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It only uses a sample size of 100 but if you set the test sensitivity to 80, round up the prevalence rate (pre-test probability) to 1 and the test specificity down to 99, you’ll see for every one true positive you get one false positive.
This infographic will display on browsers that support iframes.
This gives the 50% figure that Heneghan cites and if we could set the prevalence to 0.11%, we would get the 90% figure cited by Yeadon.
The crucial third factor
Both Yeadon and Heneghan, and in turn Hartley-Brewer, Toby Young and John Redwood, make one huge assumption – that the prevalence of coronavirus in the population tested is 0.11% like the ONS has said.
But this is not representative of the population that is actually being tested and whose results make up the material presented by the government and scientists of evidence of a second wave.
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The ONS figure is based on a weekly survey of households representative of the UK as a whole, while the evidence of a second wave is based on tests on people who have sought one out.
Watson told HuffPost UK: “If you took the UK population as a whole and randomly picked one person out of it, the probability of them having Covid is actually very low at it has a reasonably low prevalence.
“But if you turn up to a testing centre you’re already thinking: ‘I might have Covid’ and if you turn up with a cough and a fever then it’s probably quite a high probability that you have Covid.”
Let’s return to our interactive chart above – like before, set the test sensitivity to 80 and the specificity to 99, but this time play around with the pre-test probability.
As you can see, tiny changes have a massive effect.
Even if – as Hancock has said – a lot of people are getting tests without symptoms, if just one in five of those being tested are likely to have coronavirus because they have symptoms, the number of true positives dwarfs the false positives 16 to 1.
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The BMJ
If just half of them have symptoms, in a sample of 100 people the number of false positives is so small it doesn’t even show up.
The BMJ The BMJ
On Wednesday morning, Dominic Raab said the “challenge” with testing for coronavirus in airports is “the very high false positive rate”.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab says the "challenge" with testing for #COVID19 in airports is 'the very high false positive rate' and adds 'only 7% of tests will be successful in identifying those who have the virus'.#KayBurleyhttps://t.co/7c8W5pWNmp pic.twitter.com/QG8EJnQbWH — SkyNews (@SkyNews) September 23, 2020
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This has been seized upon as more evidence that testing is inaccurate.
But, as outlined above, this is because the prevalence of the virus among people in an airport will be relatively low, unlike the the prevalence of the virus among those seeking tests.
But this is all irrelevant anyway.
Excuse me?
Yes, it’s all irrelevant.
Erm... why?
Because we know rising positive cases aren’t due to false positives for a couple of other reasons.
Positive test rates are going up as a percentage of total tests – this is not disputed.
Covid Statista
But this can’t be because of an increase in false positives as the rate of false positives remains constant unless the actual method of testing changes, which it hasn’t.
Additionally, if false positives were causing the spike in numbers, it would be uniform across the UK and it isn’t.
Covid Statista
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I’m still not convinced
Hospital admissions due to coronavirus are at their highest levels since June. You do not go to hospital with a severe case of the false positives.
Why is this important?
We’ll hand over to Dr Dominic Pimenta for this one, who told HuffPost UK: “What’s really dangerous here is eroding the trust in the test and trace system, based on supposition, and this is then amplified to negatively effect public behaviour at at time when that is crucially needed to control cases and prevent more deaths and worse restrictions.”
And finally – the big question
Finally, there’s the elephant in the room – why exactly would the government actually want a second lockdown that would likely finish off the UK economy and negatively impact millions of people even if they don’t have Covid?
Even Hartley-Brewer is stumped...


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--Huge Rescue Operation Underway To Save Whales Stranded On Tasmania's West Coast

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Marine biologists are racing against the clock to rescue survivors in a mass stranding of whales in Tasmania.
About 500 pilot whales became beached on a sandbar at Macquarie Heads off the remote west coast of the island on Monday, in the largest mass stranding ever recorded in the country.
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On Wednesday, 380 whales were confirmed to have died, and 50 had been rescued.
Government scientists said it appeared that at least a third of the animals had already died. Pilot whales are a species of oceanic dolphin that can grow seven metres long and can weigh up to 1,000 kilograms.
Rescuers told a press conference on Tuesday they had developed a triage-style strategy.
Stranded pilot whales are seen in Macquarie Heads, Tasmania, Australia September 21, 2020. RYAN BLOOMFIELD via REUTERS
“We got animals spread over a large area and in really challenging locations. We’re going to basically take the animals with the best chance to start with and the ones that we are able to deal with,” a rescuer known as Chris told reporters.
“We’re going to refloat several animals and assess behaviour. So this entire operation, a lot of it depends on how these animals respond once they got water underneath them and are free-floating.”
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Nic Deka, a regional manager for Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, said the delicate operation could take days and there are about 60 people involved.
“We have police assisting us. We got some folk from the fish farm assisting us and also a handful of volunteers,” he told reporters.
Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service said as long as conditions stay the same and the whales remain wet, the animals could survive up to a few days.
About a third of the 270 stranded whales are believed to already be deceased. TASMANIA POLICE via REUTERS
Local helicopter pilot Dave Paton, who is part of the rescue effort, flew overhead to assess the situation.
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“We could visibly see them under some sort of stress there. So we tried to minimise the impact in the area,” Paton told ABC’s ‘News Breakfast’ on Tuesday.
“It’s not something you’d like to go out and see on a daily basis at all. There appeared to be two separate groups of pilot whales. A larger group closer to the boat ramp and another group further into Macquarie Harbour.”
A massive rescue operation is underway to help at least 500 stranded pilot whales stranded on the west coast of Tasmania. TASMANIA POLICE via REUTERS
Officials usually respond to reports of strandings of dolphins and whales in Tasmania once every two or three weeks, on average.
“While strandings are not uncommon in Tasmania, and while strandings of this scale aren’t (unprecedented), we certainly haven’t had one for at least 10 years,” Deka said.
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Experts had first thought the mass stranding involved about 70 whales when it was viewed from the air, but a closer inspection revealed the larger number.
The last mass stranding off the coast of Tasmania was in 2009, when around 200 whales beached themselves. In 2018, more than 100 pilot whales died after beaching themselves off the coast of New Zealand.
It is not known why whales, which travel together in pods, sometimes beach themselves but they are known to follow a leader, as well as gather around an injured or distressed whale.
“Their social groups and strong bonding between the groups causes often all of them to strand,” Olaf Meynecke, a whale researcher and Project Manager of whales and climate at Griffith University, told Reuters.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--Spitting Image Trailer Sees Boris And Trump Having A Very NSFW Naked Duel

Boris Johnson and Donald Trump were never going to fare well in the revival of satirical puppet series Spitting Image, but we have a feeling they definitely won’t want to see it now, following the release of a very NSFW trailer.
The UK prime minister and US president feature heavily in a two-minute promo for the new series, but there’s one particular scene that is bound to have people talking.
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It sees a half-naked Boris and Trump enjoying a bucket of chicken together in a steam room, as they discuss their worries about being made to look stupid.
Boris Johnson and Donald Trump in Spitting Image Britbox
However, their bonding session is interrupted by the arrival of (a miniature) Russian president Vladimir Putin, accompanied by two blonde women.
After proclaiming it is his steam room, he begins attacking the pair by tweaking their nipples, causing their towels to drop.
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It’s at this moment that Boris and Trump are exposed in all their *checks notes* glory before a rather well endowed Putin uses his own weapon to hit them where it really hurts.
Vladimir Putin also appears in the NSFW skit Britbox
It was previously claimed the *ahem* sword fight had been vetoed by TV execs, with The Sun reporting scenes had been reshot, but it appears they’ve had second thoughts.
The trailer also offers a look at a number of other celebrities who will be getting the Spitting Image treatment, including Kim Kardashian, Kanye West and Gwyneth Paltrow.
In March, it was announced the show was coming back, airing on BBC and ITV’s subscription streaming service BritBox.
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Spitting Image originally ran for 18 series between 1984 and 1996 and was watched by 15 million viewers in its heyday.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--Captain Sir Tom Moore's Life Story Is Heading For The Big Screen In New Biopic

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Captain Sir Tom Moore’s life story is getting the big-screen treatment.
The Second World War veteran, who raised more than £32 million for the NHS by walking laps of his Bedfordshire garden earlier this year, will be the subject of a new biopic.
The “uplifting” and “life-affirming” film will focus on the former British Army captain’s “close relationship with his family and explore how his strength, wisdom and humour changed the way they viewed the world” and will shoot next year.
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Captain Sir Tom Moore PA
And it seems Captain Sir Tom, 100, has got a few people in mind to play him.
He quipped: “I don’t know of any 100-year-old actors but I’m sure Michael Caine or Anthony Hopkins could do a wonderful job if they were prepared to age up!”
The film – which will “draw on his military career and dramatise how personal grief and the horrors of war shaped his life and inspired him to keep walking” – will be made by Fred Films and Powder Keg Pictures, whose credits together include Fisherman’s Friends, about the Cornish fishermen who signed a record deal, and Finding Your Feet, starring Imelda Staunton.
Captain Sir Tom wants Michael Caine to play him PA
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Writers/producers Nick Moorcroft and Meg Leonard said in a joint statement: “This is a story about the power of the human spirit and Captain Sir Tom personifies that.
“We are honoured to be telling this unique and inspiring story and are excited about audiences getting to know the man behind the headlines.”
Captain Sir Tom’s daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore added: “We received so many offers but what it boiled down to was trust.
“The family are big fans of the films James, Meg and Nick have written and produced and we hope that our story connects with audiences in the same way their previous films have done.”
News of the film tops off an incredible six months for the centenarian, who made headlines during the early stages of the pandemic by walking laps of his garden in the run-up to his 100th birthday, to raise funds for the NHS.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--Nazi Concentration Camp Guard, 94, Facing Extradition From US To Germany

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A concentration camp guard aged 94 is facing extradition to Germany from the US in what could be among the last Nazi war crime trials.
Friedrich Karl Berger is said to have served at a Neuengamme sub-camp near Meppen, Germany, where prisoners were held in “atrocious” conditions and exploited “to the point of exhaustion and death”.
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A two-day trial in March found that Berger, who lives in Tennessee, continues to receive a pension from Germany based on his employment “including his wartime service.”
According to US Department of Justice documents, Berger participated in “willing service as an armed guard of prisoners at a concentration camp where persecution took place.”
A view of the former concentration camp near Neuengamme Hamburg, northern Germany Srdjan Suki/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
At the end of March 1945, with the advance of British and Canadian forces, the Nazis abandoned Meppen. The court found that Berger helped guard the prisoners during their forcible evacuation to the Neuengamme main camp – a nearly two-week trip under inhumane conditions, which claimed the lives of some 70 prisoners.
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“Berger was part of the SS machinery of oppression that kept concentration camp prisoners in atrocious conditions of confinement,” said assistant attorney general Brian A Benczkowski. “This ruling shows the department’s continued commitment to obtaining a measure of justice, however late, for the victims of wartime Nazi persecution.”
Berger, who had been a member of the German navy, told The Washington Post he was ordered to work in the camp. He added: “After 75 years this is ridiculous. I cannot believe it. I cannot understand how this can happen in a country like this. You’re forcing me out of my home.”
Although the number of suspects is dwindling due to old age, prosecutors are still trying to bring individuals suspected of Nazi war crimes to justice. A landmark conviction in 2011 opened the way to more prosecutions as it was the first time that working in a camp was sufficient grounds for culpability, with no proof of a specific crime.
Germany agreed in 2009 to take John Demjanjuk, a retired Ohio car worker who was accused of serving as a Nazi guard.
He was convicted in 2011 of being an accessory to more than 28,000 killings and died 10 months later, aged 91, with his appeal pending.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--Is The UK Brexit Ready? Careering For Another Cliff Edge More Like

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Are we Brexit ready? Nearly 40 months since the referendum, it is barely three months until the UK’s phony Brexit of the transition ends – and we finally leave not just the political institutions of the EU but the single market and the customs union.
This is a major change for the UK economy – and a major change for businesses and government.
The process of disentangling has been protracted and tortuous. It required the government to reinvent a third country border, ready itself for the repatriation of functions from the EU and persuade businesses and citizens to Get ready for Brexit.
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We have been marched up this hill before – three times in 2019, a no-deal Brexit loomed. Now, despite last year’s agreement, a new report from UK in a Changing Europe shows, we are careering towards another cliff edge.
We should be much readier this time. Last year, there were real questions for business on whether it was worth preparing for no-deal. Some did. Others took a bet on parliament and the government blinking, conserved their cash and looked very smug when deadlines came and went and the UK moved into a “nothing has changed” transition on February 1 this year.
Flags of Europe and United Kingdom Amer Ghazzal via Getty Images
But this time is for real. The good news for business is that a lot of the new processes they need to prepare for will be in place, deal or no-deal.
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The Johnson vision of a skinny FTA means we move to a much more distant relationship with the EU – with customs formalities, regulatory checks at the border and the need for new EU approvals – and the UK needs to be ready to introduce them as well at the new border in the Irish Sea that the prime minister signed up for in his Withdrawal Agreement.
The bad news is that many may be less prepared than they were last year. One of the biggest challenges is the border and government systems are still not fully in place.
Reports last week said the new Smart Freight System – to help manage traffic in Kent as part of ‘Operation Brock’ – will only go live in beta form in mid-December, prompting a concerned response from industry.
There are big shortages in the numbers of customs agents who can help businesses comply with new cross-border formalities that will be needed whether or not a deal is agreed.
They also still don’t know quite what they will have to do – the number of checks on goods crossing the border will depend on a deal with the EU.
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If a deal is agreed, businesses will need to be able to prove goods have enough UK content to benefit from zero tariffs: but no-deal (and therefore tariffs on all exports) means no need to gear up to comply.
Agriculture is particularly exposed in no-deal – not just to tariffs, but to a whole battery of checks and need for export certificates, signed off by vets.
Many businesses are too distracted and cash strapped by dealing with the fallout from Covid to put necessary preparations in place, including reinvesting in warehouse capacity – and there is never much to spare in the run-up to Christmas in normal circumstances.
In July the government launched its “Check, Change, Go” campaign to tell business they needed to prepare. But that has been hampered from the get-go by the government’s determination to never again utter the word “Brexit” and concentrate only on realising the benefits of “Britain’s new start”.
That campaign failed to make clear that any business trading with the EU needed to jump over a giant pile of new red tape before they could reach those sunlit uplands. Now it is left to the trade associations to raise ever louder alarms about the state of readiness. Things are moving – but behind schedule: the contract for the Trade Support Service, to help businesses in Northern Ireland navigate the new border, has only just been let.
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“So will we be ready – deal or no-deal? The answer is inevitably no.”
It is not just business that needs to prepare. Government has just launched its campaign warning citizens of the new hoops they need to pass through before they can travel abroad for leisure. No deal – or a thin deal – will make business travel much harder too.
Last year, the government devoted much of its effort to contingency planning – centred around Operation Yellowhammer.
Birds are now out, but there is a new exercise being stood up in Whitehall to prepare for the year end. Plans to ensure that food and medicines can continue to get into the country are being dusted off.
But the original Yellowhammer teams were stood down in January once that no-deal risk receded – and in the interim a lot of staff who had been working on Brexit were diverted onto Covid work.
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An FOI response revealed that 350 officials from HMRC and 160 from BEIS were moved off Brexit preparations to manage the response to the pandemic. Only in the last couple of months have they started moving back.
So will we be ready – deal or no-deal? The answer is inevitably no – there will be hiccups and holdups. The task of the government, a government which has shown itself so far to find execution a challenge, is to keep those to a minimum and manage them away as quickly as possible.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--Coronavirus Lockdown Has Made People Feel Worse About Their Bodies, Says Report

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The Covid-19 lockdown made people feel “much worse” about their body image, with people under 18 struggling the most, a new survey has revealed.
The body image survey, carried out by MPs on the Commons’ women and equalities committee, found 58% of people under 18 and 53% of adults said lockdown has damaged their view of their appearance.
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Seeing more online ads for weight loss products, the closure of gyms, media articles about “lockdown weight gain” and less mental health support were all cited as reasons for the collapse in self-esteem.
Just a small proportion (14% of adults and 16% of children) said lockdown made them feel better or much better, adding they had time to focus on their health and felt less societal pressure to look good.
The survey underlined that Brits have poor body image overall, with the majority of people feeling negative about themselves most of the time (61% of adults, 66% of children).
Women, people with a disability and transgender people were most likely to have a negative view of their body.
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Six in 10 women felt negative about their body, blaming diet culture, post-natal pressures, “being bombarded with images of photoshopped, edited and sexualised women” and seeing fewer older women in the media.
A total of 71% of people with a disability reported feeling bad about their body image, compared with 60% of adults overall. They reported bad experiences with healthcare professionals, who focused heavily on their weight, and feelings of being “ignored, judged or isolated about their appearance”.
Not a single transgender person said they felt “very positive” about their body image, and 23% said they felt very negative most of the time (compared with 12% of non-transgender people).
“Because it’s such a widespread problem, influenced by multiple factors, it’s easy to underestimate the real misery it causes – and to so many people.” - Equalities committee chair, Caroline Nokes, on body image
Trans people said gender and body dysphoria impacted their view as well as the threat of harassment and “the pressure to look ‘cis’”.
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Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) women said their body image was hit by advertising campaigns that targeted “plus size BAME women” and a lack of representation of minorities in the media overall.
Men, meanwhile, said body image concerns for them are “common” but discussing them is “still taboo”, with pressure to “gain muscle mass” and look masculine a factor.
The report said people want more discussion of body image in schools, regulation of advertising – for example, labelling images where the individual has had cosmetic surgery – and for the media and large organisations to focus on diversity.
Chair of the women and equalities committee Caroline Nokes said the committee will further examine the issue and make recommendations next year.
She said: “Poor body image is a well-known problem among teenage girls and young women – and that is clearly where it is most severe. But it impacts a much wider range of people as well, damaging mental and physical health and contributing to discrimination.
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“And it impacts some people more than others: teenagers – boys as well as girls; people who are considered under or over weight; women, especially those who are older or BAME, LGBT people – especially gay men and trans people, and people with disabilities or a visible difference.
“Because it’s such a widespread problem, influenced by multiple factors, it’s easy to underestimate the real misery it causes – and to so many people.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--Great British Bake Off Viewers' Hearts Are In Their Mouths After Nightmare Situation Strikes One Unl

Great British Bake Off Viewers' Hearts Are In Their Mouths After Nightmare Situation Strikes One Unlucky Baker

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There were tense scenes as The Great British Bake Off returned to screens on Tuesday night, as the tent witnessed one of its worst disasters ever.
Viewers of the hit Channel 4 show had their hearts in their mouths, following an incident involving contestants Sura and Dave and a tray of pineapple upside-down cakes.
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In scenes that were not too dissimilar to the drama of the show’s infamous #BinGate, Sura accidentally destroyed the majority of Dave’s efforts as they prepared to present their bakes in the technical challenge.
Accidents happen - poor Dave and poor Sura. And spare a thought for the tent carpet too! #GBBO pic.twitter.com/S4s4oqCyMt — British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) September 22, 2020
As they delivered their half dozen pineapple upside-down cakes to the gingham alter, Sura swung her arm to hit a fly and but knocked Dave and his tray, causing four of his six cakes to fly across the room.
Dave was then seen walking away in frustration as the cakes lay smashed on the floor, while a devastated Sura tried to apologise.
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“It happens, accidents happen,” Dave told a tearful Sura.
Disaster struck the Great British Bake Off tent Channel 4
New host Matt Lucas later quipped: “It’s my fault because I was looking at you when it happened. And you were probably hypnotised by my beauty.”
Sura began attempting to rescue them from the floor, but when it came to judging, Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith said they would judge from the two untouched cakes.
However, they didn’t impress Paul and Prue much, with David placing ninth out of 12 in the challenge.
And to rub salt (or should that be sugar?) into his wounds, Sura emerged as the winner of the round.
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Dave's bakes were sent crashing to the floor Channel 4
While the show’s return had been like a welcome hug after the latest developments in the news, these scenes were too much for some to take...
Poor Dave. My heart leaped out of my chest! — 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 (@waywardredangel) September 22, 2020
Feel for both of them. One of those horribly awkward moments all round. Hopefully judges will take it into account 🙈🙈 — Rachel (@OpenMindMH) September 22, 2020
Britain held their breath. — Chris D (@cdowers) September 22, 2020
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Yeah, everyone on the sofa just now gave up breathing — Rebecca - 𝑮𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒂 🌻 (@Glutarama) September 22, 2020
So much drama for the first episode!! — Emma Beeney (@_EmmaJane90) September 22, 2020
I gasped when it happened 😱 — Tracey (@justtraceyxx) September 22, 2020
I can’t deal with the stress 😱 — ZM (@zoe_mcphail) September 22, 2020
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🤯 as if 2020 isn't bad enough and we have stress on Bake Off already. — Rosieposy (@RosieRosieposy) September 22, 2020
Elsewhere on the show, Matt’s debut as co-host alongside Noel Fielding proved to be deliciously silly, as he brought his trademark japes to the famous tent.
He also had viewers howling as he parodied prime minister Boris Johnson’s coronavirus briefings in a pre-titles skit.
This year’s series opener notched up Bake Off’s biggest overnight launch audience since its move to Channel 4, the broadcaster said, averaging 6.9 million viewers and peaking at 7.9 million.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--Stricter Lockdown Measures Needed 'As Fast As Possible', Warns Government Science Adviser

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Stricter lockdown measures need to be put in place “as fast as possible”, a member of the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) has warned.
Professor John Edmunds said Boris Johnson’s decision to impose a 10pm curfew on bars and restaurants was likely to have a “trivial” impact on the spread of coronavirus.
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“Overall I don’t think that the measures have gone anywhere near far enough,” he told BBC Radio 4′s Today programme.
The prime minister on Tuesday announced a raft of new measures he said would suppress the recent spike in infections, including a nationwide curfew for pubs and restaurants in England and harsher fines for people who refuse to wear a mask.
But Edmunds, the dean of the Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said he expected the UK to continue to see an increase of the epidemic.
“I think working from home if you can is certainly a good idea. I think that the measures in terms of closing bars an hour early and restaurants at 10pm – I mean, nobody goes to a restaurant after 10pm anyway,” he said.
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“I think that’s fairly trivial in terms of it’ll have a small impact on the epidemic.
“Overall I don’t think that the measures have gone anywhere near far enough. In fact I don’t even think the measures in Scotland have gone far enough.”
In Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon went further than Johnson and has banned people from visiting each other in their homes.
Asked if there was a realistic chance the R could be brought under 1 by Christmas, Edmunds said: “I suspect not. There’s a chance, of course there’s a chance.”
Late-night drinkers after 10pm in Soho, London, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that from Thursday pubs and restaurants will be subject to a 10pm curfew to combat the rise in coronavirus cases in England. PA
On Tuesday night Johnson warned the public they could face much tougher measures if new rules fail to get the infection rate under control.
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In a televised address, the PM said the nation faces an “unquestionably difficult” winter and warned the latest restrictions could last for six months.
He said “we must reserve the right to go further” if the pace of transmission continues to rise.
Johnson said he was “deeply, spiritually reluctant” to infringe on people’s freedoms, but unless action was taken now there would be a need for harsher regulations later “when the deaths have already mounted”.
The new strategy for England will see office staff once again working from home, the wider use of face masks and a 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants.
Businesses will face £10,000 fines or closure for failing to comply with regulations, and people risk £200 penalties for failing to wear masks or breaching the “rule of six”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--Emily Maitlis' Unfortunate Slip Of The Tongue On Newsnight Is So 2020

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Emily Matlis had a very unfortunate slip of the tongue during Tuesday night’s Newsnight.
The presenter was introducing former health secretary Alan Johnson who was appearing via video link from Hull.
Mr Johnson, who was also Hull West and Hessle MP for many years, was on the current affairs programme to give his reaction to the latest restrictions introduced by Boris Johnson to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.
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Except Emily didn’t introduce him quite as he was expecting.
“Former Health Secretary Alan Johnson joins us down the line from hell [laughs] Hull.
“I’m never going to recover from that now am I?”
“We join Alan Johnson down the line from hell ... I mean HULL.” pic.twitter.com/JLNhDpic6L — Scott Bryan (@scottygb) September 22, 2020
In May, Emily was at the centre of a row over an opening section of Newsnight where she addressed the backlash that Dominic Cummings received after it was revealed he’d taken a 260-mile trip to his parents’ house in Durham during lockdown.
The following day, the BBC ruled that Emily’s comments breached their impartiality guidelines, with staff being sent a “reminder” about the broadcaster’s stance on neutrality.
It was later revealed that the corporation received a total of 23,674 complaints about the episode in question, from viewers who felt that Emily showed “bias against Dominic Cummings and/or the government”.
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The corporation added that the complaints came “after invitations to complain were posted online”.
Emily Maitlis David M. Benett via Getty Images
Amid the controversy over her opening speech, Emily asked for “the night off” from Newsnight, with Katie Razzall taking her place on the episode that followed.
Emily later revealed Dominic Cummings had sent her a message of solidarity after her Newsnight monologue.
Speaking to Tatler magazine, she said: “It was peak surreal getting a message of support from him in the middle of all the crazy stuff.”
Emily also said she was overwhelmed by the public support she received amid the controversy.
“I think that was the biggest I’ve had – more than Andrew, more than anything. I was overwhelmed by it,” she said.
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“I wasn’t expecting such a flood of warmth.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--Trump’s Wildest Coronavirus Claim Yet Gets Instant Fact-Check

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Donald Trump attempted to downplay the coronavirus pandemic on Monday as the US death toll approached 200,000 by saying it affects “elderly people with heart problems and other problems.”
“That’s what it really affects,” Trump said during a campaign rally in Ohio. “That’s it.”
Trump also said the virus doesn’t really affect anyone below the age of 18.
“In some states, thousands of people, nobody young... they have a strong immune system, who knows,” he said. “But it affects virtually nobody. It’s an amazing thing.”
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"It affects virtually nobody," Trump says of the coronavirus, which has now killed 200,000 Americans and counting pic.twitter.com/qHrZvUWNhX — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 22, 2020
According to the CDC, some 400,000 people under the age of 18 have been infected with the coronavirus. While many cases were mild or even without symptoms, at least 576 patients under the age of 18 were hospitalised for the infection between March and July.
The president’s comments also contradicted his own past statements.
“It’s turning out it’s not just old people,” Trump told journalist Bob Woodward in March in comments that were only recently made public. “Just today and yesterday, some startling facts came out. It’s not just old –- older. Young people, too. Plenty of young people.”
In public, however, Trump has continued to spend much of the pandemic trying to downplay the virus. In February, he predicted the number of cases “within a couple of days” would be “down to close to zero.” More recently, Trump has tried to dismiss cases in “blue” states.
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“The blue states had tremendous death rates,” Trump said last week. “If you take the blue states out, we’re at a level that I don’t think anybody in the world would be at, we’re really at a very low level.”
Former Vice President Joe Biden took the opposite approach when asked about the climbing death toll, warning against becoming numb to the news.
“We can’t lose the ability to feel the sorrow and the loss and the anger for so many lives lost,” Biden said in Manitowoc, Wisconsin on Monday. “We can’t let the numbers become statistics, a background noise, just a blur that we see on the nightly news.”
Biden said the Covid-19 deaths weren’t just numbers but “empty chairs at dining room tables and kitchen tables that weeks and months ago were filled with a loved one, a mom, a dad, a brother, a sister.”
On social media, Trump’s critics zeroed in on his use of the phrase “virtually nobody” as both callous and inaccurate:
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They should turn this into a 30 second spot and run it in retirement communities. https://t.co/C5gVngsjfG — Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) September 22, 2020
Trump to Bob Woodward in March: “Just today and yesterday, some startling facts came out. It’s not just old, older. Young people too, plenty of young people."
Trump today: "It affects virtually nobody...old people..that's it."pic.twitter.com/COVlyvMGAA#TrumpLied200KAmericansdied — Holly Figueroa O'Reilly (@AynRandPaulRyan) September 22, 2020
Today Trump said covid, “Affects virtually nobody.”
In fact, there have only been 3 events with more deaths than covid in ALL OF US HISTORY. https://t.co/2ZBWK5KZRO — Mikel Jollett (@Mikel_Jollett) September 22, 2020
Trump's point here is even more cruel than it seems: those who are lost to COVID are just "nobodies" to him -- the same way that soldiers lost in battle are "suckers" and "losers." https://t.co/EAdr9Qf4bV — Ronald Klain (@RonaldKlain) September 22, 2020
How does Trump shrugging off old people dying by the thousands play at The Villages in Florida? — Schooley (@Rschooley) September 22, 2020
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if you take away the blue states, the old, the nonwhite and all the others who died, it affects virtually nobody — Farhad Manjoo (@fmanjoo) September 22, 2020
Hey newsflash from trump, a guy I trust for all my medical information! (He is an expert in all topics) Corona doesn’t really affect the young, like if you’re under 18 you’re good, soooo it affects virtually nobody! Phew! https://t.co/XivyocRKf9 — Rachel Dratch (@TheRealDratch) September 22, 2020
“It affects virtually nobody. It’s an amazing thing.”
“By the way, open your schools.”
A reminder that we have NO comprehensive plan to confront a pandemic that has killed 200K Americans. pic.twitter.com/uqlS6ZK4VF — Kristen Clarke 866-OUR-VOTE (@KristenClarkeJD) September 22, 2020
Just play Trump's actual quotes over shots of a funeral:
"I don't take responsibility at all."
"It is what it is."
"It affects virtually nobody." https://t.co/lwC8hVKPNF — Frank Lesser (@sadmonsters) September 22, 2020
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Know someone who died from coronavirus? Trump considers them "virtually nobody." https://t.co/sDS0tybyy2 — Tim Hogan (@timjhogan) September 22, 2020
"Virtually nobody" = 200,000 people.
I'm starting to understand how he bankrupted the casinos. — Josh Moon (@Josh_Moon) September 22, 2020
If you, or a family member, or a friend got sick or died of #COVID19, to Trump you are "virtually nobody." https://t.co/wuZCnvN9oD — Peter Gleick (@PeterGleick) September 22, 2020
"It affects virtually nobody" except it affected nearly 7 millions of Americans (that we know of) & 31M worldwide, and killed 200K Americans (963K dead worldwide), but sure, keep telling your BS to your gullible base who trust a 2nd grade reality tv show guy over facts & science. https://t.co/3bZIJ9iUn7 — Francesco Francavilla (@f_francavilla) September 22, 2020
200,000 dead Americans
6.9 million infected
Families shattered
Millions thrown out of work
Trump tonight: "It (coronavirus) effects (virtually) nobody..." — West Wing Reports (@WestWingReport) September 22, 2020


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--Matt Lucas' Great British Bake Off Debut Was Deliciously Silly

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The Great British Bake Off finally returned to our screens on Tuesday night, and there was a new face in that famous tent.
Matt Lucas has joined Noel Fielding on the Bake Off presenting team following Sandi Toksvig’s departure - and needless to say, there were japes a plenty from the Little Britain star.
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As well as mocking Boris Johnson before the show had even properly started, Matt delivered plenty of memorable gags that went down a (sweet) treat with viewers.
Here are some of the highlights…
On fluffing his debut
As Matt and co-host Noel went to kick off the signature challenge, he shouted “Bake!” at the wrong time – first too early, and then too late.
Hats off to Matt Lucas! He made quite an impression in Cake Week! #GBBO pic.twitter.com/0UJgbCx1P6 — British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) September 22, 2020
On his eating habits
Speaking to one contestant, Matt admitted: “I have the eating age of a nine-year-old. I just eat Super Noodles.
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“You know they are called Batchelors Super Noodles? Because I am homosexual I call them Confirmed Batchelors Super Noodles.”
On the show’s high stakes
Bake Off Channel 4
As the technical challenge came to a close, Noel announced: “Bakers, you only have got half an hour left.”
Matt replied: “We don’t mean half an hour to live, we just mean half an hour to the end of the challenge, so don’t panic too much.”
Noel then added: “One of you has got half an hour to live…”
On a bubble gum-flavoured cake
Bake Off Channel 4
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Loriea, a diagnostic radiographer from Durham, delivered a bubble gum Battenberg during the signature challenge, but failed to impress the judges.
Matt told her: “I do rather like it. When I have my ninth birthday party can you cook for me please?”
On the episode’s dropped cakes
Bake Off Channel 4
The technical challenge saw the bakers asked to craft six miniature upside-down pineapple cakes.
As they delivered their creations to the judges, Sura swung her arm to hit a fly and knocked Dave, causing four of his six cakes to fly across the room.
Matt quipped: “It’s my fault because I was looking at you when it happened. And you were probably hypnotised by my beauty.”
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This year’s series opener notched up Bake Off’s biggest overnight launch audience since its move to Channel 4, the broadcaster said, averaging 6.9 million viewers and peaking at 7.9 million.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--Matt Lucas Hilariously Mocks Boris Johnson In Great British Bake Off Debut

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The Great British Bake Off finally returned to our screens on Tuesday night, which saw Matt Lucas make his debut in the famous tent.
And right from the off the Little Britain star made his presence felt in a skit mimicking Boris Johnson’s coronavirus briefings.
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The comic, who has replaced Sandi Toksvig on the Channel 4 baking competition, appeared ahead of the show’s return to Channel 4 wearing a blonde wig and standing at a lectern featuring the slogan: “Stay Alert, Bake Cake, Save Loaves.”
Welcome to a new series of The Great British Bake Off - and a big hello to our new presenter Matt Lucas! #GBBO pic.twitter.com/0sa8NxTJtE — British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) September 22, 2020
Bake Off’s broadcast was delayed by 15 minutes to make space for televised coronavirus addresses from the prime minister, Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, following the announcement of new restrictions.
Stumbling over his words, Matt began: “Good evening, let’s get straight to it.
“We are now approaching phase 46 which means that from Tuesday morning or Wednesday evening, depending on your height, we are saying, with regards to baking, that if you must bake in a tent, bake in a tent, but please don’t bake in a tent…”
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He added: “We are asking people to use common sense with regards to the distribution of the hundreds and thousands.”
Matt’s co-host Noel Fielding then appeared via video link to ask a question about the correct pronunciation of “scone”.
The skit had viewers howling...
I could watch Matt Lucas doing Boris Johnson impersonations for the rest of 2020. In fact, it may be the only thing that gets me through 2020. — Hallie Rubenhold (@HallieRubenhold) September 22, 2020
I can't listen to Boris Johnson now without visualising Matt Lucas — Zed (@Colkitto) September 22, 2020
Matt lucas ripping into boris johnson and number 10 was outstanding 🎉🤣🤣🤣#GBBO — Liam Mcnulty 🍊🧡🏒 (@liam_trucker) September 22, 2020
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I know it wasn’t planned but Matt Lucas’ opening to the GBBO conflicting with Boris Johnson’s actual nation address made the joke all the funnier! 😂😂 #GBBO @BritishBakeOff — Nadbags (@baggyann85) September 22, 2020
Matt Lucas giving a speech as Boris Johnson was genius. And also made more sense than any of the real ones #GBBO pic.twitter.com/bShJlYsSua — London Calling (@LDNiscalling) September 22, 2020
Production on the 11th series was initially delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic, but filming finished near the end of August.
This year’s series opener notched up Bake Off’s biggest overnight launch audience since its move to Channel 4, the broadcaster said, averaging 6.9 million viewers and peaking at 7.9 million.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--Labour Voices Alarm Over 'Failing' US Firm Subcontracted For NHS Test And Trace

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Labour has said ministers have “serious questions” to answer after reports a “failing” US firm that botched the handling of tax credits has been subcontracted for some NHS Test and Trace services.
Shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Rachel Reeves said Concentrix’s involvement showed a lack of due diligence over the running of the service.
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In August 2019, four staff at a Concentrix-operated fraud call centre were suspended after allegations that victims were branded “morons” and misled into thinking they were dealing with police when they phoned to report what happened to them.
The allegations were said to have taken place at the Action Fraud call centre which handles reports from victims across England, Wales and Northern Ireland and is run by the City of London Police.
Concentrix was also stripped of its HMRC contract in 2018 after nearly a third of the 108,000 tax credit claimants it adjusted or terminated had the decisions overturned at appeal, PA Media report.
The company was subcontracted by Serco which alongside Sitel, runs NHS Test and Trace through a contract reported to be worth up to £108 million.
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It has faced a barrage of criticism about performance and value for money in recent weeks.
Thirty-five organisations are listed as “data processors” involved in the NHS Test and Trace system but only four are NHS bodies. Four are Lighthouse Labs.
A further four are Public Health England bodies and another is the Ministry of Defence.
The remaining 22 are private companies. This does not include companies such as Concentrix that are subcontracted.
Coronavirus tests have been unavailable in some areas, tracing of those who need to self-isolate has consistently been below the benchmark of 80% in recent weeks and only a third of people who turn up for a test in England are receiving results within 24 hours, according to the latest data.
Labour shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth, speaking in the Commons last week, accused Serco of “failing to trace 80% of contacts” and asked the government when “poor-performing outsourcing firms” could expect to see their contracts ripped up.
The party has now called into question the reported decision by Serco, who took on the contract in July, to hire Concentrix to provide staff for its operation.
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Despite the chequered history with government contracts, Politics Home reported that Concentrix has been brought in by Serco to help fulfil its Test and Trace contract.
Reeves said: “As if continuing outsourcing to a company with such a bad track record wasn’t enough, this government didn’t even ensure that those it was subcontracting were up to the job.
“Instead of outsourcing to tier upon tier of private companies, this Tory government should have put money into our public services which know local communities better, and are far more efficient.
“With the testing system on the brink of collapse when we need it most, the government has serious questions to answer on why this subcontractor – embroiled in scandal and with a track record of failing government services – was given responsibility for part of one of the most systems in our country.”
A Department of Health spokesperson said it could cancel contracts with private businesses if they were not performing.
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She said: “The public expects us to be doing everything we can to respond to this unprecedented global pandemic – this includes working with a wide range of public and private sector partners.
“Proper due diligence is carried out for all government contracts, we take these checks extremely seriously and all contracts also have break clauses in them, meaning if the company does not meet required service levels we can cancel the contracts and reclaim taxpayers money.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--As US Surpasses 200,000 Covid-19 Deaths, Experts Warn Of 'Perfect Storm' Flu Season

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More than 200,000 people have now died of the novel coronavirus in the US, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally.
The US reached the grim pandemic milestone on Tuesday — amid growing concerns among medical professionals of a potential “perfect storm” for both Covid-19 and influenza infections as temperatures begin to dip in the Western Hemisphere.
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Doctors have been advising that adults and children older than 6 months get a flu vaccine as soon as possible to reduce the risk of catching the flu and to reduce the severity of symptoms if a person does get infected.
Though the flu vaccine will not protect someone from being infected with Covid-19, experts say it will reduce the odds of someone contracting both viruses at the same time. Fewer influenza cases will also reduce the burden on an overtaxed health care system.
With @StatePharmacy we are engaging in @NCSLorg #NCSLbc this week to work alongside state legislators in communicating the importance of the #fluvaccine to prevent a perfect storm of flu and #COVID19. #PharmacistFluFighters are here to help. Learn more: https://t.co/wzBqrOo6yU pic.twitter.com/5xMBAlrjHx — NACDS (@NACDS) September 15, 2020
The US has the highest cumulative number of Covid-19 cases worldwide — with more than 6.6 million infections — as well as fatalities. India and Brazil, which have the second- and third-highest cases globally, have reported over 5.5 million infections and over 4.5 million infections to date, respectively.
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Globally, the Covid-19 death toll has surpassed 965,000. More than 31 million people have been infected worldwide.
Though the coronavirus is deadlier than the flu, both illnesses have similar symptoms, including fever, cough and body aches.
An estimated 1 billion people worldwide get the flu yearly. In the U.S., tens of millions of people are sickened with the flu every year.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--Leaked Brexit Letter Warns Of Gridlocked Lorries And Traffic Chaos In Kent

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Ministers have warned of 7,000 truck-long queues in Kent after the Brexit transition period ends as a worst-case scenario if hauliers fail to prepare for changes to customs rules.
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove, responsible for no-deal planning, has written to logistics groups with the government’s “reasonable worst-case scenario” planning, which warns of possible two-day delays for cargo travelling to France in January.
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Gove is due to outline the scenario work, which the Cabinet Office stressed is not a forecast, in the Commons on Wednesday.
It comes as the European Union’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier prepares to travel to London for further informal talks with his counterpart Lord Frost as efforts continue to strike a post-Brexit trade deal.
Stationary at the entrance to the Channel Tunnel near Folkestone in Kent. PA
But in the document sent to logistics associations, which has been seen by PA news agency, Gove warned that changes were coming with or without a deal.
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The transition period, which kept the UK aligned to the EU’s single market and customs union rules to allow trade to flow smoothly after Brexit, expires at the end of the year unless both sides agree to an extension – something Boris Johnson has ruled out.
The Cabinet Office document states that, in its reasonable worst-case scenario, between 30-50% of trucks crossing the Channel will not be ready for the new regulations coming into force on January 1 2021, while a “lack of capacity to hold unready trucks at French ports” could reduce the flow of traffic across the strait to 60-80% of normal levels.
“This could lead to maximum queues of 7,000 port bound trucks in Kent and associated maximum delays of up to two days,” the documents said.
Such delays could be in place for at least three months, hauliers have been warned, as alternative routes are sought and supply chains get to grips with the new systems and requirements.
In his letter, Gove said: “Irrespective of the outcome of negotiations between the UK and EU, traders will face new customs controls and processes.
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“Simply put, if traders, both in the UK and EU, have not completed the right paperwork, their goods will be stopped when entering the EU and disruption will occur.
“It is essential that traders act now and get ready for new formalities.”
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove leaves the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London, following a Cabinet meeting. PA
But sector chiefs have accused the government of failing to do enough in recent weeks over the threat of post-Brexit border delays.
Logistics UK, formerly the Freight Transport Association, was seething last week after being told the government’s Smart Freight system – designed to reduce the risk of cargo delays once Britain is outside of EU rules – would still be in testing mode in January when British exports face new border regulations.
The Road Haulage Association (RHA), meanwhile, said their meeting on Thursday with Gove had fallen “far short of our expectations”.
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Responding to the worst-case scenario document, RHA chief executive Richard Burnett said: “We’ve been consistently warning the government that there will be delays at ports but they’re just not engaging with industry on coming up with solutions.
“Traders need 50,000 more customs intermediaries to handle the mountain of new paperwork after transition but government support to recruit and train those extra people is woefully inadequate.
“The answers to the questions that we raised in our letter to Gove and subsequent roundtable meeting last Thursday still remain unanswered – and our concern continues to grow.”
There has been reported action by government to mitigate the impact around Dover and the south-east ports, however.
There was a suggestion this month a coronavirus testing centre in Ebbsfleet, Kent, was closed to make way for a post-Brexit lorry park to allow customs checks away to be carried out away from the Port of Dover.
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A UK government spokesperson said: “With just 100 days to go until the end of the transition period it’s vital that businesses prepare now for new rules that will come into force at the end of the year, so that they can hit the ground running on January 1 2021 and seize new opportunities.
“As a responsible government we continue to make extensive preparations for a wide range of scenarios, including the reasonable worst case.
“This is not a forecast or prediction of what will happen but rather a stretching scenario.”
The leaked letter comes as a think tank said failure to reach an agreement with the EU in post-Brexit trade talks could hit Britain’s economy three times harder in the long-term than coronavirus.
Queues at the border, shortages of fresh food and medicine as well as more “hassle” travelling to the continent are also possible, according to the UK in a Changing Europe group.
📣 Our NEW report 'What would no deal mean' is out NOW. 📣
READ it here ⬇https://t.co/rehIZCqPaK#WhatWouldNoDealMean pic.twitter.com/qwRipO6u5t — The UK in a Changing Europe (@UKandEU) September 22, 2020


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--Kelly Clarkson Admits She 'Definitely Didn't See' Her Divorce Coming

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Kelly Clarkson used the season premiere of her eponymous talk show to clear the air on her pending divorce from Brandon Blackstock.
On Monday, the three-time Grammy winner returned to television for the first in-studio episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show in six months. In her opening monologue, she told the audience ― who were beamed in virtually ― that her year so far has been a “dumpster fire.”
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“As you probably know, 2020 has brought a lot of change also to my personal life,” Kelly said. “Definitely didn’t see anything coming that came, but what I’m dealing with is hard — it involves more than just my heart, it involves a lot of little hearts.”
The Texas native filed for divorce from Blackstock in June, citing irreconcilable differences, though their separation date reportedly remains listed as TBD.
The couple married in 2013 and share a 6-year-old daughter, River Rose, and a 4-year-old son, Remington Alexander. Kelly is also a stepmum to Brandon’s daughter Savannah, 18, and son Seth, 13, from his previous marriage to Melissa Ashworth.
Kelly Clarkson (right) filed for divorce from Brandon Blackstock in June. Frazer Harrison via Getty Images
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On Monday’s show, Kelly said she and Brandon both grew up in divorced families ― which is why they feel particularly guarded about how they discuss the split publicly and with their kids.
“We know the best thing here is to protect our children and their little hearts,” the singer said. “I’m usually very open and I usually talk about everything, but in this case I will talk a little bit here and there about how it affects me personally, but probably won’t go too far into it because I’m a mama bear and my kids come first.”
It’s only in recent weeks that the singer has begun to address the split publicly. In an interview with Sunday Today earlier this month, the singer shared that she had been relying on close friends for support. And she told the Los Angeles Times the same week that she can’t “truly be open” about the breakup for the sake of her family.
On the flip side, this week Kelly said that she has already channeled many of those raw emotions into music, adding that fans can look forward to some new tunes in the near future.
“My mom told me to start writing and that’s actually how I get my feelings out,” she said. “That’s how I became a songwriter. Music has always been my outlet to help me get through difficult times, and this year I’ve been listening to a lot of music and I’ve also been writing a lot of music as well.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--Brexit Ferry Firm Hired By Chris Grayling Despite Having No Ships Goes Bust, Owing £2m

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The company infamously contracted by Chris Grayling to run ferries in case of a no-deal Brexit – despite having no ships – has gone bust.
Seaborne Freight went into liquidation earlier this month, owing nearly £2m, mainly to creditors.
The firm was handed a £13.8m contract by Grayling to bring vital supplies like food and medicine across the Channel in case there was a no-deal Brexit.
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But the then-transport secretary was forced to cancel the contract more than a month before the expected Brexit date of March 29 2019, amid fierce criticism. The Department for Transport said at the time no taxpayers’ money was paid to Seaborne.
To relieve pressure on Dover, Seaborne aimed to operate freight ferries from Ramsgate in Kent to the Belgian port of Ostend.
But amid political chaos, Brexit was repeatedly delayed until January 31 this year, when the UK left with a withdrawal agreement and no requirement for special ferries.
The Seaborne fiasco led to huge criticism of Grayling, who was dubbed the “worst transport secretary of all time” by Labour and eventually sacked by Boris Johnson when he became prime minister in July 2019.
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Former transport secretary Chris Grayling JUSTIN TALLIS via Getty Images
Grayling refused to apologise for the debacle, describing criticism of him as “baffling” and at one point telling the Commons “I did see ships”, in a reversal of Horatio Nelson’s famous quote.
Commenting on Seaborne Freight’s liquidation, Labour’s shadow transport secretary Jim McMahon said: “The disastrous legacy of Chris Grayling lives on.
“Giving out a ferries contract to a company that didn’t actually have any ferries is the epitome of Tory incompetence and wasteful spending.
“Things don’t look to have improved under his successor.
“The Seaborne ferries debacle highlighted how woefully underprepared the government is in planning for our future in a no deal scenario, so with just a few weeks left of current negotiations with the EU the government must double its efforts and deliver the deal it promised the British people.”
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Christine Jardine, Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesperson, said: “The demise of Seaborne Freight is a stark reminder of the challenges facing business right now, and haulage firms are no exception.
“With the economy falling off a cliff, we need the government to commit to securing a deal with Europe – this is essential to prevent further economic chaos.”
Jardine also called for “greater transparency” in the awarding of contracts, with “clear accountability” should things go wrong.
Grayling has recently taken on a role as a “strategic adviser” to Hutchison Ports Europe, for which he will earn £100,000 a year for just seven hours of work per week.
Papers filed with Companies House show Seaborne decided to enter voluntary liquidation on September 8. Quantuma have been appointed joint liquidators.
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The company’s assets amount to nearly £32,000-worth of computer equipment, nearly £4,500-worth of furniture and equipment, and £2,620 cash in the bank.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Make Election Plea In Rare Joint TV Appearance

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle discussed the importance of voting in the upcoming US election and combating online negativity for the TIME100 special on ABC, which unveiled Time’s annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
“We’re six weeks out from the election and today is Voter Registration Day,” the Duchess of Sussex said. “Every four years, we are told the same thing ― ‘This is the most important election of our lifetime.’ But this one is. When we vote, our values are put into action and our voices are heard.”
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“Your voice is a reminder that you matter,” Meghan added. “Because you do ― and you deserve to be heard.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle talk about the importance of voting in the TIME100 special. ABC News
The couple also spoke out against a cause they are passionate about: the spread of disinformation and hate speech online.
“As we approach this November, it’s vital that we reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity. What we consume, what we are exposed to and what we engage with online has a real effect on all of us,” the duke said.
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It was the couple’s first joint television appearance since stepping back from the royal family.
“It’s time to not only reflect, but act.” This #NationalVoterRegistrationDay, join #Time100 alumni Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, in taking action for the future. pic.twitter.com/JerXHxiZK3 — ABC (@ABCNetwork) September 23, 2020
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced in January, following a sabbatical in Canada, that they were stepping back as working members of the royal family.
The last time the Sussexes appeared on-screen together was for their ITV documentary, Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, which hinted at the couple’s troubles with the royal family and their role within The Firm prior to their subsequent step back.
Since their royal duties officially drew to a close in March, the couple has settled down in Santa Barbara, California, and continued to volunteer within the Los Angeles community as well as stay in touch with patronages across the pond.
The Duchess of Sussex has become particularly involved in getting people to vote in the upcoming U.S. presidential election in November. Gloria Steinem revealed over the weekend that she and Meghan spent some time cold-calling voters together.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--32 Funny Tweets About Cleaning That Married People Will Understand

I appreciate my husband cleaning before we have guests coming over but he always cleans the weirdest shit. Our kitchen will look like a tornado blew through but instead of putting shit away this dude will be up in the attic scrubbing the walls like “iT hAs To Be CLeAn eMiLy”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-23--If You're Complaining About 'Lockdown 2.0', You're Showing Your Coronavirus Privilege

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Navigating the pandemic has become a numbers game. Last Monday, we met the “rule of six” – a new restriction which dictates that no more than six people may meet at any time – with an extensive list of caveats that absolutely do not include mingling. (These rules were published 23 minutes before they came into effect, which set most of late-night, doom-scrolling Twitter on fire.)
In his address to the House of Commons, Prime Minister Boris Johnson introduced us to the principle of “a stitch in time saves nine” – a typically Johnsonian summary of the new strategy: introduce a whole host of new restrictions to stem the rising tide of infections.
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(The number of positive coronavirus tests has almost quadrupled in the last month, which can definitely not be explained by an equivalent increase in testing. Daily hospital admissions in England have more than doubled, and apparently fewer than 8 percent of us have the antibodies to keep the virus at bay.)
As of Thursday, Johnson decrees, pubs, bars and restaurants must close by 10pm. Eat out to help out, but be home before curfew. As of Monday, only 15 people will be allowed at weddings – down from 30 – while 30 may still attend your funeral. They do say death brings popularity.
“Nothing in Johnson’s latest announcements comes anywhere near the lockdown we had before.”
These restrictions, he warns, could be in place for up to six months, unless the R infection rate is brought down below one.
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Here’s another number that’s being bandied around: Lockdown 2.0.
Many Londoners who, like my friends and I, became drunk on perceived summer freedom, are calling the new restrictions on household mixing and the hospitality sector “a second lockdown”.
But take another look at the numbers, and you’ll see just how insulting that is. Once again, a southeast metropolitan bubble shows just how out of step it is with the rest of the so-called United Kingdom. Why not ask the good people of Bolton, or Leicester, or Manchester? Vast swathes of the country were already under far more stringent restriction. In fact, one in five Britons.
In Scotland, for example, the “rule of six” was in fact limited to two households. And just after Johnson’s address, Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced a ban on visiting other people’s homes (with the exception of children). That measure was already in place for the nearly two million citizens of Glasgow. In Wales, Caerphilly and Rhondda Cynon Taf were already under local lockdown, and four more counties will join them tonight, being urged to avoid all non-essential journeys.
So to put it another way, anyone scaremongering about National Lockdown 2.0 on the basis of Tuesday’s announcements are showing something highly specific to 2020: Coronavirus Privilege.
Of course, restricting the already beleaguered hospitality sector with a 10pm curfew will knock another leg out from under a teetering financial table. I’m not making light of the terrible effect this may have on small businesses just emerging from Lockdown 1.0, nor the mental wellbeing of the population.
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A public information sign warning of rising Covid-19 cases in London PA
What I’m saying is, there are huge areas of the country where they could only dream of complaining about a 10pm curfew. And take a look across the Atlantic, where in New York City indoor dining has been banned the whole time. (There are tentative plans to re-open at 25% at the end of September.)
But here is the most important thing to bear in mind: nothing in Johnson’s announcements comes anywhere near the lockdown we had before. We’ve got to hang onto the freedom we’ve won back, rather than new limits on our activities.
Most of us can now see our families, our friends, our partners. We can leave the house as many times as we want. There are children in the parks and schools again. These are all things I once took for granted, but since this spring I hope never to do so again.
Today, for the first time in weeks, I read something that made me feel better. Something that eased the bruising tightness under my chest and stinging in my eyes – if only just for a moment. I read Hugo Rifkind’s column in The Times, reminding us of how bad things really were – and how unlikely it is that things will get that bad again.
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Remember the start of lockdown? When people were panic-buying pasta and toilet paper, and sharing reckless WhatsApp rumours about the army in the streets? When we had to meet our friends on that infernal House Party app? And when we all, with quiet complicity, binned it? Do you remember the constant fear? The crushing depression? The Zoom quizzes?
But we made it through, bruised and battered but, by and large, unscathed. We developed routines to keep ourselves sane. We made adjustments to our homes, our lives, our hopes. We recalibrated and recalibrated and we became – dare I say it – accustomed to a new world.
Right now it’s easy to become overwhelmed with the notifications, the news, the numbers. The scary upward graphs, the sombre scientists, the impending winter darkness. The helpless fear of being on a ship with Boris Johnson at the helm.
But hang in there. We’re not back in a second lockdown yet – and even if we do end up back in that dark place, remember that we made it through the first time. It won’t be over by Christmas, that much has always been for sure, but there are still sunlit uplands to aim for.