|
From The Economist of 20 Jun 2020:
[quote}On March 12th .... Boris Johnson ... turned serious: families are going to lose loved ones before the time." But the restrictions he announced were light: those with symptoms were told to stay at home for a week; those older than 70 instructed to avoid cruise ships. Meanwhile, continental Europe was already beginning lock down. ...
... the government should have questioned the experts more closely. But it "was getting advice that it wanted to hear"[/quote]
Somehow that was a response to pandemic that was already all over the world? He acted serious. And mocked it with no actions. Somehow he only heard what he wanted to hear? When it that called responsible? It does sound like a 30 second attention span.
Someone with a business school attitude sees current 'spread sheet' numbers. They says everything will be OK. Numbers that matter were the infections today that would affect numbers weeks from now. But this is Boris Johnson who, like Trump, only sees the numbers he wanted to see.
Death rates were shooting up exponentially in Italy in early February. Exponentially in Spain in mid-February. Exponentially in France at the end of February. No problem. By ignoring what the professionals needed, Britain could only trace five Covid-19 infections a week in mid-February. And only had a few hundred tracers in March as things exponentially got bad. Therefore Boris Johnson again had the fact he wanted. Numbers said it was not really serious.
Johnson finally admitted that school must close in 23 March after he had contracted the disease. And still he refused to require people to wear masks until Mayor Sadiq Khan of London finally made a big stink about inaction on 14 April. People on British mass transient were not required to wear masks until 4 June. Johnson still does not require masks in shops. That is a responsible leader?
British government finally start expediting testing on 14 April by letting other professionals do testing. Testing suddenly increased from 1 in 5000 people to 1 in 1000 on 1 May. But again, too little too late.
Boris Johnson wanted to protect his economy - citizens be damned. Numbers are now in. Britain's GDP has suffered the worst downturn for all European countries. Which makes sense when one was listening to professionals. Britain has a worst decline at almost 12% followed by less downturns in France, Italy, and Spain. Germany, that took actions based in science, has only suffered a 7% downturn. Other nations that made decisions from facts also suffered much less economic harm include Portugal and Norway, Countries that suffered the most Covid-19 deaths, due to inaction, are now suffering the greatest economic downturns.
Grumbling is all across the Tory party. This Boris Johnson government has gone from incompetent decision to denial. Boris Johnson is now considered equal to Theresa May's competence. Boris Johnson's handling of Covid-19 had an approval rating of 70% in early March when things were clearly starting to get bad. Finally the people have realized reality. Approval has dropped to about 35%. Making his approval rating for this crisis the worst of any European nation.
It should continue to drop now that Johnson keeps promoting his "It is over" denials. They were not wearing masks until June? They still do not require masks in shops?
Amazing how people get their power by only insulting others; not be doing what is competent.
|