“We May Need to Wait” before Pushing Ahead with Unlocking, Says Boris

3 min read

Members of SAGE are out in force today, warning the Prime Minister that Britain should not unlock on June 21st because of the risk posed by the Indian Covid variant. Professor Neil Ferguson said on Wednesday that this strain could result in restrictions needing to be “tightened“, despite the recent increase in Covid cases not being matched by an increase in deaths. Following further pressure from other members of the advisory group today, the Prime Minister has said that Number 10 may have to “wait” for more data before pushing ahead with ending the lockdown. The MailOnline has more.

Top scientists have called for Downing Street to delay next month’s lockdown-easing because of the spread of [the Indian variant], which has been found in half of England’s 300-plus local authorities.

SAGE member Professor John Edmunds said he would advise Boris Johnson not to take the next step as planned because “at the moment it looks a little bit risky”.

Meanwhile, fellow adviser “Professor Lockdown” Neil Ferguson warned the plans to ease restrictions hang “in the balance”. He said the now-dominant strain would trigger a “small third wave” but that the next two or three weeks would be “critical” in deciding whether it was safe to move to step four on the roadmap.

But one of the Government’s top scientists today hailed “encouraging” data that showed hospitalisations remain low despite cases having ticked up in every region except the East Midlands. However, Dr Yvonne Doyle, Public Health England’s Medical Director, said they have risen slightly and that they were “concerned” about the Indian variant.

Discussing the threat of the Indian variant during a visit to a hospital in Colchester this morning, Mr Johnson said: “As I have said many times I don’t see anything currently in the data to suggest that we have to deviate from the road map. But we may need to wait.

“Don’t forget the important point about the intervals between the steps of the road map, we put that five weeks between those steps to give us time to see what effect the unlockings are having.”

Mr Hancock admitted he “desperately” wanted to proceed with plans to drop the final set of lockdown restrictions next month but ministers would only do that “if it’s safe”. He will address the nation tonight in a 5pm Downing Street press conference.

In a statement that suggested lockdown could continue until every man and his dog has been vaccinated, the Health Secretary said: “Our vaccination programme has reached 73% of the adult population, but that means that more than a quarter still haven’t been jabbed.”

43% of adults have had both jabs, but that means that more than half are yet to get the fullest possible protection that two jabs give.

Worth reading in full.

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223 Comments
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QuickDrawMcGraw
QuickDrawMcGraw
5 years ago

They never had any intention of opening up on June 21st, that was obvious. If we want to ‘open up’ and get our freedoms back, we’re going to have to take them back. These scumbags are never going to relinquish this power that they have over us unless we make them. I do believe however, that if there is enough kickback, these tossers will fold like a deck of cards. You can see that they are a bunch of spineless cowardly wimps without an ounce of courage or moral fibre between the lot of them! Why are we allowing scum like this to destroy our lives?

DanClarke
DanClarke
5 years ago

Cannot understand anyone who still thinks this nonsense is about some ‘variant’ from another land. The way they are talking about their jabs, makes me think of dealers and standing outside school gates.

Newman20
Newman20
5 years ago

Just confirms that there are lies, damned lies and statistics.

Bella Donna
Bella Donna
5 years ago

It was a foregone conclusion Bozo the clown would renege on the date.

steadfastandy
steadfastandy
5 years ago

We have these ‘experts ‘ their fifteen minutes of fame and boy they do
not want it to.end

George L
George L
5 years ago

Jeez.. SAGE even have a French member at Imperial College.. WTF!!!!

Get a load of what this twat is saying. Yet another supposed covid expert!

Its all about stopping the ordinary person travelling internationally.

https://www.connexionfrance.com/French-news/French-quarantine-for-UK-arrivals-is-coherent-says-Covid-expert

lorrinet
lorrinet
5 years ago

You are welcome to wait if you want to, Boris, but I won’t, I’ve had more than enough of this contrived nonsense.

O/T: I see the Mail’s campaign for a memorial to the Covid-dead is proving successful. Personally, I would 100 times rather see a memorial to the Lockdown-dead and the vaccine-dead which, I believe, in the final analysis, will far exceed the deaths from covid.

Crystal Decanter
Crystal Decanter
5 years ago

How convenient the Vinda Flu comes along at just the right time for the Covidian cult

mojo
mojo
5 years ago

The lies and propaganda keep coming down the track and still the gullible believe their health is of paramount importance to a government known to be deeply corrupt. Not one person I speak to knows anyone, ANYONE, who has died because of Covid. A high number of the peopleI I talk to have not had the jab. Many in the healthy over 60s group. It seems only the Care homes have been coerced into this injection as well as those who wish to go abroad.

Every single person I know who has taken the injection has had a reaction. Some just a mild headache and flu symptoms but most experienced lost of vision, loss of muscle strength, unbelievable tiredness taking to their beds for a few days and on going headaches with bouts of sickness. Some realised it was the jab and refused the second dose but most did not connect it to the jab and went ahead with the full dosage. None reported their symptoms.

None the virologists’ studies have been released by Government on the terrible number of reactions. It has been left to people like Mike Yeadon and Dolores Cahill to push ahead with videos… Read more »

DanClarke
DanClarke
5 years ago
Reply to  mojo

GB news begins soon, the sheep might get a different perspective

Javy
Javy
5 years ago

Just back from a short stay at a Holiday park. Their ‘rules’ stated that masks must be worn in the bar and restaurant unless seated at a table. We had an amusing time watching the mask Hokey Cokey…….masks on when entering, off when sat down, on when going to the toilet, off when back at table, on when walking the 7 steps to exit ! Couldn’t believe the level of compliance, totally crazy and illogical……

Sandieanne
Sandieanne
5 years ago

Why on earth is he still listening to Ferguson and SAGE? He may be a lockdown sceptic as Toby suggested yesterday but he still lets himself be pushed around by these charlatans. I truly despair.

patrickmercer@rocketmail.com
5 years ago
Reply to  Sandieanne

Why would a sceptic tell us a few weeks ago that the (then) drop in cases was all to do with lockdowns with vax being less important?

Beowa
Beowa
5 years ago

I’ve just discovered this gem via BaceFook yes really a website called citizenjournos.com and this rather excellent fisking of an Independent Sage group professor

The arrogance of some academics is breathtaking

https://citizenjournos.com/2021/05/26/independent-sage-and-their-struggle-with-graphs/

rutlandrebel
rutlandrebel
5 years ago

The Times reports today that “The country’s hopes of ending coronavirus restrictions next month hang in the balance as the Indian variant surges” and “Public Health England said that 6,959 cases of the Indian variant were known this week, compared with 3,535 last week.”

Does anyone know how they get these figures, is there actually any test available that shows whether an individual has a particular strain of a virus or not? Or is it all made up?

patrickmercer@rocketmail.com
5 years ago
Reply to  rutlandrebel

Hasn’t the Times twigged? Cases never ‘surge’, they ‘soar’. See Neil Ferguson’s handbook, ‘Guidance to the Media’.

LoulouB
LoulouB
5 years ago

Madness…..but what are we sane few to do? Protest tomorrow by all means. Stop wearing a mask. Refuse to use the T&T app. Make up your own mind about having a medical intervention….. and then??

Hester
Hester
5 years ago
Reply to  LoulouB

Interestingly the net is drawing in. My husband was in London yesterday he went to a pub with a friend, the surly waitress asked them to sign in with the Government App, he refused and said he was happy to give a name and number, he was asked to leave. At the next pub the same thing happened only this time the waitess intended to stand over them whilst they did it. My husbands 2 mates did it, she then got distracted and my husband didn’t otherwise again he would have walked. As I understand it the ritual surrounding the app is described in the Government site as rules. I understand it that there are only 2 things that count Laws, which if you do not follow you can be charged, or Guidance which is not mandatory to follow. Rules do not have any legal standing except I note they attach fines to them. I also understand that the pen and paper capture of data is acceptable. But as I say the net is being drawn around us to force our data to the Government using a device they did not pay for, and a Phone contract and data usage… Read more »

Crystal Decanter
Crystal Decanter
5 years ago
Reply to  Hester

Hack and trace.
Details are up on the Gab group

Hester
Hester
5 years ago

Neil Ferguson is the equivalent of having Ian Patterson advise the Government on the treatment of Breast cancer in women. Unfortunately only one of them has been jailed for the damage he caused.

Lockdown Sceptic
Lockdown Sceptic
5 years ago

Stop calling him Boris

DanClarke
DanClarke
5 years ago

Yes plenty of other things to call him

imp66
imp66
5 years ago

SAGE and members of the government once again playing the “fear” and “caution” cards. The frightened flock still content to swallow the b. s. being shovelled. Clearly the “vaccine” roll-out is more a psy-ops to control the masses than a genuine attempt to protect the population ( from a virus causing an infection fatality rate of approx. 0.15%). And yet we put up with this cobblers…

enlighteneduk
enlighteneduk
5 years ago

Surprise surprise. This government has no intention of giving us our freedom back. All part of the Master plan to make the world into a Utopia for the 1%, and a dystopian, totalitarian nightmare for the 99%. Mainly because 94% refuse to recognise any nefarious intent, and will bring down with them, the 4% who are aware and trying to fight it.

Mike Durrans
Mike Durrans
5 years ago

Edmunds , Ferguson! They are not professors- they are fraudulent wankers who know no more than any other man in the street. They must be ignored, just like we ignore Boris and Hand-on – cock!

IanC
IanC
5 years ago

Round and round we go. When will Homo Bovinus wake up? It’s freackin’ endless and just proves that the majority of the species actually do have the mental retention capabilities of goldfish. That’s unkind; goldfish have been proven to have an ability to learn!
There is only one way to break this mould. Don’t just march and protest in London and elsewhere this weekend, SIT IN! Park asses en masse outside Downing Street, BBC studios, LBC, Capital Radio, everywhere MSM. For as long as it takes so they can’t just ignore you, stick fingers in their ears, and sing lalalala. Sit, sing, chant, and just wait long enough to be unavoidable. Maybe a bit of a “Danser Encore” to stretch the legs. They can’t hide tens of thousands quietly sitting in and around Downing Street, propaganda Beeb, etc…..Can they?

FlynnQuill
FlynnQuill
5 years ago

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise!! Didn’t see that coming! Hancock priming the sheeple with the people that aren’t vaccinated are to blame. Hold on Hancock, the magic juice either works or it doesn’t. If it does, does not matter weather I am or not. If it doesn’t work against the new magical super variant Indian strain, vaccinating every one won’t make a jot of difference. C@nts!

IanC
IanC
5 years ago
Reply to  FlynnQuill

Nor to the other new variant waiting in the wings for the Indian variant to become a bit boring… “Triple mutant Yorkshire variant”. Really? Yup!
Oh and I’ve just seen this headline re 44-year-old BBC employee. I wonder whether she will get a mention on PropagBeeb…
AstraZeneca Vaccine kills BBC Presenter (44-year-old Lisa Shaw tragically died...)“Lisa Shaw’s death might have been complicated by her having had the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine”

ellie-em
ellie-em
5 years ago
Reply to  FlynnQuill

But but but…the injections might not work against the Thai variant they are keeping an eye on.

They must have a veritable nursery of variants waiting in the wings, ready to roll out at the slightest whiff of talk of freedom.

Crystal Decanter
Crystal Decanter
5 years ago
Reply to  ellie-em

Is that the Ladyboy variant?
Transfluenza?

Jeff241
Jeff241
5 years ago

So, Boris doesn’t…at the moment… “see anything in the data to delay the mid-summer freedom date.” That’s it, we’re fucked.

marebobowl
marebobowl
5 years ago

MHRA continues to ignore all the data on early effective treatment of COVID now being used around the world. Drs Lawrie, McCullough,
Harvey Risch, Simone Gold and all the FLCCC doctors and so many others have recommended these treatments based on their own experiences and studies.

Why is the UK ignoring early Tx? We all know the economy is ruins, kids have lost their access to school over the past year and forced to wear masks all day when they were allowed to return. Lockdowns did not protect the vulnerable, suicides, mental illness and acute and chronic illnesses not addressed. Waiting times now for many elective surgeries now over 18 months.

With all the evidence, why would any “top scientists” consider further lockdown, when we have alternatives. Is this being done intentionally? If so, why.

patrickmercer@rocketmail.com
5 years ago

Ever thought why Johnson has delayed his wedding for a year?

Sandra Barwick
Sandra Barwick
5 years ago

His third wedding… he can only be thinking of it wearily.

Mike Yeadon
Mike Yeadon
5 years ago

None of the variants differ enough in phenotype and certainly not immunologically.
The clearest case yet proving that government ministers, scientific advisors and media are all LYING to us.
Speak with any competent immunologist to confirm this.

IanC
IanC
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike Yeadon

Yeh Mike But…What about the Teenage “Triple Mutant Yorkshire Variant” eh?
Take a look at the link below, and yes you can find it on MSM!
We’re all gonna have to have a special triple mutant JibJab 3 times a week starting at the age of 3.
Utter BOLLOX!!! I’ve had enough of this. I want to punch someone, preferably with the initials MP after their name.

https://youtu.be/EPNfJ7gVx1Q

Iain McCausland
Iain McCausland
5 years ago

Toby Young suggested recently that Boris was a Libertarian at heart forgetting that almost the very first thing Alexander de Pfeffel Johnson did on becoming PM was to prorogue Parliament. He is now the head of a one party state – why ‘unlock’ and lose control of frightened, stupefied electorate? We are doomed. Dr Mike Yeadon is backing his bags for the US of A much of which is now indeed ‘The Land of the Free’.

prod_squadron
prod_squadron
5 years ago

Yes and libertarians don’t buy water cannons while London mayor either!

Prester John
Prester John
5 years ago

SAGE should be declared a criminal organisation and its members subject to Nuremberg-style trials, as well as the politicians who approve these laws.

watersider
watersider
5 years ago

I got as far as “Top scientists say ……. ” That was all I needed to ignore the rest of the propaganda.
Btw can anyone tell me by this plonker Ferguson gets so many quotes, or more to the point, why his he not on the dole?

Mike Yeadon
Mike Yeadon
5 years ago
Reply to  watersider

Institutions are not interested in the quality if his work. Only in the amount of grant funding he attracts. Naturally, he’s well funded by the BMGF.

Cbird
Cbird
5 years ago

Oh how fucking predictable

chaos
chaos
5 years ago

In a statement that suggested lockdown could continue until every man and his dog has been vaccinated, the Health Secretary said: “Our vaccination programme has reached 73% of the adult population, but that means that more than a quarter still haven’t been jabbed.”

73% is more than enough for herd immunity. Even if they don’t stop infection and merely lessen the liklihood of catching it or expressing it.

This sentence beautifully (!) illustrates the true agenda. Digital ID.

Mike Yeadon
Mike Yeadon
5 years ago
Reply to  chaos

We were not far off the herd immunity threshold BEFORE they started vaccinating.

prod_squadron
prod_squadron
5 years ago
Reply to  chaos

notice 73% of the adult population. He’s got his eye on jabbing the children next.

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