ASSESSMENT OF PM JOHNSON'S PRESENTATION 10 May 2020

Last night, Prime Minister Johnson made a televised presentation to the UK public.  The focus was on England, as the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are responsible for their own NHS and their own lockdown arrangements.

GENERAL ASSESSMENT

I welcome the general tone of the presentation.  As I hoped in the the previous post, the intention is to ease lockdown as fast as possible but cautiously.  Safety first, otherwise R will rise, infections will soar, and further lockdowns will be necessary.  Economic damage would then be worse than easing lockdown carefully.

But as has been widely reported today (Monday), the lack of detail has meant widespread confusion and dismay.

What was my initial reaction on PM Johnson's "road map"? There are 5 "Alert levels" (hence the "Stay Alert" message).  But vague on conditions for each step of the plan. Vague on timescales. Indeed the graphic for what would happen when bore no relationship to the Alert Levels.

Whilst timescales are dependent on keeping R down, as he said, the overall impression of the presentation was very poor for something that has been awaited for 7 weeks since lockdown started.  I called for a dedicated Task Force then, 7 weeks ago, to develop the Lockdown Exit Strategy and co-ordinate related initiatives  That still looks necessary. 

 PRINCIPAL PROBLEMS

 The principal problems with the presentation were:
  1. Encouraging people back to work as early as today. Apparently only in workplaces that are "COVID secure". Where does that leave employees who, for example, are not satisfied with their employers' arrangements, or have problems with using public transport? And what about those who have children still at home? Grandparents will usually not be available like in pre-COVID times.. 
  2. Lack of consensus discussion with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Ditto with Labour and other parties. Resulting in different messages and regulations around the UK. Creating confusion, and issues with people crossing borders.  This is a major error politically.
  3. A consequent issue with changing "Stay at Home" to "Stay Alert", but only in England.  Alert corresponds to the launch of "Alert levels", and "Stay at Home" is no longer valid in England. But there needs to be more clarity.
  4. Nothing about specific measures I listed in the previous post. Such as using face masks, which is now Thailand's number one rule. Hopefully more detail to follow (as has been published on Monday). 
  5. No details on quarantine for air passengers, nor if any measures for ferries and other arrivals. (Though subsequent announcement about no quarantine for ferries between England and France)
  6. As I expected, an emhasis on test/trace/isolate, despite my concerns (set out separately).. 
IN CONCLUSION

Whilst I welcome Johnson's general tone, such as about the public sacrifice and need to avoid a resurgence and "second peak", there was far too much vagueness. 

It was like a Year 12 school project that had gone horribly wrong.  Furthermore, attempts to clarify matters on Monday morning were a shambles, with specific announcements having to be corrected.  

This is simply not good enough for a UK Government managing a major crisis.  Not by a long way! 

How did Johnson  and colleagues get on the following day.  See."THE MONDAY AFTER THE NIGHT BEFORE"  

FOOTNOTE

A raft of detailed guidance has been published today, Monday, with more promised later.  Initial impressions are that it is vague and incomplete.  To be covered in future posts.

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