"Covid rising in England" - let's stop the fear mongering

[Richard Scott]

I present a radio programme and we do a health phone in on then. heard some awful stories regarding those in the clinically extremely vulnerable group. Stories to make you weep.

It's better to avoid getting it if possible, and the jabs certainly help to mitigate it in most cases.

On specialist advice i wear a proper medical grade mask where there's poor ventilation, or in crowded areas, and take a test if showing symptoms. family and friends do the same too.

Can't legislate for those who chose to go out with symptoms though, it's their choice and their right.

Like i said i'm against further lockdowns. They were pretty essential before vaccination, not least because "Better Care Together" was mothballing wards and scaling down hospitals, leading to a shortage of beds. With common sense, they're not needed now.

The messaging hasn't helped, with contrary advice throughout and people being led to believe the vaccine was a "magic bullet". Vaccines never have been, but they help substantially, and we'll live with this for a long time.

Despite medical conditions i'm back at work and back on the rails and living my best life possible, and relying on others to be sensible. It's all you can do.

But it's not just picking up the Sars-CoV-2 virus, there are any number of pathogens that could cause similar and, in many cases, worse outcomes. Concentrating on one is downright dangerous and counter productive. This is the point we're all trying to make but you fail to see every time that this isn't the only pathogen around. To be focusing solely on that is likely to be putting you at more risk.

 

[yorkie]

I was not aware that any such test existed?
How long are you planning to carry on like this?

Indeed the test will not confirm if you have symptomatic Covid, nor will it confirm if you are infectious with Sars-CoV-2.

All an antigen test will do, is confirm that you currently or recently had an exposure to Sars-CoV-2 (a negative test doesn't necessarily mean you haven't got it; a recent exposure would take time to be detectable).

If people have very mild symptoms, we've always called that "a cold"; it should be no different with Sars-CoV-2. If someone is asymptomatic they do not have "Covid". Only if someone has the classic Covid 19 symptoms, back when this was a novel virus in an immunologically naive population, is the term "having Covid" actually accurate.

I present a radio programme and we do a health phone in on then. heard some awful stories regarding those in the clinically extremely vulnerable group. Stories to make you weep.

Unfortunately the same can be said of influenza; thousands die every year.

The numbers dying from Sars-CoV-2 during the pandemic were far, far lower than in a novel influenza pandemic, because Sars-CoV-2 is intrinsically less pathogenic.

However it was far higher than during seasonal endemic waves of influenza, because it was a novel virus in an immunologically naive population.

It's better to avoid getting it if possible

This is not possible; everyone will be exposed, repeatedly.

and the jabs certainly help to mitigate it in most cases.

I think this is understating the effectiveness of vaccines; the vaccines are highly effective at preventing severe disease.

On specialist advice i wear a proper medical grade mask where there's poor ventilation, or in crowded areas, and take a test if showing symptoms. family and friends do the same too.

The term 'medical grade mask' is open to interpretation; do you mean a tight-fitting FFP2/3 respirator mask? If so, you do not need to worry about what others are doing; it makes no difference to you.

Can't legislate for those who chose to go out with symptoms though, it's their choice and their right.

I agree and those who are concerned about being in the presence of infectious people, they can wear a highly effective tight-fitting FFP2/3 mask and not worry about whether infectious people are present as it makes absolutely no difference to the wearer of such a mask.

Like i said i'm against further lockdowns. They were pretty essential before vaccination, not least because "Better Care Together" was mothballing wards and scaling down hospitals, leading to a shortage of beds. With common sense, they're not needed now.

The messaging hasn't helped, with contrary advice throughout and people being led to believe the vaccine was a "magic bullet". Vaccines never have been, but they help substantially, and we'll live with this for a long time.

I don't think this is fair on vaccines; the purpose of vaccines is to prevent severe disease, and to enable normal life to resume. They are highly effective at preventing severe disease and they have enabled normal life to resume.

Despite medical conditions i'm back at work and back on the rails and living my best life possible, and relying on others to be sensible. It's all you can do.

Honestly we need to get away from this idea of relying on others to be 'sensible' (which is highly subjective!); it makes no difference to you what other people do.

You are going to be exposed to Sars-CoV-2; you can delay your exposure by wearing an effective tight fitting mask which will prevent you catching the virus while it is being worn (if worn/handled/stored/replaced correctly) including when you are in close proximity to infectious people (who may be asymptomatic).

 

[Enthusiast]

It's better to avoid getting it if possible....

But that isn't possible for anybody - other than those who choose to completely isolate themselves from every other human being for the rest of their lives. That may prove to be a bit difficult and most would die of malnutrition fairly quickly.

 

[317 forever]

There may well be a case for recommending boosters this Autumn due to waning immunity, lack of restrictions and new sub-variants emerging.

 

[Dent]

There may well be a case for recommending boosters this Autumn due to waning immunity, lack of restrictions and new sub-variants emerging.

Hasn't another booster this Autumn for the most vulnerable already been planned?

 

[317 forever]

Hasn't another booster this Autumn for the most vulnerable already been planned?

Yes, I think it has only been recommended for the most vulnerable so far.

 

[DustyBin]

There may well be a case for recommending boosters this Autumn due to waning immunity, lack of restrictions and new sub-variants emerging.

I don’t believe “waning immunity” is actually an issue, it’s just a lazy and/or misleading way to refer to declining antibody levels (which is perfectly normal). Most people will have been exposed to the virus by now, and plenty will be exposed to it again before Autumn and this will act as a booster. Variants shouldn’t be an issue for the same reason; the immune system will have “seen” the whole virus. Outwith the more vulnerable groups I’m not convinced there is a case for boosters this Autumn.

As far as restrictions are concerned, as they’ve proven to be completely ineffective I don’t think this should be a factor.

 

[Cloud Strife]

Hasn't another booster this Autumn for the most vulnerable already been planned?

Yes, the timescale is that the updated Moderna and Pfizer vaccines should be approved for use in time for an autumn vaccination campaign.

Moderna are saying that next year, a combined flu and Covid vaccine should be available, which will be great.

 

[MikeWM]

Clearly they've failed to cause a panic about new and/or old outbreaks of specific diseases ('Monkpoliogonorrcovidpox'), so it appears we're now at the stage of just being told to be perpetually but generically in a state of panic at the horrible things that might be going to kill us.

Enter 'disease X'. We don't know what it is or what it will do, but we're sure it will be really really BAAAAAAD. And it will be coming really really soon, honest.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...just-corner-professor-warns-new-pandemic.html

Could 'Disease X' be just around the corner? Top professor warns Britain needs to 'strengthen' its preparations for possibility of a new pandemic amid outbreak of Covid, Monkeypox and Polio in the UK

• The string of infectious diseases to hit the UK in the past six months suggests that Britain could soon be hit by a killer 'Disease X' according to disease experts
• Last year WHO warned next pandemic could be 'on the scale' of The Black Death
• Prof Mark Woolhouse says something 'more major' could be 'on the horizon'
• UK has seen bird flu, Lassa flu, haemorrhagic fever and monkeypox just this year

Pathetic. I'd suggest these people take up astrology, it is probably about as useful as spouting this sort of thing.

 

[ainsworth74]

It's the Mail, what did you expect them to do to try and shift copy?

 

[Eyersey468]

It is possible that something really nasty is just round the corner, and while we do need a plan for that eventuality all the scaremongering helps nobody

 

[MikeWM]

It's the Mail, what did you expect them to do to try and shift copy?

I'd suggest the scientists stop 'feeding the troll', but I suspect some of them are enjoying the attention too much.

I do find the 'health' section of the Mail good for an occasional laugh, but I do hope no-one is taking it remotely seriously, and it does show what a poor state 'journalism' is in nowadays.

It is possible that something really nasty is just round the corner, and while we do need a plan for that eventuality all the scaremongering helps nobody

They don't appear to actually have any ideas what to do though, other than 'increased surveillance'. Which is no use whatsoever if an outbreak starts in a country that lies about it and tries to cover it up, until it has had chance to spread throughout the world, as happened with Covid.

 

[kez19]

Clearly they've failed to cause a panic about new and/or old outbreaks of specific diseases ('Monkpoliogonorrcovidpox'), so it appears we're now at the stage of just being told to be perpetually but generically in a state of panic at the horrible things that might be going to kill us.

Enter 'disease X'. We don't know what it is or what it will do, but we're sure it will be really really BAAAAAAD. And it will be coming really really soon, honest.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...just-corner-professor-warns-new-pandemic.html


Pathetic. I'd suggest these people take up astrology, it is probably about as useful as spouting this sort of thing.

I'm not going to bother in general but in Scotland Jason Leitch has appeared once again but just small sample:
https://news.stv.tv/scotland/jason-leitch-recommends-use-of-masks-on-transport-and-in-crowded-places

Jason Leitch has urged Scots to wear a face covering when using public transport or in crowded areas.

The public health expert made the remarks after figures indicated that around one in 20 people Scotland were infected with coronavirus last week.

Currently, there are 20 people in the country in intensive care with the virus, whilst around 900 to have tested positive are in hospital.

Leitch, Scotland’s national clinical director, was among those to have contracted the virus and was in insolation for a period of 10 days.

Speaking on Sunday, he did not downplay the seriousness of the rise in cases, but warned against an overreaction, due to the country being more able to live with the virus than it was previously when lockdowns were required.

“We should be concerned,” Leitch told BBC Scotland’s The Sunday Show in response to the figures.

“I am unfortunately one of those statistics, I’m 10 days on and I feel almost normal, but not completely.

“This is a nasty disease even for those who are vaccinated and relatively fit and middle-aged, or elderly perhaps.

I know this is an England thread but have to say the media up north are just as bad in England with this...

However but lets add fuel to the fire, these hypocrites don't follow the rules either! Asking the public to do something whilst they don't and lets not forget the media themselves aren't clear cut either this is something the public should be very well aware of by now (all for show).

It is possible that something really nasty is just round the corner, and while we do need a plan for that eventuality all the scaremongering helps nobody

Whilst that might be true but lets look closer at the media in particular, they getting a thrill out of this, was it not the likes of Peston and Krussenburg and Burley asking for harder lockdowns etc? I'm sure it was? I wondered how much rule breaking they done themselves (i'm aware Kay Burley of Sky did but got suspended). As I say whilst people have a right to moan about Boris breaking rules but lets remember how much media were making this out and over hyping it, like I say question more - how many in the media broke these very rules that we don't know about?, be in press or TV (come on I bet there is more than just Burley breaking rules who else is there? - shouldn't this too be public knowledge?)

I don’t believe “waning immunity” is actually an issue, it’s just a lazy and/or misleading way to refer to declining antibody levels (which is perfectly normal). Most people will have been exposed to the virus by now, and plenty will be exposed to it again before Autumn and this will act as a booster. Variants shouldn’t be an issue for the same reason; the immune system will have “seen” the whole virus. Outwith the more vulnerable groups I’m not convinced there is a case for boosters this Autumn.

As far as restrictions are concerned, as they’ve proven to be completely ineffective I don’t think this should be a factor.

Just to say, as you mention if it was to be restrictions for who? It be once again for us plebs whilst those in higher places waltz off to la la land (rinse/repeat).

 

[duncanp]

Clearly they've failed to cause a panic about new and/or old outbreaks of specific diseases ('Monkpoliogonorrcovidpox'), so it appears we're now at the stage of just being told to be perpetually but generically in a state of panic at the horrible things that might be going to kill us.

Enter 'disease X'. We don't know what it is or what it will do, but we're sure it will be really really BAAAAAAD. And it will be coming really really soon, honest.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...just-corner-professor-warns-new-pandemic.html


Pathetic. I'd suggest these people take up astrology, it is probably about as useful as spouting this sort of thing.

I posted this on the support group conversation.

It really is a complete load of ********.

I can't help wondering if the person who wrote this has got shares in Marks & Spencer or Calvin Klein, hoping that were are all going to cack ourselves, and consequently have to rush out and buy some more underwear.

It is prudent that we should learn the lessons from COVID-19 and consider how we can do things better in the future. In particular, countries should notify the WHO as soon as a new disease appears, and not cover it up for several months, like China almost certainly did with COVID.

But constantly scaremongering people with this nonsense is not going to achieve anything, except cause needless anxiety in certain sections of the population.

 

[Eyersey468]

I posted this on the support group conversation.

It really is a complete load of ********.

I can't help wondering if the person who wrote this has got shares in Marks & Spencer or Calvin Klein, hoping that were are all going to cack ourselves, and consequently have to rush out and buy some more underwear.

It is prudent that we should learn the lessons from COVID-19 and consider how we can do things better in the future. In particular, countries should notify the WHO as soon as a new disease appears, and not cover it up for several months, like China almost certainly did with COVID.

But constantly scaremongering people with this nonsense is not going to achieve anything, except cause needless anxiety in certain sections of the population.

Completely agree. @kez19 I agree with your points about the media as well

 

[kez19]

Completely agree. @kez19 I agree with your points about the media as well

Thanks @Eyersey468, I just wish people would wise up not just politicians but the media but it seems clear people are happy to take the bait for the media to have a go at Boris meanwhile media creates and causes divisions and walks free (again seems strange to me why people aren’t questioning the media and their own motives?), do people remember that media tells lies sometimes?, when have we ever heard the media apologise for a mistake to retract and correct? My local once but as for the likes of Sky, BBC etc.

What people need to do in my opinion revisit 2020 and look at the media then and now (nothings changed they are just clickbaiting nothing more)

 

[duncanp]

Don't listen to the Jeremy Whine program on Radio 2 at the moment.

It isn't being presented by Jeremy Whine because he has COVID.

But the item being discussed right now is "Do you have a summer COVID dilemma?"

ie. As COVID is "on the rise" are you going to isolate before you visit granny (in case you murder her by giving her COVID) and are you worried by going to all these summer events (weddings, family gatherings, festivals, crowded holiday beaches.... etc etc.)

 

[Eyersey468]

Thanks @Eyersey468, I just wish people would wise up not just politicians but the media but it seems clear people are happy to take the bait for the media to have a go at Boris meanwhile media creates and causes divisions and walks free (again seems strange to me why people aren’t questioning the media and their own motives?), do people remember that media tells lies sometimes?, when have we ever heard the media apologise for a mistake to retract and correct? My local once but as for the likes of Sky, BBC etc.

What people need to do in my opinion revisit 2020 and look at the media then and now (nothings changed they are just clickbaiting nothing more)

I agree. I know from personal experience what the media are like, consequently I've a very deep mistrust of them

 

[kez19]

Don't listen to the Jeremy Whine program on Radio 2 at the moment.

It isn't being presented by Jeremy Whine because he has COVID.

But the item being discussed right now is "Do you have a summer COVID dilemma?"

ie. As COVID is "on the rise" are you going to isolate before you visit granny (in case you murder her by giving her COVID) and are you worried by going to all these summer events (weddings, family gatherings, festivals, crowded holiday beaches.... etc etc.)

Wasn’t he one of them that said something on his TV show like pinning people down to be vaccinated? Or on the other about people losing their jobs for not being vaccinated? Again do people not see how the media attacks certain people then down the line because opinions aren’t on their side backtrack or sweep under the carpet to then come across as telling truth all along?

 

[Eyersey468]

Wasn’t he one of them that said something on his TV show like pinning people down to be vaccinated? Or on the other about people losing their jobs for not being vaccinated? Again do people not see how the media attacks certain people then down the line because opinions aren’t on their side backtrack or sweep under the carpet to then come across as telling truth all along?

That wouldn't surprise me

 

[kez19]

I agree. I know from personal experience what the media are like, consequently I've a very deep mistrust of them

Since COVID generally I have lost trust in the likes of BBC/Sky, I thought the BBC were a lot better to Sky in the past but now on par.

Regional wise it’s STV/BBC Scotland but as above trust well and truly gone. Media have their own agendas and it couldn’t be clearer and COVID has shown that (strangely enough).

That wouldn't surprise me

I use to listen to his show on Radio 2 but I gave up on that too as again it was nothing but…

 

[Eyersey468]

Since COVID generally I have lost trust in the likes of BBC/Sky, I thought the BBC were a lot better to Sky in the past but now on par.

Regional wise it’s STV/BBC Scotland but as above trust well and truly gone. Media have their own agendas and it couldn’t be clearer and COVID has shown that (strangely enough).



I use to listen to his show on Radio 2 but I gave up on that too as again it was nothing but…

I haven't listened to his show for a long time myself

 

[ainsworth74]

My local once but as for the likes of Sky, BBC etc.

The BBC do of course have Newswatch which gives viewers the right of reply. Though of course people may not agree with their defence of whatever it was that prompted the complaint.

 

[kez19]

The BBC do of course have Newswatch which gives viewers the right of reply. Though of course people may not agree with their defence of whatever it was that prompted the complaint.

Whilst that might be true, but (maybe as I don’t watch their news as I use too), but do they correct themselves or who they have as guests on? As far as I remember it felt one sided (but that’s the uk media in general to me)

 

[ainsworth74]

Whilst that might be true, but (maybe as I don’t watch their news as I use too), but do they correct themselves or who they have as guests on? As far as I remember it felt one sided (but that’s the uk media in general to me)

The format, as I recall as I've not watched it in a while, was always what was the main story that got the most complaints in the last week and what was the nature of those complaints (usually including verbatim extracts from the complainant) a relevant bod (such editor who oversaw the story) would give a response/explanation as to why they covered the story in the way they did or said/did whatever it was that caused the complaints. That was the bulk of the programme and then a smattering of other complaints about other stories given similar treatment.

I appreciate that a lot of people around here are very wound up about the media and Covid (and indeed Covid in general still) and disagree with the coverage most strongly. Though I fear you'll be waiting a long time for "corrections" as I'm far from convinced that the matter is a black and white as you all believe it to be. Then again I remain puzzled by why you're all so wound up about it still. Join the rest of us who have moved on from Covid and are enjoying life again. Ironically the place I hear about "rising infections" or "scary new diseases" or "will we need to have winter restrictions" or similar isn't the media or twitter it's right here on this thread!

Having a little scroll through BBC News right now and there doesn't appear to be any Covid or other "scare" stories on their front page. Sky News do appear to have a couple one is "COVID an 'inconvenience' rather than 'life-threatening' for many now, says WHO" and another explaining a bit more about Polio. None of this is exactly the media trying to whip people into a frenzy of Covid or other virus related terror...

All that being said, in general terms, I do think that the media should do a better job of issuing corrections or retractions. To take newspapers for instance I've long thought that any correction/retraction should be published in the same part of the newspaper and with the same prominence as the original story. If you're correcting a headline which was on the front page in size 72 font then the correction should be published on the front page in size 72 font! If it was on page 32 in size 12 font then stick it on page 32. Similar should apply to the TV and radio news (i.e. if it was item 1 on the six o'clock news that needs correcting then the correction will run as item 1 on the next six o'clock news!).

 

[kez19]

The format, as I recall as I've not watched it in a while, was always what was the main story that got the most complaints in the last week and what was the nature of those complaints (usually including verbatim extracts from the complainant) a relevant bod (such editor who oversaw the story) would give a response/explanation as to why they covered the story in the way they did or said/did whatever it was that caused the complaints. That was the bulk of the programme and then a smattering of other complaints about other stories given similar treatment.

I appreciate that a lot of people around here are very wound up about the media and Covid (and indeed Covid in general still) and disagree with the coverage most strongly. Though I fear you'll be waiting a long time for "corrections" as I'm far from convinced that the matter is a black and white as you all believe it to be. Then again I remain puzzled by why you're all so wound up about it still. Join the rest of us who have moved on from Covid and are enjoying life again. Ironically the place I hear about "rising infections" or "scary new diseases" or "will we need to have winter restrictions" or similar isn't the media or twitter it's right here on this thread!

Having a little scroll through BBC News right now and there doesn't appear to be any Covid or other "scare" stories on their front page. Sky News do appear to have a couple one is "COVID an 'inconvenience' rather than 'life-threatening' for many now, says WHO" and another explaining a bit more about Polio. None of this is exactly the media trying to whip people into a frenzy of Covid or other virus related terror...

All that being said, in general terms, I do think that the media should do a better job of issuing corrections or retractions. To take newspapers for instance I've long thought that any correction/retraction should be published in the same part of the newspaper and with the same prominence as the original story. If you're correcting a headline which was on the front page in size 72 font then the correction should be published on the front page in size 72 font! If it was on page 32 in size 12 font then stick it on page 32. Similar should apply to the TV and radio news (i.e. if it was item 1 on the six o'clock news that needs correcting then the correction will run as item 1 on the next six o'clock news!).

Well for me, I looked under STV News and Jason Leitch is having another go again, so on that part alone it’s not this thread it is indeed the media once more.

It might not be BBC or Sky today but it will be another day or another week, looks more as if it’s a media raffle on who can still publish more scare stories on COVID, if the media did it’s job properly and looked into other health issues but to me they don’t care or if they do it’s another scare stat.

I’m sure it was last week or the week before Sky ran an article on Twitter on COVID rising but even public opinion on Twitter most people are moving on, it just seems the media don’t want too.

 

[cuccir]

Ironically the place I hear about "rising infections" or "scary new diseases" or "will we need to have winter restrictions" or similar isn't the media or twitter it's right here on this thread!

I'd second this thought. I can't remember the last time I saw a covid story in the top few positions on either of the two national news sites that I regularly check (BBC and Guardian). The weekly ONS survey usually appears somewhere towards the top of the home pages of both on a Friday for a few hours, but that's about it.

Right now - 14:12. 27th June - there is no Covid story on BBC home page, and one near the bottom of the Guardian.

(Edit - there was a further story published on the Guardian pretty much as I was writing this (it is time-stamped 14:08), an opinion piece by Devi Sridhar on polio. But even that is a third of the way down the home page and clearly marked 'opinion')

Well for me, I looked under STV News and Jason Leitch is having another go again, so on that part alone it’s not this thread it is indeed the media once more.

But I've gone to the STV news website now and the Leitch story is halfway down the home page, between one story on online scams and another on Delay Repay (!). I see two other covid-19 related news stories on the front page, neither near the top, out of roughly 100 different stories. I don't agree with Leitch but it would seem to be newsworthy to report on what he's saying (even if it is to remind us that a portion of public health people really don't get it).

The reality is that most covid-19 reporting is now mainly a secondary matter, or a tabloid (and I include the Mail/Express in that group) headline trying to stir things up on a slow news day.

 

[MikeWM]

The top story on the Independent website at the moment is a rather hysterical 'UK in 'fifth covid wave' already with warning over large scale summer events' but I expect no-one takes the Independent seriously anymore.

I'd agree that the general attitude of the population now is indifference.

 

[ainsworth74]

The top story on the Independent website at the moment is a rather hysterical 'UK in 'fifth covid wave' already with warning over large scale summer events' but I expect no-one takes the Independent seriously anymore.

Another one of our media organisations with "interesting" ownership arrangements with 40% owned by the Lebedev's (Russian oligarch and ex-KGB agent Alexander and rich son, friend of Mr Johnson, Evgeny) as well as a 30% stake owned by a Saudi investor. Once upon a time a respectable paper but to be frank I'd almost chuck it in the same column as the Mail/Express (see their shrieking headlines as you've already pointed out!). There's the odd bit of good journalism from the Indy (and The I) but it feels increasingly drowned out in the torrent of clickbait.

I'd be worrying about those sort of publications before I got too het up about the BBC personally

​

 

[kez19]

I'd second this thought. I can't remember the last time I saw a covid story in the top few positions on either of the two national news sites that I regularly check (BBC and Guardian). The weekly ONS survey usually appears somewhere towards the top of the home pages of both on a Friday for a few hours, but that's about it.

Right now - 14:12. 27th June - there is no Covid story on BBC home page, and one near the bottom of the Guardian.

(Edit - there was a further story published on the Guardian pretty much as I was writing this (it is time-stamped 14:08), an opinion piece by Devi Sridhar on polio. But even that is a third of the way down the home page and clearly marked 'opinion')


But I've gone to the STV news website now and the Leitch story is halfway down the home page, between one story on online scams and another on Delay Repay (!). I see two other covid-19 related news stories on the front page, neither near the top, out of roughly 100 different stories. I don't agree with Leitch but it would seem to be newsworthy to report on what he's saying (even if it is to remind us that a portion of public health people really don't get it).

The reality is that most covid-19 reporting is now mainly a secondary matter, or a tabloid (and I include the Mail/Express in that group) headline trying to stir things up on a slow news day.

The thing is in terms of STV, I don't go to their website I only found it through searching on twitter (but they posted it twice within 10 hours of each other), the first one had about 500 replies the other one (haven't checked but was only say about 20!)

original post on twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/STVNews/status/1541108812085710848

same post but later: https://mobile.twitter.com/STVNews/status/1541321805520142338

if you look at both postings, the new twitter posting is just highlighting the original article (not been updated since 21 hours ago), i'll be critical here in my own thinking but why would you need to post it TWICE? Is it as you say in a way trying to gain attention?

Jason Leitch has urged Scots to wear a face covering when using public transport or in crowded areas.
The public health expert made the remarks after figures indicated that around one in 20 people Scotland were infected with coronavirus last week.
Currently, there are 20 people in the country in intensive care with the virus, whilst around 900 to have tested positive are in hospital.
Leitch, Scotland’s national clinical director, was among those to have contracted the virus and was in insolation for a period of 10 days.
Speaking on Sunday, he did not downplay the seriousness of the rise in cases, but warned against an overreaction, due to the country being more able to live with the virus than it was previously when lockdowns were required.
“We should be concerned,” Leitch told BBC Scotland’s The Sunday Show in response to the figures.
“I am unfortunately one of those statistics, I’m 10 days on and I feel almost normal, but not completely.
“This is a nasty disease even for those who are vaccinated and relatively fit and middle-aged, or elderly perhaps.
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“But, it is worse in some individuals and those 20 in intensive care. 41 people died last week with Covid on their death certificate, we’ve got about 900 in hospital.
“So, let’s not underreact, but let’s not overreact either because vaccines, antivirals, we know what to do.
“So we’re able to live with this in a different way than we could a year ago.”
Leitch said that if people are unwell, or if their children are not well, they should remain at home.
“I think there’s three things you and I can do, everybody in the country can do,” he said.
“Number one is get vaccinated. If you haven’t been, if you’ve missed one, if you’ve just never thought about it, come, we want you to be vaccinated, it’s the most important single thing you can do.
“Number two, stay off if you’re sick. So, I didn’t go to work this week, so I’ve had 10 days, I’m going to go back tomorrow, this is the first time pretty much I’ve been out the house to see you.
“But stay off if you’re sick and keep your kids off school if they’re sick so that you don’t spread it to people who may be more vulnerable.
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“And third, think about those other protections, not just face coverings, but alcohol gel as you walk into a place, keeping your hands clean.
“If you’re on a bus or a train, or in a crowded environment, then pop that mask back on.”
Asked about the effectiveness of cotton masks against the virus, Leitch said that face coverings work at a population level.
He said: “Risk is quite difficult to explain on an individual level compared to a population.
“Face coverings at a population level work, they work. So if you can face cover a whole train, that works.
“If you’ve got one person in the corner of a train, you’re right, that’s probably not having that huge an effect on the numbers for Scotland.
“So, if you can just get those things back in place – the alcohol gel, keeping a little bit of distance and staying off your work if you’re sick – that’s the same instructions for norovirus, for flu, we shouldn’t be going round with infections.”

As for Jason Leitch I may have mentioned and if I have apologies but, shouldn't these people lead by example? When its clear its one rule for us and another for them? As I say if people are happy to wise up to Boris then they need to wise up what is happening elsewhere and not just that the media themselves.

Just to also add do we really think people like him use a bus or train? I highly doubt but I word it differently, like if in Holyrood they put on a mask at all times than just do it for theatre/cameras and its one thing I have noticed throughout this but didn't we not see how slow politicians were to even put on a mask til when? About 3-6 months ago whilst the public had been told to wear them for nearly 2 years? Strange that ain't it?

Just one final thing just to add and as someone on one of those tweets commented (and rightly so), was a TV Studio, yes indeed thats another mystery with masks/face coverings or was that because on TV we wouldn't understand what was being said? (again does that not say double standards in play - as it be a similar situation be indoors or outdoors trying to understand others?), surely we should be fully scrutinising the governments/media etc not our closest friends/family? (as something the media/governments done), as those in higher positions partied we (us the public) told to hunker down bang pots and be told #weareallinthistogether (we are all in this together), that saying now doesn't really ring true now does it? The only ones that were all into together were ... you guessed it the media/politicians...

Another one of our media organisations with "interesting" ownership arrangements with 40% owned by the Lebedev's (Russian oligarch and ex-KGB agent Alexander and rich son, friend of Mr Johnson, Evgeny) as well as a 30% stake owned by a Saudi investor. Once upon a time a respectable paper but to be frank I'd almost chuck it in the same column as the Mail/Express (see their shrieking headlines as you've already pointed out!). There's the odd bit of good journalism from the Indy (and The I) but it feels increasingly drowned out in the torrent of clickbait.

I'd be worrying about those sort of publications before I got too het up about the BBC personally

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But isn't the BBC heading that same way these days? Clickbaiting more than what its meant to do be impartial? Its similar to Sky (no longer under Murdoch which I do see people on social media get confused by), but owned by Comcast? I just find it if I am honest but the UK media is no longer about being truthful with facts its more of chasing ratings/viewers or for the sake of it shock value (it doesn't need to be broadcast or on the website but if on twitter as an example that some people are angry and rightly so doesn't that not tell them themselves that the public opinion has changed or is changing or is it more of the see/hear/know nothing approach?

I'll even give a good example (last year in England), it was in terms of wearing masks on public transport - news reporter standing outside a bus platform with camera crew hanging around a bus stop as passengers coming off in Manchester? (ITV News) - telling them that they should have wore masks on the buses, sorry but to me thats media over stepping the line is it not? Media preaching to others what the public should be doing? I could throw that very question then was why wasn't she not then having a mask on in close contact of the public? As I say the hypocrisy of the media is right in front of our eyes.