[0762]

I'm also reading a report slamming the Brit govt re consistently placing the economy above public health. From the first lockdown, there were calls for the gen public to support struggling restaurants and shops - a simple feel-good message to show some love to your local. Ordering a takeaway to offset the doom of lockdown. The message, although well-intended, was misplaced!! For example, remember the Sunak idea in July 2020 to "Eat out to help out" - the CoE never consulted his SAGE panel as mentioned in a Institute of Government report. And research by the University of Warwick suggested the scheme can be linked to 17% of clusters last summer, a finding that the Treasury rejected. Note Eat out to help out fellwithin the Brit govt's overall COVID strategy to prioritise individual responsibility over state duty - they have consistently pitted the economy against public health as if they don't rely on one another BUT ULTIMATELY NOT WORTH THE THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH! The biggest laugh was the fact that Sunak's novel idea had a fairly marginal effect on the sector. The big worry is that the Tories will continue to follow a recovery cycle with such a brutal disregard for public health and with no accountability or self-reflection, both absent so far anyway.