All Over by Christmas?

Don't worry, it will all be over by Christmas.  At least, that's what Boris Johnson seems to think,  Except that it won't.  Let's not forget that, right now, we still don't have the tools necessary to successfully contain the Covid-19 coronavirus - an effective test and trace system or a viable vaccine - yet the government is already running down the lockdown while the first wave of the virus is still ongoing.  Judging by the breakdown of any concept of social distancing amongst much of the population, (judging by what I daily experience in my local shopping centre), the authorities are setting the UK up not just for a second spike, but a new upturn in the first wave of the virus.  It isn't as if we don't have examples of the consequences of a hasty relaxation of lockdowns without other measures in place - just look at much of the US, or even Greece, where they've started opening up to foreign tourists and, guess what? That's right, an upsurge in reported cases of Covid-19.  But the UK government want you to think that it is all over - notice how they don't publicise the infection or death rates like they used to?  Yet daily deaths in England are often still in double figures.  Which isn't good.

But it is typical of the short-termism of this government's approach.  Tory donors are losing money, so the economy has to be opened up whether it is safe to do so, or not and we'll worry about the consequences later.  After all, we might have a vaccine by the Autumn.  Except that even if we do, a mass vaccination programme won't happen overnight, even if the hypothetical vaccine could be mass produced at short notice.  Plus, it still isn't clear whether any vaccine currently under development would give long-term immunity - the immunity gained by actually catching the virus only seems to last for a few months.  But facts don't seem to bother our dilettante Prime Minister.  It's all about the short term and the headlines he can generate here and now.  Which is a dangerous strategy which will, eventually, come unstuck.  Not that he would be unduly bothered - he's survived so many public disgraces that another one won't bother either him or the idiots who support him - but it would inevitably have serious consequences for the rest of us.  Yeah, I know that I'm sounding extremely pessimistic, but based on the government's record in managing the pandemic so far, I just don't see anything to be positive about.  On top of that, I've had a working week so dull that a visit to the dentist counted as an exciting diversion.  That, combined with hearing some extremely bad news about a couple of former colleagues, has left me feeling that this has been a week to forget.