What seems a good explanation of why deaths are so high in the UK?

[Scoobos]

Japan.

First Recorded Case - 16th Jan

UK

First Recorded Case - 29th Jan

Japan:

First Action taken - 27th Jan - Shinzo Abe designated the novel coronavirus as a "designated infectious disease" under the Infectious Diseases Control Law . He also designated the disease as a "quarantinable infectious disease" under the Quarantine Act.

On 30 January, Abe announced the establishment of a national task force to oversee the government's countermeasures against the novel coronavirus. PPE procured, hospitals ramped up. (neither was needed, thankfully)
Lockdown Type - "liberal, advisory" imposed 27th Feb , schools closed, residents asked to remain indoors from 30th Feb.


UK
First action taken - 3rd Feb - Greenwich PM speech - Coronavirus Panic -> PM speech in Greenwich: 3 February 2020 - GOV.UK

19th March downgrade Covid as a High Consequence Infectious Disease.

Lockdown Type - liberal , advisorty - imposed 23rd March - nothing closed, but people advised to stay indoors.

Japan:

Speed of lockdown / number of cases -> 186 CASES - 3 deaths.

UK

Speed of lockdown / number of cases -> 6650 - 512 deaths.

Japan:

Population Density - 336 per km2

UK:

Population Density - 279 per km2

Japan:

"Transport Hub / airport traffic" 2017 -> Rank 4 TOKYO, Passengers 85 408 975

UK:
"Transport Hub / Airport traffic" 2017 -> Rank 7 LONDON, GB 78 014 598

Japan:
Age of population - 30% over 65 (second is, interestingly, Italy)

UK:
Age of population - 21% over 65

Japan:
Population: 126 million

UK:
Population 68 million.




And lets add some not stats, but other things:

1. First and foremost, Boris's Masterplan, which was enacted and still is - 3rd feb PM speech / Clark Kent glasses, disproportionate economic damage, business as usual, fighting for free global trade etc.
2. DHSC Downgrades Covid as an Infectious disease of High consequence, as we've sold / shorted our PPE 2 years ago.
2. DHSC takes control of procurement.
3. Test Trace Isolate not invoked until after Lockdown is ended.
4. (not Astra Zeneca, as thats a Viral Vector) - Take gamble on vaccine delay of second dose with new mRNA vaccine with no supporting evidence , basing it on viral vector.
5. Publically state that "the chance of an escape mutant is low" in December, when decide to gamble on the vaccine and you've got a new variant identified in September.
6. Schools are safe, "Studies have shown, children dont transmit" (which studies, who's had time to run a study with schools open during Covid?
7. open schools without making them covid safe, without repurposing other buildings to spread children and resources - and then watch as cases skyrocket.
8. Open for Christmas as its inhumane, even when you've cancelled several other religious events , facing 50k+ new cases daily and having over a thousand deaths a day for weeks following.
9. Blame the above on the "new variant" (cough , discovered in September, investigated and tracked in October and VERY known about in November) Covid-19: New coronavirus variant is identified in UK | The BMJ
10. Blame the above on the public not following "guidance".

I can guide people not to rape murder and steal, but we need law enforcement.

Wow, I feel better.

But still the Conservative apologists politicise it and downplay just how horrendous this has been and will continue to be.

[AtW]

Japan is effectively a big island, surrounded by water which made it no-brainer to control borders and it was far away from the source of outbreak, that's why.

Oh wait...

[Scoobos]

I use Japan , as a colleague of mine helpfully pointed out, that it seems to rebuff every mitigation these idiots have raised (so far).

Something thats not gaining traction in the media is the possibility that this virus does MUCH better in temperate zones, but again, Japan is in a very similar zone to the UK too.

[AtW]

Have they got a verifiable clown elected to run the country?

[Fraidycat]

Brits shake hands and the Japs bow, social distancing is built into the culture

[AtW]

Brits shake hands and the Japs bow, social distancing is built into the culture

Their officials put in charge are also historically used to the idea of committing harakiri in event of failure (of if asked by the superior), so that brings in some discipline to their decision making process.

[SueEllen]

You are being unfair you can't compare the UK with other countries as they have a different culture. They are not freedom loving like the Brits and so follow rules, plus the UK relies on exports...

Now go and eat out to spread Covid...

(A Japanese minister got in slated for telling people to holiday in the country as that help to lead to their second wave.)

[Eirikur]

Japan.

First Recorded Case - 16th Jan

UK

First Recorded Case - 29th Jan

Japan:

First Action taken - 27th Jan - Shinzo Abe designated the novel coronavirus as a "designated infectious disease" under the Infectious Diseases Control Law . He also designated the disease as a "quarantinable infectious disease" under the Quarantine Act.

On 30 January, Abe announced the establishment of a national task force to oversee the government's countermeasures against the novel coronavirus. PPE procured, hospitals ramped up. (neither was needed, thankfully)
Lockdown Type - "liberal, advisory" imposed 27th Feb , schools closed, residents asked to remain indoors from 30th Feb.


UK
First action taken - 3rd Feb - Greenwich PM speech - Coronavirus Panic -> PM speech in Greenwich: 3 February 2020 - GOV.UK

19th March downgrade Covid as a High Consequence Infectious Disease.

Lockdown Type - liberal , advisorty - imposed 23rd March - nothing closed, but people advised to stay indoors.

Japan:

Speed of lockdown / number of cases -> 186 CASES - 3 deaths.

UK

Speed of lockdown / number of cases -> 6650 - 512 deaths.

Japan:

Population Density - 336 per km2

UK:

Population Density - 279 per km2

Japan:

"Transport Hub / airport traffic" 2017 -> Rank 4 TOKYO, Passengers 85 408 975

UK:
"Transport Hub / Airport traffic" 2017 -> Rank 7 LONDON, GB 78 014 598

Japan:
Age of population - 30% over 65 (second is, interestingly, Italy)

UK:
Age of population - 21% over 65

Japan:
Population: 126 million

UK:
Population 68 million.




And lets add some not stats, but other things:

1. First and foremost, Boris's Masterplan, which was enacted and still is - 3rd feb PM speech / Clark Kent glasses, disproportionate economic damage, business as usual, fighting for free global trade etc.
2. DHSC Downgrades Covid as an Infectious disease of High consequence, as we've sold / shorted our PPE 2 years ago.
2. DHSC takes control of procurement.
3. Test Trace Isolate not invoked until after Lockdown is ended.
4. (not Astra Zeneca, as thats a Viral Vector) - Take gamble on vaccine delay of second dose with new mRNA vaccine with no supporting evidence , basing it on viral vector.
5. Publically state that "the chance of an escape mutant is low" in December, when decide to gamble on the vaccine and you've got a new variant identified in September.
6. Schools are safe, "Studies have shown, children dont transmit" (which studies, who's had time to run a study with schools open during Covid?
7. open schools without making them covid safe, without repurposing other buildings to spread children and resources - and then watch as cases skyrocket.
8. Open for Christmas as its inhumane, even when you've cancelled several other religious events , facing 50k+ new cases daily and having over a thousand deaths a day for weeks following.
9. Blame the above on the "new variant" (cough , discovered in September, investigated and tracked in October and VERY known about in November) Covid-19: New coronavirus variant is identified in UK | The BMJ
10. Blame the above on the public not following "guidance".

I can guide people not to rape murder and steal, but we need law enforcement.

Wow, I feel better.

But still the Conservative apologists politicise it and downplay just how horrendous this has been and will continue to be.

Another good island comparison

Taiwan
Total covid cases 937
Total covid related deaths: 9
Taiwan population density: 656 per km²
Area: 36,193 km²
Population: 23.78 million

[SueEllen]

Another good island comparison

Taiwan
Total covid cases 937
Total covid related deaths: 9
Taiwan population density: 656 per km²
Area: 36,193 km²
Population: 23.78 million

They have a smaller population so you can't compare!

It is easier to control 23.79 million people who aren't freedom loving...

[Paralytic]

Their officials put in charge are also historically used to the idea of committing harakiri in event of failure (of if asked by the superior), so that brings in some discipline to their decision making process.

Johnson promised us similar but didn't deliver.

Boris Johnson: '''I'''d rather be dead in a ditch''' than ask for Brexit delay - BBC News