Completely agree a lot more could have been done a lot sooner.
The point I was (clumsily) trying to make was that it’s almost impossible to actually ‘lock down’ major population centres in the UK. We’re so densely packed in that ‘social distancing’ has been a failure since day 1.
When we’re stacked on top of each other like we are in my part of town it’s just not going to happen.
They should definitely all stop international flights
Woman I know’s neighbour had a surprise during the week. Her son and his girlfriend flew in from New York as their work had closed. She wouldn’t let them in the house 
If only we had testing at Points of entry(But that’s a different conversation entirely) 
That only happened in very specific circumstances; to people flown back on repatriation flights from Wuhan and (parts of?) Italy, and maybe Diamond Princess passengers as well.
Anyone flying in from anywhere else - other parts of China, Spain, rest of world? Nothing, zip, nada. Even when advised to go home and self-isolate for two weeks, for the most part they were still left to take the tube/train/bus home anyway! Probably more people flew in with coronavirus that way than were on the quarantine flights.
It’s also worth considering that our economy is more intimately linked with our immediate neighbours than theirs. Restrictions like those quoted above would have had a greater economic impact in the UK than in NZ, including essential supply chains.
You don’t think a country with an open land order and that is still technically part of a 28 country trading bloc is more linked to its neighbours than a country that is 1200 miles from its nearest neighbour?
Taiwan’s response is the one i personally think was the best. I have no idea why the WHO still regard Taiwan as a Chinese province! if you were to ask anyone else in the world if Taiwan is a country i’m pretty sure everyone would say ‘yes’.
Because then China would withdraw from the WHO (and probably the UN).
You’re assuming a logical approach to Brexit in a virus thread?? You’re right, this could blow up in so many ways!
It depends if you’re closing the border to things or people I suspect but given the number that (normally) commute from Europe to work there’s no question that the impact here would be vastly different to the NZ model.
WHO membership is for members of the United Nations as it is a specialised agency of the UN. The UN does not recognise Taiwan as a country due to the UN recognising China as including the island of Taiwan. Also as a permanent member of the security council, has a lot of influence to keep them out.
At the end of March this extraordinary thing happened.
Hong Kong broadcaster RTHK aired an interview with Bruce Aylward, the WHO assistant director-general, who spoke to journalist Yvonne Tong on a video call.
In the segment, Ms Tong asks if the WHO would reconsider letting Taiwan join the organisation. She is met with a long silence from Mr Aylward, who then says he cannot hear her and asks to move on to another question.
Ms Tong presses him again, saying she would like to talk about Taiwan. At this point, Mr Aylward appears to hang up on her.
When the journalist calls Mr Aylward again, she asks if he could comment on Taiwan’s response to the coronavirus.
Mr Aylward then replies: “Well, we’ve already talked about China.”
His last line appeared to mirror China’s stance on Taiwan, which is that the island is a breakaway province. Taiwan, however, considers itself an independent country.
Playing politics during a pandemic, ffs.
So anyway…”When will the lockdown be over?” … etc 
Well, I work in education and schools, and that’s unlikely to happen. No-one credible, other than under pressure government ministers, were saying this, and they certainly hadn’t consulted with any schools or local authorities.
The announcement today from HMG that elements of the lockdown will be with us till the new year should be letting people know where we are.
Is Tedros a Communist ? It’s not like you mentioned it 3 times or more, is it ?
19th of July… Or is that when the ice age ended 
Yeah, I always mix those two up myself 
I measured my primary classroom yesterday to see how many children I could fit in with each desk 2 metres apart and no children obviously sharing.
Out of my class of 30, I have space (with most unfixed furniture removed) for about 8 children and myself all 2 metres apart - 9 If I don’t count myself as needing to socially distance.
My school is a very small rural school and our classrooms were designed as small as possible to fit within regulations at the time but the same will apply with a lot of schools.
Well, I work in education and schools, and that’s unlikely to happen. No-one credible, other than under pressure government ministers, were saying this, and they certainly hadn’t consulted with any schools or local authorities
Should be interesting to read and something to work towards…
https://www.ft.com/content/74cf839b-5ff1-4a19-aadd-c8bdbe74386c
For those who can’t read it here’s a similar article.
They’re both behind paywalls, but I’m happy to email them to anyone interested.