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For Boris Johnson, a Rare Respite From Bad News For Boris Johnson, a Rare Respite From Bad News
(8 days later)
LONDON — Prime Minister Boris Johnson has always been a riverboat gambler, and as Britain emerges, blinking into the light, from a three-month lockdown, he is making one of the biggest bets of his career: that he can safely reopen a country that has been hit harder by the pandemic than any in Europe.LONDON — Prime Minister Boris Johnson has always been a riverboat gambler, and as Britain emerges, blinking into the light, from a three-month lockdown, he is making one of the biggest bets of his career: that he can safely reopen a country that has been hit harder by the pandemic than any in Europe.
Mr. Johnson finally caught a few breaks this week. British scientists reported success with a decades-old drug that was found to help patients with severe Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. The hugely popular Premier League restarted televised soccer games, though playing in empty stadiums. And the government’s scientific advisers are sounding more amenable to reopening pubs and restaurants on July 4, and perhaps to relaxing social distancing rules, which would go a long way to restoring normalcy in British society.Mr. Johnson finally caught a few breaks this week. British scientists reported success with a decades-old drug that was found to help patients with severe Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. The hugely popular Premier League restarted televised soccer games, though playing in empty stadiums. And the government’s scientific advisers are sounding more amenable to reopening pubs and restaurants on July 4, and perhaps to relaxing social distancing rules, which would go a long way to restoring normalcy in British society.
The prime minister even managed on Wednesday to turn the tables on the Labour Party’s leader, Keir Starmer, in Parliament, where he has endured a painful weekly grilling on his haphazard response to the virus. Mr. Johnson threw Mr. Starmer off balance after challenging him to declare schools safe to reopen — something the Labour Party has refused to do, its critics say, because of pressure from angry teachers’ unions.The prime minister even managed on Wednesday to turn the tables on the Labour Party’s leader, Keir Starmer, in Parliament, where he has endured a painful weekly grilling on his haphazard response to the virus. Mr. Johnson threw Mr. Starmer off balance after challenging him to declare schools safe to reopen — something the Labour Party has refused to do, its critics say, because of pressure from angry teachers’ unions.
“A great ox has stood upon his tongue,” Mr. Johnson bellowed, as the usually confident Mr. Starmer groused that it was the prime minister’s job to take questions, not throw them back at the opposition.“A great ox has stood upon his tongue,” Mr. Johnson bellowed, as the usually confident Mr. Starmer groused that it was the prime minister’s job to take questions, not throw them back at the opposition.
It was a rare vindication for a prime minister who has absorbed a string of shocks since Britain left the European Union in January. But his sense of victory may have been fleeting: As Mr. Johnson’s motorcade left Parliament to return to 10 Downing Street, a protester ran in front of his car, causing it to brake suddenly and be rear-ended by a security vehicle.It was a rare vindication for a prime minister who has absorbed a string of shocks since Britain left the European Union in January. But his sense of victory may have been fleeting: As Mr. Johnson’s motorcade left Parliament to return to 10 Downing Street, a protester ran in front of his car, causing it to brake suddenly and be rear-ended by a security vehicle.
Nobody was hurt, but the symbolism abounded.Nobody was hurt, but the symbolism abounded.
Mr. Johnson faces deeper problems than can be cured by a good session in the House of Commons, however. Britain’s emergence from lockdown has been chaotic, with a botched school reopening plan, and many parents refusing to send children back to those classes that have resumed.Mr. Johnson faces deeper problems than can be cured by a good session in the House of Commons, however. Britain’s emergence from lockdown has been chaotic, with a botched school reopening plan, and many parents refusing to send children back to those classes that have resumed.
The 14-day quarantine on those entering the country, including Britons returning home, has outraged the travel industry, raising questions about why Britain imposed it just as other European countries were lifting their restrictions. And the government’s contact tracing operation — vital to arresting the virus’s spread and reopening the economy — is off to a bumpy start.The 14-day quarantine on those entering the country, including Britons returning home, has outraged the travel industry, raising questions about why Britain imposed it just as other European countries were lifting their restrictions. And the government’s contact tracing operation — vital to arresting the virus’s spread and reopening the economy — is off to a bumpy start.
Britain’s death toll from the virus of 42,153 is the highest in Europe, while the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development estimated that the British economy could shrink by up to 14 percent in 2020, putting it alongside Italy and France as the worst-hit economies in Europe.Britain’s death toll from the virus of 42,153 is the highest in Europe, while the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development estimated that the British economy could shrink by up to 14 percent in 2020, putting it alongside Italy and France as the worst-hit economies in Europe.
Mr. Johnson has been forced to reverse course repeatedly on decisions, most recently on his government’s refusal to keep giving free school lunch vouchers to the children of poor families during the summer.Mr. Johnson has been forced to reverse course repeatedly on decisions, most recently on his government’s refusal to keep giving free school lunch vouchers to the children of poor families during the summer.
After Marcus Rashford, a star soccer player for Manchester United, led a public campaign to pressure the government, Mr. Johnson backed down in the face of a potential rebellion among members of his own Conservative Party. He raised eyebrows further by claiming he had never heard about Mr. Rashford’s campaign, even though it had received extensive media coverage.After Marcus Rashford, a star soccer player for Manchester United, led a public campaign to pressure the government, Mr. Johnson backed down in the face of a potential rebellion among members of his own Conservative Party. He raised eyebrows further by claiming he had never heard about Mr. Rashford’s campaign, even though it had received extensive media coverage.
Critics of Mr. Johnson say his decision-making reflects a politician with no fixed ideology and little in the way of convictions.Critics of Mr. Johnson say his decision-making reflects a politician with no fixed ideology and little in the way of convictions.
“When it comes to making decisions, he’s actually quite indecisive because he doesn’t really care one way or the other,” said Jonathan Powell, a former chief of staff to former Prime Minister Tony Blair. “Because he has no convictions, he doesn’t make decisions until the last minute, when he’s forced into it.”“When it comes to making decisions, he’s actually quite indecisive because he doesn’t really care one way or the other,” said Jonathan Powell, a former chief of staff to former Prime Minister Tony Blair. “Because he has no convictions, he doesn’t make decisions until the last minute, when he’s forced into it.”
In short order, Mr. Johnson will have to make several difficult calls. A key one is whether to change the government’s guidelines on social distancing so that people can congregate within one meter (about 3 feet) of each other rather than two meters. That is critical to the successful reopening of pubs and restaurants, since many owners have said their businesses would not be viable with greater distances.In short order, Mr. Johnson will have to make several difficult calls. A key one is whether to change the government’s guidelines on social distancing so that people can congregate within one meter (about 3 feet) of each other rather than two meters. That is critical to the successful reopening of pubs and restaurants, since many owners have said their businesses would not be viable with greater distances.
On Tuesday, Mr. Johnson told journalists to “watch this space,” when he was asked about a possible reduction in social-distancing space. The government’s chief scientific adviser, Patrick Vallance, hinted he might be receptive to a reduction, saying that the two-meter rule was “not an absolute” but a “risk assessment.”On Tuesday, Mr. Johnson told journalists to “watch this space,” when he was asked about a possible reduction in social-distancing space. The government’s chief scientific adviser, Patrick Vallance, hinted he might be receptive to a reduction, saying that the two-meter rule was “not an absolute” but a “risk assessment.”
To mollify the travel industry, Mr. Johnson wants to negotiate special corridors, or “air bridges,” to allow people to travel to and from low-risk destinations free of restrictions. That issue could come up during a meeting with President Emmanuel Macron of France, who is to visit London on Thursday.To mollify the travel industry, Mr. Johnson wants to negotiate special corridors, or “air bridges,” to allow people to travel to and from low-risk destinations free of restrictions. That issue could come up during a meeting with President Emmanuel Macron of France, who is to visit London on Thursday.
Updated June 24, 2020
Scientists around the country have tried to identify everyday materials that do a good job of filtering microscopic particles. In recent tests, HEPA furnace filters scored high, as did vacuum cleaner bags, fabric similar to flannel pajamas and those of 600-count pillowcases. Other materials tested included layered coffee filters and scarves and bandannas. These scored lower, but still captured a small percentage of particles.
A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico.
The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth.
The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave.
So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement.
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.
The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April.
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
Mr. Johnson has grappled with a paradox: He held off imposing a lockdown in early March because he worried that people would not go along with the stay-at-home restrictions. But they turned out to be remarkably compliant, and now the government is struggling to get them to return to normal life.Mr. Johnson has grappled with a paradox: He held off imposing a lockdown in early March because he worried that people would not go along with the stay-at-home restrictions. But they turned out to be remarkably compliant, and now the government is struggling to get them to return to normal life.
It is a paradox of his own making, according to Peter Kellner, a polling expert. Britons are more cautious than people in other countries about reopening the economy, not because they are unwilling to leave their homes, he said, but because they lack confidence in the government’s handling of the pandemic.It is a paradox of his own making, according to Peter Kellner, a polling expert. Britons are more cautious than people in other countries about reopening the economy, not because they are unwilling to leave their homes, he said, but because they lack confidence in the government’s handling of the pandemic.
From a political standpoint, Mr. Kellner said, the government should not be deterred from lifting the lockdown if it can be done without a significant spike in new cases and fatalities — a major caveat, to be sure. That could prevent a big rise in unemployment in the fall as a government program to protect jobs is phased out.From a political standpoint, Mr. Kellner said, the government should not be deterred from lifting the lockdown if it can be done without a significant spike in new cases and fatalities — a major caveat, to be sure. That could prevent a big rise in unemployment in the fall as a government program to protect jobs is phased out.
“If they can get the health and economic calculation right over the next few weeks,” Mr. Kellner said, “they have a chance of clawing things back, in terms of their public reputation.”“If they can get the health and economic calculation right over the next few weeks,” Mr. Kellner said, “they have a chance of clawing things back, in terms of their public reputation.”