Latest update from Downing Street:

A Downing Street spokesperson said:

“The Prime Minister continues to make steady progress. He remains in intensive care.”

That’s a bit different to ‘In good spirits, sitting up and engaging with people’

I want to believe he is getting better, but I don’t think we are being told the whole story here.

Originally Posted by: Heavy Weather 2013 

Clearly not - if a patient can sit up and chat to nurses, he would be moved out of intensive care pronto.

Stable is the motto.

Originally Posted by: Maunder Minimum 

Just read between the lines. He hasn’t got much better.

Originally Posted by: Justin W 

I think on balance that's a fair conclusion.   But for someone who only went into ICU a little more than 48 hours ago perhaps that's about the best we could expect.

Stable will do for now

Originally Posted by: Gandalf The White 

Here's the Telegraph's modelling of new cases. I'd be astounded, astonished, amazed if we have fewer than 100 cases each day by the end of the month!

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/04/08/long-do-lockdowns-last-countries-acted-fastest-could-freed-first/

Originally Posted by: Retron 

I went out to our local small Boots for medication today, mainly to see if the queues had gone down and how safe it was. Don't really want to be hanging around inside a small Pharmacy atm. They had a system of one or two in and out and there was only two queuing outside. Way less than this time last week. The first time I'd left the house for over a week and there was little traffic and seemed to be a 100% compliance with social distancing. People crossing to other side of road or talking to somebody from several metres apart. No idiots on view but even with them it is hard to see the mechanism of how this is still transmitting widely or will continue to do so. Considering the weather good compliance with staying inside. This is no rural village. Population of over 300,000 so I was quite impressed actually. Maybe we are complying better than would have been thought  - we do tend to be a Nation that obeys - who else is as keen on queueing!

Originally Posted by: fairweather 

I went out to our local small Boots for medication today, mainly to see if the queues had gone down and how safe it was. Don't really want to be hanging around inside a small Pharmacy atm. They had a system of one or two in and out and there was only two queuing outside. Way less than this time last week. The first time I'd left the house for over a week and there was little traffic and seemed to be a 100% compliance with social distancing. People crossing to other side of road or talking to somebody from several metres apart. No idiots on view but even with them it is hard to see the mechanism of how this is still transmitting widely or will continue to do so. Considering the weather good compliance with staying inside. This is no rural village. Population of over 300,000 so I was quite impressed actually. Maybe we are complying better than would have been thought  - we do tend to be a Nation that obeys - who else is as keen on queueing!

Originally Posted by: fairweather 

Very bad idea. Our population is not collectively compliant like other cultures. Both the US and UK have a tradition of libertarianism and distrust of state power. Unlike France, Spain, Italy, Germany we have never had the experience of martial law and army checkpoints

Many minority groups already have a fractured relationship with the police. Putting thousands of young fully armed grunts from poorly educated  backgrounds on the streets of London and Birmingham is playing with fire

Originally Posted by: The Beast from the East 

Perhaps seeing the Prime Minister laid low has brought it home to people just what a nasty thing this virus can be. I want Boris to be well and back in Number Ten as soon as possible, but he may have served some purpose by getting sick.

Originally Posted by: Maunder Minimum 

6. In reality, the fall rates will most probably be slower than the rates of increase. That adds further time.

What this tells us is that restrictions will be around for at least 10 weeks, but most likely more. Look at Italy for an indication of time scale.

— Professor Ian Donald (@iandonald_psych) April 8, 2020

Originally Posted by: Justin W 

Indeed, the EU has made a right Horlicks of this and there is a lot of bad bloody as a result.

Originally Posted by: Bugglesgate 

He is alive. Even I, the most animated Tory turned Tory hater, wants him to pull through and get back to No10

Originally Posted by: Justin W 

He is alive. Even I, the most animated Tory turned Tory hater, wants him to pull through and get back to No10

Originally Posted by: Justin W 

 Yes, like you I do not like the New Brexit Party and many of the people who now make up the government. But I would never let my dislike extend to wishing Boris ill, particularly now when we need effective leadership.  He may have fallen short early in this crisis but he has improved. Plus he has a new child on the way.

Unless there is another monumental lapse of judgment we will not be ending the transition period on 31st December and will still be working with the EU. To add the economic shock of what will have to be an underprepared exit from the EU to the economic shock of Covid-19 would be wilful stupidity. 

Originally Posted by: Gandalf The White 

Boris "messiah" Johnson?

Originally Posted by: westv 

Updated trajectory

Originally Posted by: Gavin D 

Just discussing Whitty and Johnson. If you look at pictures of them who would you expect to be hit worse by Corona? Whitty really doesn't look very robust at all.

Originally Posted by: Brian Gaze 

Whitty is not overweight. Johnson is obese. Weight appears to be important.

Originally Posted by: Justin W 

Exactly.

I was going to reply to Brian with the three letters:  B M I

Originally Posted by: Gandalf The White 

Updated trajectory

Originally Posted by: Gavin D