COVID-19 CLOUD currently overshadows the UK – while cases are expected to reach epidemic or pandemic proportions, rather than stirring people into panic, there is the silver lining that the UK can face the consequences with confidence for good reasons.
- CAPABILITY – Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt is reported as saying “If I was going to be in a country which had a pandemic, I would choose the UK”. This is echoed independently by a recent report by among others the Economist Intelligence Unit which ranked the UK second globally in terms of health security behind only the USA (The Times 5.3.20).
- CALM CONTROL – the Government response has been calm and controlled: the experts’ communications feel authoritative. A YouGov survey of 10 countries ranked the UK as the least publicly fearful (The Times 5.3.20). Also, it would be typically British for people to come together in the face of collective adversity – Coronavirus could, and with luck will, have a unifying effect, putting other issues in perspective.
- COOLEST of all is CMO Chris Whitty – the Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty, generates calmness and confidence. Unafraid to spell out the unhappy features of the virus, his emphatic consistency that simple disciplines like handwashing, that for the vast majority of people the effects will be mild, and that with sensible and timely measures being followed, the country will come through this within a few months, has been and will continue to be a vital feature in keeping this virus in perspective and proportion.
- CENTRE stage – it is welcome that centre stage is being handed mainly to the CMO and other scientific advisers and real evidence, rather than grandstanding politicians seeking to reap political capital out of the response to this Global problem.
