Completely agree - it was shameful what happened with these contracts - a disgrace.

I can understand the urgency and the need to circumnavigate the tender process but no excuse in giving contracts to firms/individuals who have np experience/expertise in that field.

They rushed the vaccine through but at least the producers had a track record in respect of Pharma.

I was talking about transmission after being vaccinated, rock all to do with lockdown.
It does now seem that Hancock and co are happy that the vaccine does prevent those vaccinated from spreading the virus, although they still dont know whether this is the case with some of the covid variants.
As for lockdown, of course the numbers have come down.

IF "we" had closed our borders and had a proper lockdown previously, as some other nations have done, we could have prevented the 2nd and 3rd lockdown and been on top of the job.

As things are, the vaccine(s) seem to be doing the job and hopefully, things can begin to open up over the summer..

The US closed their borders and the infection rate was amongst the worst in the world. It wouldn't have been practical given the UK is the largest transit hub in Europe. Easy in NZ or Aus.

I agree with much of what you put the vaccine is the game changer - In Israel where a big chunk of people have been vaccinated transmission has fallen off the end of a cliff - which would suggest transmission is slowed down amongst those who have been vaccinated.

Assuming that Boris is right and we are "fully open" in the UK towards the end of June, it will be interesting to see how overseas travel can open up.
The French were citing "the English variant" for a recent spike in their own cases, which doesn't half put the cat among the pigeons as far as overseas travel is concerned.
It's starting to look like vaccine certificates will be here before too long, to add yet another twist to the road to "freedom"

Just getting back to your opening comment. It shouldn't matter what sort of "transit hub" the UK may or may not be.
We should have tightened our border controls way, way more than we did.
There is no point whatsoever in trying to control the virus within the country, if we are going to allow people to fly in and out as the please, it's utterly stupid and it's taken nearly 12 months for government to even begin to realise this.
Of course this would make life more difficult for some but, it's difficult for most people already.

I don't disagree with you but we allowed all those holidays in July and August and most of the people coming into the country in March and April were UK citizens - should they have been banned from coming home?

Uk holiday makers are a huge revenue source for the likes of Spain and Greece - it will be tough to turn those hundreds of millions away again for a second year.

Doubt it. Labour set the precedent for breaking the law with no jail time

Complains about whataboutery one minute.


Engages in whataboutery the next.

Steph has always been a third rate troll, in all of his previous basketball player guises.

Iv'e just had my first jab, the AZ, and they said the side effects might start to........从明天起生效

I havent looked but, there are sure to be vaccine certificates available on line.
Have you developed a sudden taste for dried exotic insects yet