Thread by @StefSimanowitz

"We’ve so far succeeded in the first and most important task we set ourselves as a nation: to avoid the tragedy that engulfed other parts of the world." @BorisJohnson

The UK has highest #COVID19 death toll in Europe & possibly 2nd highest in the world.

The counties that avoided being “engulfed by tragedy” are the ones that followed @WHO advice on #COVID19.

Vietnam (population 96m) & New Zealand (population 5m) have had a single death from #coronavirus.
▪️Act quickly
▪️Test
▪️Trace
▪️Identify
▪️Isolate

President Macron admitted: “Mistakes were made. Were we sufficiently prepared? Obviously not.”

Verónica Casado broke down reading out the names of health workers who’d died.

Boris Johnson has been back 2 days & has talked about “success” twice. #COVID19

Ystdy, an MP criticised “the media’s sick obsession” with the number of people dying from #COVID19.

Not only is this offensive, but I’m not sure it’s true.

Over the past 48 hours, 1,439 people died from #coronavirus.

Yet these deaths don’t get mentioned on a single front page.

CLARIFICATION: By newspapers, I am referring to the main UK national newspapers.

Although none of them mentioned the specific death toll, it is clear from the front pages 👆👇that a few papers did refer to #Covid19 deaths.

@MetroUK’s front page 72 hours ago was very powerful.

At a time of national crisis, morale is of huge importance.

It’s vital to be able to see “the light at the end of the tunnel”.

But, whilst playing down the fact that we’re in a tunnel at all may work in politics, but it does not sit easy with journalism.

https://twitter.com/stefsimanowitz/status/1213912586888069126?s=21

https://twitter.com/stefsimanowitz/status/1213912586888069126