Coronavirus diary, Saturday 13 June

The economy: falling off a cliff

Why has the UK suffered more deaths and is in worse economic shape than most other countries? 

We probably won't know the answer for years, until the public inquiry's findings and recommendations, but the inquest has already begun.

The outlook is bleak, especially for the government, assailed on all sides for their handling of the crisis so far.

From the start of the pandemic in January they have been repeatedly accused of reacting too slowly to the obvious dangers ahead, signalled by China and Italy.

Since then they have been alternatively bold - major decisions proving to be wrong - and timid, delaying and dithering over other matters, creating confusion by not giving clear instructions

Worst of all, and most dangerous, is the allegation of lack of open-ness, of misinformation, dishonesty with statistics, promises not kept, inefficiency and and not admitting mistakes.

So what should they do now?

The shock economic news gives them a stark choice: the economy or health.

One would be to be bold and to lift restrictions as fast as possible to get the economy on track. 

A daunting task with nine million workers - more than one in four of the workforce - being paid under the furlough scheme, and millions likely to lose their jobs.

But that could spell danger and a peak in deaths. 

The other is to be cautious, not try to get back to normal too son, which might antagonise the people, tired of being denied a normal life.

Chancellor Sunak

Chancellor Rishi Sunak says Britain's economic plight is the same as other countries and that the measures he has taken give us the chance to recover quicker.

 'Life will get a bit more back to normal when the shops on the high street reopen', he says.