And if us emotionally stunted Brits struggle, imagine how difficult it is for hysterical foreign types?

Apologies for my flippancy but I think you have really hit a nail on the head here. We are simply not designed to be able to socially distant at events such as funerals and weddings. The point of such events is to bond us closer to those we love and care for.

Why this virus is such a wretched and loathesome interloper into ALL of our lives.

"The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command." - 1984 - George Orwell.

I find myself mentally multiplying by 2.5 any government figure.

I think my estimate of current unemployment at just under 3 millions is just as good as any government figure,and based on actual numbers of people unemployed.

I read that corona deaths in the UK are now 45,000 so I would be thinking 120,000 or so. (naah rubbish etc.)

With any government blame is the name of the game and avoidance of the truth and anything damaging to it far outweighs any other consideration.

Why bother? These inquiries are just gravy trains for lawyers, MPs and some 'independent' experts (party donors).

Red and Blue Army!

I think there are two main reasons. Firstly to find out the true figures to effectively deal with any future spikes and to reassure people after months of scaring them with dire projections and secondly to change the perception of how things have been handled. In Scotland the people I’ve spoken to think it’s been dealt with well but Scotland’s excess mortality rate is 89% higher than England’s and care home deaths are 47% compared to 21%.

I think it is just politics. I appreciate that according to Social Media the Johnson government is on its knees with Starmer able to choose his time to step up the plate but the reality is they have a 79 seat majority (lost 1 this week to be fair) and probably at least 4 years left in power. They can afford to get as much bad news out as possible as they are safe from the electoral slings and arrows. I confess I don't trust Germanys figures, as an example, but we are not going to truly know until at least this time next year, possibly longer.

"The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command." - 1984 - George Orwell.

I agree, especially on knowing after it’s all done and total deaths can be compared to recent years in all countries, only the doctors recording many deaths as Covid deaths isn’t because of politicians, although it could be anti Tory. This has without doubt happening. I e seen relatives of the dead, care home workers and nurses with old twitter accounts say they’ve seen it happening. And the care home staff and nurses would potentially gain from these results assumed to be genuine.

COYP