what does that tell you in terms of actual danger to the population
Testing is the only way they really have of finding out the numbers of people infected. Those numbers are needed so that the fatality rate of the disease can be worked out. For sure, this disease doesn't have the fatality rate of something like Ebola, but scientists still don't know enough about it yet.
My personal feelings are that a vaccine is a long way off yet, so if this doesn't just disappear, we all have to find a way to live with it.
I think the UK government, not that they are going to admit to it, are thinking once again along the lines of herd immunity. Easing of lockdown restrictions means that in theory, whole families can get in the car and drive to a seaside resort for daily exercise without being stopped by the police. As the weather warms up, beaches and other local beauty spots are going to be heaving with people. Cue second wave and more deaths in a very short space of time. Wales, Scotland and Ireland are being sensible and not allowing this.
In addition, schools here will be reopening from June 1st. Even Poland with far fewer cases and deaths has extended school closures until the end of the year on June 26th.Our scientific advisors are clearly on a very different path to those of other countries.
this particular virus is only dangerous in very narrow circumstances to a very small part of the population,
The elderly can't be shielded indefinitely though, and what do you tell someone who is black, asian or ethnic minority? Stay indoors till it's over? I read a report yesterday that said that 26% of coronavirus deaths in England had diabetes as an underlying factor. And how many people suffer from respiratory disorders? So quite a large part of the population are potentially affected by this.
get the economy moving again with all possible speed
I agree that this is necesssary, but it will most definitely be at the expense of lives.
there will always be people who believe they know best and flout the rules in the mistaken belief that they won't catch the virus....
Unfortunately this guy was probably one of them:
metro.co.uk/2020/04/21/anti-lockdown-protester-branded-covid-19-political-ploy-killed-coronavirus-12588467/
I think there are many people who won't take this seriously until it impacts on them personally.