Britannic Herd Immunity and Coronavirus

Cue Prime Minister Johnson's appearance for his No. 10 Downing Street press briefing. In his March 17 statement, he considered COVID-19 to be:

a disease that is so dangerous and so infectious that without drastic measures to check its progress it would overwhelm any health system in the world.

He insisted on steps to avoid unnecessary contact to protect the vulnerable. Capacity for the National Health Service would be increased; public services would be strengthened. Science and research would be boosted. Any measures, as those of a wartime government, should be taken to bolster the economy. Millions of businesses and tens of millions of families needed to be supported. But not a word about bans, closures, testing of the public and strict controls.

The COVID-19 reaction formula still remains a Britannia goes it alone approach though closer to that adopted by the Trump administration. Keep it voluntary; take measures as a matter of good sense. Responses on the European continent remain determinedly autocratic in an effort to flatten the curve of infection. French President Emmanuel Macron has resorted to war metaphors, implementing measures akin to that: mandatory registration of intent to leave homes or face a fine of 38 euros. In Britain, however, Johnson's preference is to prepare for the worst, wash your hands and surf the Internet.