David Gauke

David Gauke @DavidGauke

RT @RoyalFamily: Her Majesty The Queen addresses the UK and the Commonwealth in a special broadcast recorded at Windsor Castle. https://t.c… — PolitiTweet.org

David Gauke @DavidGauke

@TheEggMan1969 Hmm. I spot a pattern. Cantona? — PolitiTweet.org

David Gauke @DavidGauke

RT @WestHertsNHS: Our critical incident has been stood down and our doors are again open! Thanks to our wonderful neighbouring hospitals, t… — PolitiTweet.org

David Gauke @DavidGauke

@LesMead_ Correct. I was in the same box at Lord’s, but didn’t meet him. — PolitiTweet.org

David Gauke @DavidGauke

@RiffGaffer But I did. Lord’s 1989, Second Day of The Ashes Test. — PolitiTweet.org

David Gauke @DavidGauke

@BrianMaudling Often. But not on this occasion. — PolitiTweet.org

David Gauke @DavidGauke

@BarrieCunning No. At a dinner at my college in 1993 (he was an alumni). — PolitiTweet.org

David Gauke @DavidGauke

@whittaker_hr No. He came to Oxford in 1992 promoting a biography. I met him at Blackwells. — PolitiTweet.org

David Gauke @DavidGauke

1. Muhammad Ali 2. Fred Trueman 3. Diana Rigg 4. Bobby Robson 5. Robin Day 6. Mick Jagger 7. Geoffrey Palmer 8. Barack Obama — PolitiTweet.org

David Gauke @DavidGauke

RT @WestHertsNHS: Sat 4 April: Our critical incident remains in place and ALL PATIENTS MUST STAY AWAY from Watford Gen Hospital except for… — PolitiTweet.org

David Gauke @DavidGauke

RT @Observer_Owl: A hospital trust source has confirmed a critical incident has been declared at Watford General https://t.co/Hmi6kQZuTH — PolitiTweet.org

David Gauke @DavidGauke

RT @Samfr: Yes but Rebecca Long-Bailey won the argument. — PolitiTweet.org

David Gauke @DavidGauke

RT @neill_bob: @DavidGauke I absolutely agree David. The right thing to do @RobertBuckland @lucyfrazermp — PolitiTweet.org

David Gauke @DavidGauke

On #Newsnight on Wednesday I set out why it is a difficult decision but a sensible one. https://t.co/m3DrObzuwt — PolitiTweet.org

David Gauke @DavidGauke

On the balance of risks, this must be the right approach. A difficult decision but necessary in the circumstances. — PolitiTweet.org

David Gauke @DavidGauke

RT @sundersays: Parks shouldn't be closed - they should be used safely. Esp if prolonged lockdowns - Distribute advice - Recruit volunteer… — PolitiTweet.org

David Gauke @DavidGauke

A question to @MattHancock about testing and fatality rates in Germany and South Korea. I posted a thread yesterday on what testing can & cannot do. It's really important but it's not the key to reducing deaths at this point. The key is social distancing. — PolitiTweet.org

David Gauke @DavidGauke

RT @peterkyle: Sunday trading rules should be relaxed during the crisis. For many NHS staff and carers it’s their only chance to do a wee… — PolitiTweet.org

David Gauke @DavidGauke

A very sensible proposal. — PolitiTweet.org

David Gauke @DavidGauke

@Dannythefink And the point at which significant numbers can be identified as immune (which would obviously be good news for them & society) will have its own challenges. Not an issue for a while but we should think about it before we get to that point. — PolitiTweet.org

David Gauke @DavidGauke

Much credit to DWP staff in coping with the extraordinary surge in UC claims (recognising that ID verification not been straightforward for many claimants). Hard to see that the system for legacy benefits could have coped. — PolitiTweet.org

David Gauke @DavidGauke

Not dismissing current row about antigen tests – really important we do more. But mustn’t ignore the next phase - putting in place a reliable & widely used antibody test plus a sophisticated contact tracing system making use of antigen tests. No country has done that yet. /END — PolitiTweet.org

David Gauke @DavidGauke

So antigen testing important now in getting key workers back to work. But it is not a cure. In terms of understanding the virus & giving people the (temporary) all-clear, antibody testing will be the ‘gamechanger’. No country is doing that yet. /9 — PolitiTweet.org

David Gauke @DavidGauke

Important that testing results around the world are shared. No reason to think that CV behaves differently in the UK than elsewhere – the key is getting & sharing as much good data as possible. /8 — PolitiTweet.org

David Gauke @DavidGauke

Could be crucial in evaluating when it’s safe to reopen schools. Or whether working outside lowers risks. Relaxing restrictions will have to be by stages – testing can help determine how we do that. Both antibody & antigen tests have a role, particularly the former. /7 — PolitiTweet.org

David Gauke @DavidGauke

Fourth argument for testing is that it gives us the data we need to understand CV. How many are asymptomatic, have it mildly, require treatment, die? Reduce the considerable uncertainty. Can interrogate data & identify high/low risk groups. /6 — PolitiTweet.org

David Gauke @DavidGauke

Identifying those who will be immune will be vital to returning to normality. Big opportunity – those who have got the greenlight will be able to perform key functions without risk of infection. Also big challenge – some will have much more freedom than others. /5 — PolitiTweet.org

David Gauke @DavidGauke

Third argument is that when we can do a reliable immunity/antibody check, we’ll know who is immune & they can live a more normal life. Nobody is doing large scale antibody tests yet & there’s a time lag between getting CV & getting antibodies. /4 — PolitiTweet.org

David Gauke @DavidGauke

With current technology, probably not but that will change in future. But the lack of testing doesn’t fully explain why UK deaths higher than Germany of South Korea. Germany looks to be on same trajectory as us (4 days behind), Korea an untypical caseload (a religious cult). /3 — PolitiTweet.org

David Gauke @DavidGauke

This will help increase NHS capacity as it is tested in days ahead. The limited numbers of tests probably not yet affected fatalities but may in future if NHS capacity exceeded. Second argument is that testing helps contact trace. But can it do it at the scale we’re now at? /2 — PolitiTweet.org