ON TWITTER

#COVID-19

The Covid-19 pandemic could trigger a 35 per cent fall in the UK economy if the lockdown remains in place for three months, says the Office for Budget Responsibility, the UK’S independent tax and spending watchdog.

@Alanchr45778212 said: “That’s better than having 500,000 deaths with Boris Johnson’s take-it-on-thechin herd immunity strategy. We won’t just go back to work and let the government pursue a strategy of genocide by virus.”

@Angeldust1604 posted: “It’s better to be alive and poor than dead and rich.”

@supermelon402 commented: “You idiots are worried about economic growth when people are dying? People are burying their parents, sons, brothers and sisters. I think a CEO can take a chill pill for a little while.”

@Santiaguerra2 replied: “We ‘idiots’ are not worried about growth – we’re worried about a deep, potentially long-lasting recession and all its accompanying effects.”

@matt_lfc1984 said: “More people could die as a result of the downturn in the economy.”

@johnfburr posted: “Rampant capitalism has fetishised continual economic growth. Not that 35 per cent drop isn’t catastrophic but we need to manage the global economy down, long term. Change our values. Make and buy less throwaway tat. Value artisans more highly. Value carers over hedge fund managers.”

@Mooanddrew commented: “There is going to be a big hit on the economy and there will be job losses. It will once again be the poorest (those with the least to begin with) that will be hit hardest. Let’s hope we build our way out of the coming recession instead of following the previous years of austerity.”

@Kayozaduban added: “the economy will bounce back. Save lives first and that will fix the economy.”