Therese Raphael, Columnist

Is Boris Johnson's Britain Finally Turning a Corner?

Mass testing and positive vaccine news provide a glimmer of light at the end of a dark tunnel.

November 24, 2020 at 9:47 AM UTC

Therese Raphael is a columnist for Bloomberg Opinion covering health care and British politics. Previously, she was editorial page editor of the Wall Street Journal Europe.

A lucky general?
Photographer: HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP

Provide news feedback or report an error

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

This article is for subscribers only.

Most Western countries have suffered mightily from Covid-19, but Britain still managed to stand out for all the wrong reasons during the first wave of the pandemic. There was the initial see-sawing between whether to follow a Swedish-style laissez faire approach or more draconian measures, the struggles with test and trace and confusing public communications.

Still, there appears to be a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. Boris Johnson’s winter Covid plan, unveiled on Monday night, deserves two cheers, and one Hail Mary.