evident failure of measures in other countries to reduce spread

Written by the UK government, If you do not like the tone of it take it up with them. There are a sufficiency of moaning minnies on this thread.
I also made it perfectly clear as to the source of the statement(gov.uk coronavirus-action-plan)

Some are just too ready to jump in with both feet before understanding what they are reading.

The government is taking a proactive response ie staged and reacting to external data as it becomes available.