Scientific advisory group warns against lockdown relaxation
As the British government prepares to significantly relax the lockdown from Monday, its own scientific advisers are warning against the move on the grounds that it will spark a new wave of coronavirus infections.
The three scientists warning against the move are all members of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), the leading expert body advising the government on the management of the coronavirus pandemic.
Professor John Edmunds has been the most outspoken by claiming the government’s latest plan is a “political decision”.
Talking to Sky News earlier today, Edmunds expressed concern that the high level of current infections militate against any easing of the lockdown.
Epidemiologist and SAGE member Professor John Edmunds says it is risky to ease lockdown at this stage as the R rate is "only just below one" leaving "not a lot of room for manoeuvre" and that England alone is still seeing 8,000 new infections a day.https://t.co/97DJOduVPY pic.twitter.com/QE5EmrU0yR
— SkyNews (@SkyNews) May 30, 2020
"The number of infections that we have is about 8,000 new infections every day in England alone, and that's just in the community”, Edmunds said.
Meanwhile fellow SAGE member Sir Jeremy Farrar said the National Health Service (NHS) “test and tracing system” should be “fully working” before the government took another major step in the direction of exiting the lockdown.
Farrar took to social media to express his grave concerns, tweeting that “COVID-19 spreading too fast to lift lockdown in England”.
Covid-19 spreading too fast to lift lockdown in England. Agree with John & clear science advice. TTI has to be in place, fully working, capable dealing any surge immediately, locally responsive, rapid results & infection rates have to be lower. And trusted https://t.co/ZmYKs4Go3W
— Jeremy Farrar (@JeremyFarrar) May 29, 2020
The positions of Edmunds and Farrar have been reinforced by another leading SAGE member, one Professor Peter Horby.
Talking to BBC Radio 4 earlier today, Horby said he agrees with Edmunds and Farrar that it is “too soon to ease lockdown restrictions”.
"But, you will have heard that the R level [reproductive value of the virus] is between 0.7 and 0.9, so it's only a bit below one, so, we have got very little headroom, actually”, Horby said.
He added: "And, it's really important that we use that headroom very wisely and we don't lose control again”.
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