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High-level politicians from four major northern councils have warned the government that existing restrictions against the coronavirus are “not working,” describing some as confusing and others as counterproductive.
His intervention reflects the growing divisions in politics and in the scientific community on how to tackle the growing number of infections.
The letter to Health Secretary Matt Hancock was signed by Leeds City Council Leader Judith Blake, Manchester City Council Leader Sir Richard Leese, Newcastle City Council Leader Nick Forbes, and Liverpool Mayor , Joe Anderson.
All four centers are among the worst affected areas as the pandemic worsens: United Kingdom reported 14,542 new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday, almost 2,000 more than the day before. Hospital admissions in England also peaked at four months.
In the letter, the four leaders said they were “extremely concerned” by the sharp increase and the “national responses.”
“The existing restrictions are not working, they are confusing for the public and some, like the 10 pm rule (curfew), are counterproductive,” they said.
Insisting that they do not support further economic closures, they instead called for additional powers to punish those who break the rules and that the police, council and public health experts develop any additional restrictions.
They also called for a locally controlled test-and-trace system and financial support for those who needed to isolate themselves with a payment that recognizes additional needs in areas of deprivation.
“It is essential for the future of our local economic well-being, and therefore of the country, that we seek to work together to offer a joint and effective response for our cities and the country in the coming days,” the letter says.
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The need to improve business support was also mentioned, something the Mayor of Liverpool emphasized in an interview with Sky News.
Joe Anderson said, “When we had the national shutdown, we had a licensing plan that was national.
“It seems to me that it is common sense and also consistent that if we have a local blockade that impacts companies, we should have a local scheme that supports those same companies. Because otherwise they will not return.
“It’s okay for the government to talk about investing money in retraining packages, but we have to prevent jobs from being lost and that will prevent people from needing training packages because we have prevented those jobs from leaving.”
He added: “I think the government is in a transitional house here. I don’t think they have done enough and hope it will go away. The bottom line is that a decision has to be made, there has to be stricter measures. That really stops the virus. .. and that is why there has to be an economic support package where that is happening. “
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Meanwhile, Professor John Edmunds, who is part of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), also criticized local measures, saying that new national restrictions were needed immediately.
Professor Edmunds said the government’s current “light touch” measures are simply “delaying the inevitable.”
“At some point we will implement very strict measures because we will have to do it when the hospitals start to really fill up,” he told the BBC. “Frankly, the best strategy is to get them going now.”
However, the views of scientists like Professor Edmunds, who support stricter measures, are at odds with those of other academics.
A new statement, signed by thousands of scientists, including some from the universities of Oxford, Nottingham, Edinburgh, Exeter, Cambridge, Sussex and York, calls for a herd immunity approach while protecting the most vulnerable populations.
The so-called Great Barrington statement states: “The most compassionate approach that balances the risks and benefits of achieving herd immunity is to allow those with minimal risk of death to live their lives normally to develop immunity to the virus through infection, while it better protects those who are most at risk. We call this Focused Protection. “
The Conservative Party is also divided on the coronavirus rules: Fourteen Conservative advocates joined five DUP deputies in vote against the government for its “rule of six”, which limits social gatherings. They were outnumbered, but a bigger challenge is expected next week on the government’s 10pm curfew for pubs, bars and restaurants, after MPs demanded more voice on emergency measures..
