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Three weeks ago, the influential science group SAGE told the government to introduce a “circuit breaker” lockout, new documents reveal.
On the day a new three-tiered system was introduced to curb the spread of the coronavirus, the government released documents showing that the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies endorsed five possible measures on Monday, September 21.
First on the list was the circuit breaker lockout; followed by tips for working from home for all you can; prohibit all contact within homes between homes; close all bars, restaurants, cafes, indoor gyms and personal services such as hairdressers; and forcing all college and university teaching to go online. Only one has been followed.
It comes as Professor Chris Whitty admitted that level three restrictions may not go far enough to prevent Covid-19 from spiraling out of control.
SAGE’s council said: ‘It will be necessary to adopt a package of interventions to reverse this exponential increase in cases. It is unlikely that individual interventions by themselves can bring R below 1. ‘
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Now experts are warning that a circuit breaker may need to be implemented anyway.
The document continues: “A more effective response now can reduce the time during which some actions are required.
“The rapid increase in cases means that a series of complementary operational response measures is even more important to reduce transmission, especially in residences, hospitals and other closed environments.”
Earlier today, Sage scientist Professor Calum Semple warned that the new restrictions had come too late and that a switch may have to be installed in a few weeks.
When asked if the level of response announced for London is sufficient for the threat, the Liverpool University academic told the Prime Minister of BBC Radio 4: “I will be difficult and I will say no, I think we are a little late. to react “.
He said there is a three to four week delay before the interventions pay off in hospitals.
“I and others who advocated for tough and strict local interventions where it was necessary three or four weeks ago, our fear is now that we are elsewhere,” he said.
And that we may need a much stronger intervention, the so-called circuit breaker, in a matter of weeks.
“The bud is a bit like a super-tanker, you put on the brakes but it takes a long time before you see the effect.”
Earlier today at the Downing Street press conference, England’s chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, said: ‘I have no confidence and no one trusts that the level three proposals for the higher rates, if we did the base rates absolute and nothing more – it would be enough to overcome it.
‘That’s why there is a lot of flexibility in level three for local authorities, guided by the directors of public health, to really move up that rank so that they can do a lot more than the absolute base.
“The base will not be enough, I think the professional point of view is very clear.”
The government has put the Liverpool region under level three restrictions, but restaurants and barber shops can remain open, as can pubs, if they only serve alcohol with “substantial” meals.
Many other areas face level two restrictions, with the rest of the country below level one.
Responding to the Sage documents, shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth called the revelations “alarming.”
He said: “The fact that the prime minister decided to publish it an hour after his press conference is further proof that he is treating the British people with contempt.
Labor previously warned that the restrictions announced by the prime minister may not be enough.
“The government now urgently needs to explain why it ignored its own scientists and what it will do to control the virus.”
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MORE: Level 3 pubs can stay open if they offer ‘substantial’ meals with alcohol
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