By Ben Kerrigan-
The British government’s scientific advisers called for a short national lockdown in England to halt the spread of Covid-19 last month, newly-released documents show.
The experts suggested an immediate “circuit breaker” as the best way to control cases, at a meeting on 21 September, but Downing Street considered the request disproportionate with the goal, a response from No.10’s official spokesperson indicated. Prime minister Boris Johnson’s office did not take the full advice, but instead said it took ‘robust’, ‘targeted’, and proportionate action.
The economy took a big knock after the lockdown in March, that the British government is treading very carefully before implementing another national lockdown.
At a press briefing on Monday, Johnson suggested the urge for a full national lockdown was again served to him on a plate, as he said ‘I rejected the option of a full national lockdown right now”. Professor Whitty made clear that he did not feel the measures to control the virus had gone ”far enough to get on top o the virus without further local restrictions”.
The revelation follows the strict new rules placed on the Liverpool region which enters a “very high” Covid alert level from Wednesday, the highest of a new three-tier system.
Speaking at a Downing Street news conference on Wednesday evening, Boris Johnson said the alert system for England could succeed in driving cases down if it was implemented “very effectively”.
Minutes from the meeting of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), which feeds into UK government decision making, stated the advisers had called for the immediate introduction of a short national lockdown three weeks ago.
The papers – released shortly after the No 10 news conference ended – also showed the scientists suggested banning all contact inside homes with members of other households. Closing all bars, restaurants, cafes, indoor gyms and hairdressers. Requiring all university and college teaching to take place online.
The minutes from Sage said that “the more rapidly interventions are put in place, and the more stringent they are, the faster the reduction in incidence and prevalence, and the greater reduction in COVID-related deaths”.
They also said NHS Test and Trace was having just a “marginal impact” and this “will likely decline further” unless the system expanded to keep up with the rise in cases.
Labour’s shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth said: “The government now needs to urgently explain why it ignored its own scientists and what it will be doing to get control of the virus.” The answer provided by Downing Street is that the advice from its scientists required action that was not proportionate.
A government spokesperson said: “We took robust but targeted and proportionate action in September, including introducing the rule of six, restrictions to hospitality opening hours, and advice for people to work from home where they can, alongside tougher enforcement.
“This was carefully judged to protect lives and reduce the transmission of the virus whilst minimising the impact to livelihoods, and followed extensive engagement including with scientific advisers.”