By Ben Kerrigan-
British scientists and economists are pushing out conflicting views on the British government’s easing of the lockdown after prime minister Boris Johnson decided to ease the lockdown as from July 4.
In an open letter to the leaders of all the UK political parties published in the British Medical Journal, the health leaders call for a “rapid and forward-looking in the state of national preparedness in the event of a renewed flare-up.
While acknowledging the unpredictability of the future shape of the pandemic in the UK , the group says the available evidence indicates that local flare ups are increasingly likely and a second wave a real risk,” they said.
“Many elements of the infrastructure needed to contain the virus are beginning to be put in place, but substantial challenges remain.
“The job now is not only to deal urgently with the wide-ranging impacts of the first phase of the pandemic, but to ensure that the country is adequately prepared to contain a second phase.
The letter comes as former chief scientific adviser, Sir David King,(pictured) who now leads the unofficial ‘Independent Sage’ group, told Sky News the lockdown easing is “ extraordinarily risky”.
He said lifting lockdown too quickly means “the risk of running into a second wave becomes very significant”.
He added: “We must aim to completely get rid of the virus of this country before the winter”
“We still see 1,000 new cases at least a day in this country. I don’t think there’s anyone who can believe from the scientific point of view that this is a wise move.”.
He said lifting lockdown too quickly means “the risk of running into a second wave becomes very significant”.
He added: “We must aim to completely get rid of the virus of this country before the winter”
“We still see 1,000 new cases at least a day in this country. I don’t think there’s anyone who can believe from the scientific point of view that this is a wise move.”
While the future shape of the pandemic in the UK is hard to predict, the available evidence indicates that local flare ups are increasingly likely and a second wave a real risk,” they said.
“Many elements of the infrastructure needed to contain the virus are beginning to be put in place, but substantial challenges remain.
“The job now is not only to deal urgently with the wide-ranging impacts of the first phase of the pandemic, but to ensure that the country is adequately prepared to contain a second phase.”
They called for the creation of a cross-party commission with a “constructive, non-partisan, four nations approach,” to be established to develop practical recommendations for action based on what had been learned so far.
Overdue
However, Imperial College economic Professor David Miles told BBC Radio 5 the easing of lockdown measures was long time overdue. He said: “We probably have gone past the point some weeks ago where the benefits of keeping in place the lockdown were large enough to match the rising and enormous costs of lockdown.”
The opposing views reveals how easy it is for individuals and groups to view things from isolated perspectives. Scientists warning against the ease of the lockdown appear to be totally unconcerned with the economic effects of continuing the lockdown without pause, and offer no recommendations for a balance. They are comfortable with the economy continuing to sink whatever the overall costs.
Economic professor David Mile’s view makes more sense in his weighing up of the costs and benefits, though he makes no reference to the potential of rising cases of Covid -19.