By Lucy Caulkett-
Professor of social psychology Stephen Reicher, is not assessing covid-19 infection stats like a true expert.
The professor from the University of St Andrews, told Sky News that Boris Johnson’s decision on Covid rules for the New Year “is a risky move”, as he warned of possible further case rises resulting from Christmas socializing.
He clearly did not consider the risk in him expressing his shaky views openly , conveniently overlooking the gaps in them.
Interestingly, Professor Reicher said the stats may not be accurate because of the potential for under reporting at Christmas, but said nothing about the concerns by Tory Mps for over reporting of inflated covid stats by Nhs staff suspected of inflating numbers by adding tests of people who have come to hospital with other illnesses like a broken leg, and adding them to the statistics.
The professor may not have seen a report by the Mail Online yesterday that revealed that two-thirds of those infected with covid in hospital had been initially come into hospital with other illnesses, and that even those in mental wards had tested positive for the omicron variant and been added to hospitalisation stats. The duty to be well informed is on professionals , especially professors.
Professor Reicher said: “The news is mixed. In the longer term, it does look now that Omicron is less serious and leads to less hospitalisations and less deaths.”
He noted how “in the longer term” that is “very good news”.
But he warned how this “does not compensate for the huge rise in the number of cases”.
Professor Reicher then suggested that the high case numbers are “more serious than the lesser seriousness of the disease” as he claimed this rise in cases, not the severity of the disease, is leading to a surge in hospitalisations.
But ProfReicher went further with his analysis as he said testing figures may not be accurate. He suggested Britain’s testing ability is being “overwhelmed” and there has been “underreporting at Christmas”.
He added: “On top of that, the figures don’t take into account the numbers of infections that will have been caused by the socialisation that went on at Christmas.
“We are putting ourselves in a very risky position by allowing the infections to run out of control.
Really? We think you may be putting yourself and your high reputation in a risky position by not figuring out the potential psychology of those inflating the numbers of infections.
It is important to ensure you are not playing psychology, deliberately or inadvertently on the British public.
Professor Reicher was contacted for comment.