By Lucy Caulkett-
Social distancing measures may have to be in place for almost of a year in order to control the spread of Covid-19, scientists advising the Government have agreed.
It follows advice from the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling have warned that, while the severity of measures could alternate during the period, “stricter” measures would need to be enforced for at least half of the year in order to keep cases at a level the NHS can cope with.The advice contained in documents published by the government details scientific evidence ministers have received on how to respond to the virus.
Only yesterday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the U.K. could “turn the tide” on Covid-19 in 12 weeks, but that required Britons to heed government calls for social distancing, including staying away from pubs and restaurants.
The report states: “It was agreed that the addition of both general social distancing and school closures to case isolation, household isolation and social distancing of vulnerable groups would be likely to control the epidemic when kept in place for a long period.
“It was agreed that a policy of alternating between periods of more and less strict social distancing measures could plausibly be effective at keeping the number of critical care cases within capacity.
“These would need to be in place for at least most of a year. Under such a policy, at least half of the year would be spent under the stricter social distancing measures.” The document says that the triggers for measures to be put in place or lifted could vary according to different regions. There would be a two to three-week delay between measures being put into place and their impact being felt in intensive care units, it added.
The advice could extend the disruption to the daily lives of Brits inthe face of a pandemic affecting the globe at varying levels. Strict social distancing measures are now being applied in many parts of the world including Italy, the U.S. Boris Johnson will reveal new measures on Friday at the daily Covid-19 press conference in Downing Street, where he is expected to be joined by Mr Johnson.