Covid Expert calls for Plan B to prevent winter virus ‘meltdown’
ABRISTOL University professor has said we cannot rely on the vaccination programme alone in order to avoid a “meltdown” this winter.
Professor Adam Finn, a member of the Joint Committee of Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), told Sky News’ Trevor Philips that implementing “some kind of Plan B” would be the best course of action for the government.
It comes as the Government has ruled out an immediate move to its coronavirus Plan B.
The South West of England has seen an explosion of new Covid-19 cases in the last week, with some areas recording nearly ten times as many cases.
And the coronavirus R rate in the UK could be at 1.2 amid surging infection numbers similar to those seen last winter.
Professor Finn acknowledged that while policy decisions are not his to make, he said the notion “the problem is all over” and there is no need for further restrictions is “sending out the wrong message”.
He said: “The vaccine programme by itself in the current situation is not enough to bring things under control.
“One way or another, we need to bring about a situation where there is less transmission of the virus going on in the community, and we can’t just rely on the vaccine programme to achieve that.”
Plan B measures would include a return to working from home and mandatory mask wearing.
So-called ‘Plan C’ measures are also reportedly in discussions among ministers and could include families being banned from mixing with other households, The Sun reports.
Speaking virtually from Portugal, Professor Finn suggested the use of lateral flow tests, social distancing in enclosed spaces and facial masks as means to “get this under control soon” in order to avoid “a real meltdown in the middle of the winter”.
He continued: “We all need to continue to contribute to reducing transmission, so that we can get through, the NHS can stay afloat and we can avoid lockdowns, and the disasters that those bring.
“I worry the vaccine programme itself is suffering, as a consequence of this suggestion that somehow the problem is gone and we can all go back to normal again.”
When asked about the dwindling efficacy of vaccine immunity among those vaccinated first at the beginning of this year, Professor Finn acknowledged he does believe it exists.
While those first vaccinated are still “relatively well protected”, he said they are at “increasing risk” of being hospitalised.
The professor also raised the issue of the seasonal flu, particularly given the lack of community immunity since infections were so low last winter.
He concluded: “I’m very concerned about the flu this year, as is everyone else. Because we had no flu last year, the population is more susceptible to flu.
“That on top of everything else now we’re mixing together could really significantly add to the pressure on the health service.”
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said last week that new cases could reach 100,000 a day, but Downing
Street has insisted there is still spare capacity in the NHS and that Plan B will only be activated if it comes under “significant pressure”.
Plan B includes working-fromhome guidance and the mandatory use of face masks.
Asked if it is time to bring in Plan B to tackle coronavirus, Chancellor Rishi Sunak said “at the moment the data does not suggest that we should be immediately moving to Plan B”.
He told BBC One’s The Andrew Marr Show: “Well, the Prime Minister actually just said that we’re looking at the data all the time, as you would expect us to.
“We’re monitoring everything, but at the moment the data does not suggest that we should be immediately moving to Plan B, but of course we will keep an eye on that and the plans are ready.”
Vaccines minister Maggie Throup said Plan A is “working” and “where we need to be”.
Asked where case numbers will have to get to before the public will be asked to work from home, Ms Throup told LBC: “The public has been very patient in doing what we’ve asked them to do.
“And I think Plan A has actually opened up people’s lives and that’s so important because if we do need to take further measures I’m sure they’ll have appreciated exactly the freedoms we’ve been able to offer them at this time.”