Dangerous ideas could see many more deaths

NIGEL Farage is back in the UK, after his failed attempt to help get Donald Trump re-elected.

The self-styled man of the people has come up with another big idea. He has been busy making plans to reinvent his Brexit party as an anti-lockdown outfit.

Perhaps, he will join forces with the anti-maskers, anti-vaxxers, and the plethora of conspiracists who perpetually promote their evidence-shy theories across the whole, flat world. Farage cites the “Great Barrington Declaration” as proof that herd immunity is a good idea.

Three scientists penned the theory that the vulnerable can be segregated from the younger, fitter population, until such time as herd immunity has been built up. According to them, this negates the need for lockdowns or indeed, any other measures. An overwhelming majority of other scientists regard this idea as having very little credibility.

As a broad estimation, up to 40 per cent of the UK population would have to isolate for months on end. How could isolation be achieved anywhere, especially care homes, without crosscontamination?

Then there are the long Covid symptoms that scientists are only just starting to understand. What impact would they have on anyone under 50, if they are left to catch the disease?

Our government continues to make the right decisions, though not always quickly enough. We must wear masks, keep social distance, maintain good hygiene practices and lastly, be prepared to go into lockdown to prevent NHS crippling spikes, if necessary. These measures are essential until a vaccine is available and has had time to have a full and lasting impact.

Farage’s latest attempt to be politically relevant is at best reckless and at worst downright dangerous. His new party could sow the seeds of dissent and result in many more deaths than we have seen so far.