Work no more risk than home, science

‘We are working on the assessment that 80 per cent of us, if we haven’t already, will get the virus’

A GOVERNMENT adviser has called into question the coronavirus lockdown by saying workplaces are no more dangerous than homes.

Rupert Shute, deputy chief scientific adviser at the Home Office, made the claim in a leaked presentation to Passport Office staff on plans for 2,000 of them to return to their desks to process urgent applications.

Staff were told in the conference call that it was necessary for some to come in to complete a “manageable” amount of work so they would not be overwhelmed with a backlog of applications once they fully returned to work.

According to a leaked transcript of the presentation, Mr Shute, an electronics engineer by training, said that staying at home was important but “we also have to keep functioning”.

“You are no more at risk at the workplace than you would be in your home or at the supermarket. It is about minimising it,” he said.

“We are working on the assessment that 80 per cent of us, if we haven’t already, will get the virus.”

He added: “We cannot hide away from it for ever.”

Mr Shute’s comments appear to undermine Government guidance that people should only go to work if they cannot work from home – and minimise trips to the supermarket to buy basic necessities.

His suggestion that up to 80 per cent of people would eventually contract coronavirus echoes previous Government briefings that this would help the population develop “herd immunity”.

This position was sidelined when computer modelling suggested a lockdown would be needed to reduce the infection rate.

Yesterday, the Government distanced itself from Mr Shute’s statements. Asked about the 80 per cent projection, the Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “The Government’s focus is on stopping the spread of the disease in order to protect the health service.”

Asked about the risk at work being no worse than at home, the spokesman said the scientific and medical advice was to stay at home, and only travel to work if it was not possible to work from home.

The Home Office said the statement about the relative risks was in the context of being able to observe social distancing rules at work. The passport offices have been deep-cleaned and the furniture has been rearranged to enable staff to maintain a distance of two metres between them.

It is thought that about 2,000 Passport Office staff are being asked to return although about 500 will be in the offices at any one time. The Public and

‘The cavalier approach to members’ health and safety is shameful and puts them in danger’

Commercial Services Union (PCS), however, said Mr Shute’s comments were “extremely irresponsible and totally contradicted current Government guidance”.

Mark Serwotka, the PCS general secretary, said: “It is absolutely scandalous that HM Passport Office are suggesting our members can go back into work during a pandemic to process routine passports.

“The cavalier approach to our members’ health and safety is shameful and ultimately puts them in greater danger of contracting Covid-19.

“We have already had members die as a result of contracting coronavirus and we pressured civil service managers in other departments to shut offices

so staff can work from home.” Dozens of staff sent messages that they were deeply concerned about returning to work. One wrote: “Your actions are going to kill people.”

Another said: “If my family die because you insist I need to come to work before the surge passes (having isolated until now), I will pursue a claim against HMPO/HOME Office for negligence.”

Others questioned how they would get to work without using public transport.

A Home Office spokesman said there was no Government advice saying that you should only go to work if you were an essential or key worker. It simply said that you should not go if you could work from home. The spokesman dismissed suggestions that the health of staff was being put at risk.

“HMPO is fully adhering to public health advice across all of its offices and adopting social distancing measures to keep both its staff and customers safe,” he said.

“It continues to operate at substantially restricted staffing levels with a significant number of people working from home where possible, and staff are prioritising emergency cases. Guidance is also available for people who are travelling into work.

“It was made clear in the meeting that the Government’s priority is slowing the spread of coronavirus and we all have a part to play in order to protect the NHS and save lives.”