5,000 scientists and medics call for society to ‘return to normal’
BRITISH scientists are among thousands of experts warning of “grave concerns” over the physical and mental toll of lockdown, and calling for a return to normal living.
Almost 5,000 medics and scientists from around the world have signed a “declaration” calling for society to be allowed to reopen, with efforts focused on protecting the most vulnerable.
The experts from the universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Edinburgh have joined others from Harvard, Stanford and other leading US institutions calling for a new strategy to respond to Covid.
Dr Sunetra Gupda, an epidemiologist from Oxford, is among thousands of scientists and medics who have signed the Great Barrington Declaration, which is named after the US town where it was drawn up.
The declaration argues against lockdown policies which they say are “producing devastating effects on short and long-term public health”. It follows warnings that 75,000 people in the UK could die from non-covid causes as a result of lockdown – almost twice the official death toll caused by the virus.
Today, scientists said too little attention was being paid to the impact of lockdown on short and long-term public health.
They said “irreparable damage” would be caused by policies that aim to suppress the virus until a vaccine becomes available, with excess deaths in years to come, as a result of worsening mental health, and reduced access to healthcare.
“As immunity builds in the population, the risk of infection to all – including the vulnerable – falls,” the scientists wrote, saying the goal should be to “minimise mortality and social harm until we reach herd immunity”.
They continue: “The most compassionate approach that balances the risks and benefits of reaching herd immunity, is to allow those who are at minimal risk of death to live their lives normally to build up immunity to the virus through natural infection, while better protecting those who are at highest risk. We call this Focused Protection.”
Scientists said the continuation of current policies until a vaccination is found would hit the young and most deprived hardest.
Lower childhood vaccination rates, worsening heart disease outcomes, fewer cancer screenings and deteriorating mental health would mean greater excess deaths in years to come, they warned. The statement says far more rigour must be taken in protecting the most vulnerable, with frequent testing of care staff, online grocery deliveries for the retired, and pensioners encouraged to meet family members outside where possible.
Meanwhile, those who are not vulnerable should immediately resume life as normal, the scientists say, with schools and universities having in-person teaching, and young, low-risk adults returning to their workplaces.
The declaration also calls for the resumption of arts, music, sport and other cultural activities.