‘Don’t set separate rules’ for over-70s, says expert
A medical expert has warned against treating age groups differently when easing lockdown measures.
Sir Jeremy Farrar, a member of the Government’s scientific advisory group Sage, said he does not support giving different rules to over-70s, who are considered a clinically vulnerable group by the Government.
His statement comes after NHS England’s national medical director Professor Stephen Powis said on Friday that officials would be studying whether stricter measures would or would not have to continue to apply to the elderly when restrictions are relaxed.
Sir Jeremy, who is also director of the Wellcome Trust research charity, has warned this risked treating members of society differently to one another.
“I think isolating certain groups and saying you are different from the rest of society is a very difficult message to give,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
“I personally would not be in favour of that.” He said people in high-risk groups, which includes certain ages, should take “special precautions”.
He added: “But I would not be in favour of isolating certain age groups and saying ‘you’re special and you’re different and you need to act differently’.”
Sir Jeremy said he believed easing lockdown needed to be seen as a societal issue and suggested a ramping-up of testing.
“We need to protect the vulnerable, we need to have the clinical care and look after health care workers,” he said.
“We need to test, test, test and isolate those who are positive.”