Editorial Comment:
After the depressing reversals of the past week, the Government has to point Britain back in the right direction. The costs of a second national lockdown would be unimaginable. In an interview with this newspaper, Dr Maria Van Kerkhove of the World Health Organisation says that the global lockdowns had “massive” economic and social consequences, and she hopes they will not be necessary again. Here in the UK we were making excellent progress, until case numbers rose and the Government hit the brakes.
Today, however, we can report two signs of hope. First, Number 10 has given officials the green light to draw up plans that could be used to avoid a second lockdown. Put simply, when spikes occur, rather than locking down the entire country, action will be focused on specific areas – such as London – or on protecting the elderly, in a programme of “enhanced shielding”. Implementation must be sophisticated: The
Telegraph has long argued against lumping entire age groups together because many citizens aged 70-plus are perfectly healthy and, in fact, essential to the functioning of society. But it is good to see the Government leaning towards the argument that until we achieve a vaccine, Covid-19 probably cannot be eliminated and therefore we have to learn to live with it. That means keeping as much of daily life going as possible while shielding those most at risk.
And if we are to put Britain back on track we also need radical new economic thinking, which is why the Government’s second announcement is also very welcome. In these pages, Robert Jenrick, the Housing Secretary, promises a “once in a generation” reform to planning that designates lands for “growth, renewal or protection”. Growth areas will “empower” the building of homes, hospitals and schools; “renewal” areas will operate a “permission in principle” policy to encourage speed.
This sort of programme should happen anyway – and must be accompanied by tax and regulation reform – but coronavirus now eliminates all excuses. The time has come to set a course for life after Covid-19, rendering the sacrifices made in the present a little more bearable.