‘Big decisions on virus have been shrouded in secrecy’
MAJOR decisions about coronavirus have been “shrouded with secrecy”, a top scientist has said, as he called for more transparency over policies concerning the pandemic.
Sir Paul Nurse, the director of the Francis Crick Institute, said the UK Government should “treat the public as adults” in its communications over Covid-19.
He told the BBC: “I think we need greater openness in the decisionmaking. It sometimes seems somewhat shrouded in secrecy.
“And not only that, but better communication of what’s happening.
“Treat the public as adults.”
Sir Paul added: “I’ll give one example. At the height of the infection I was at a select committee in April and a public health person I think it was, they may have been from the Department for Health and Social Care, was saying all the testing needed for the NHS was in place.
“Yet we showed at the Francis Crick, at that time, 45% of frontline healthcare were infected and they were not being tested because capacity was inadequate.
“Now, that isn’t a way to earn trust from the public.
“We need openness, transparency, scrutiny, and a leadership of people taking responsibility for the decision-making, and we need it now.”
But the Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “We have been sharing data extensively with local authorities and local public health teams in order to help inform the decisions that they are taking on dealing with outbreaks.
“More broadly there has been regular publication of documents relating to Sage’s discussions and minutes of meetings.
“Both the chief scientific adviser and the chief medical officer, and their deputies, have answered questions extensively in public on this, both before Parliament and in briefings with journalists.”
It comes as:
■ A major incident was declared in Greater Manchester over rising Covid-19 infections.
■ The World Health Organisation said there may never be a “silver bullet” in the fight against the pandemic.
■ Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s meal-deal scheme aimed at encouraging people to go out more has begun.
■ The makers of rapid coronavirus tests said their roll-out could have wider implications for safely reopening other sectors of society.
■ UK Government announced it had struck a deal to boost the UK’s vaccine manufacturing capabilities amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
■ Yesterday was the first working day since new guidance came into force which permits employers to ask their staff in England to return to the office if they have implemented coronavirus-control measures.
Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, urged residents to stay calm after public service chiefs decided to increase their readiness as they grapple with the escalating coronavirus transmission rates in the region.
“People should not be alarmed that a major incident has been declared,” Sir Richard said.
The new measures for the city forbid people from different households to meet each other inside their homes or in gardens, while also banning separate households from mixing in pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues.
The Daily Telegraph reported that Boris Johnson is expected to order doctors in England to offer tailored advice this autumn to anyone over 50 who is obese, overweight or in ill
health, warning them they are at increased risk from Covid and advising them to stay at home during the winter in the most serious cases. Using a grading system, those less at risk could be told to reduce social contact, shop during hours designated for those shielding, or avoid public transport, the paper said.
Westminster Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick, asked about whether an extended shielding scheme was in the works, told Times Radio: “This is just speculation.
“That’s not something that is being actively considered.”
In related news, two tests which can detect coronavirus and flu, and promise results in 90 minutes, are to be rolled out in hospitals, care homes and laboratories in England in a development that could ease the pressure on the NHS during the coming winter.
The swab and DNA tests will enable clinicians and NHS Test and Trace to differentiate between Covid-19, which requires sufferers to undergo specific self-isolation, and other seasonal illnesses, the Department of Health said.
Almost half a million new LamPore swab tests will be available from next week across adult care settings and laboratories.
Meanwhile the UK Government announced it had struck a deal to boost the UK’s vaccine manufacturing capabilities amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Under the 18-month agreement, global pharmaceutical and biotechnology company Wockhardt, in Wrexham, will carry out the “fill and finish” stage of the manufacturing process, involving dispensing the manufactured vaccine substance into vials ready for it to be distributed, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) said.