We may need 3rd lockdown say scientists
SCIENTISTS have warned that there may need to be a further national lockdown to halt the spread of the new mutant strain.
Sage experts said current measures were not enough to fight the new variant and more action was needed.
Ministers, however, continued to insist yesterday that the tier system would work, despite record infection rates and intense pressure on the NHS.
Papers from a Sage (Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies) meeting on December 22 – before London and the South East were put into Tier Four – note that a third full lockdown may be needed.
‘Population level approaches to further reduce contact between people are likely to be necessary, such as extending Tier Four; changing the operation of schools/universiof ties; travel restrictions between regions and internationally; and/ or introducing a national lockdown,’ they said.
They had ‘high confidence’ in this, they said, adding: ‘There is a need to take further actions to reduce exposure to the virus in order to mitigate risks.’ The scientists also predicted correctly that the new variant would ‘spread rapidly’ outside London and the South East and that school reopening would have to be delayed.
Ominously, they warned that current restrictions would not be sufficient to prevent the spread of the new strain. ‘Previous levels of adherence to preventive measures are unlikely to sufficiently reduce transmission the new variant, especially in winter,’ they added.
They called for existing measures such as the two-metre rule to be re-examined and masks to be worn in more settings and called for a ‘step change in rigour of application’ to beat the strain. More than three quarters of the country are under the harshest Tier Four restrictions, where people are told to stay at home and all non- essential shops and hospitality are closed. Almost everyone else is in Tier Three – in which shops are open but pubs, bars and restaurants are closed and households can’t mix – bar the Isles of Scilly.
Fears are growing that the rest of the country will be put into the highest tier – tantamount to a national lockdown – as the virus continues to spread.
Rates of infection are continuing to rise in all regions, according to the latest weekly surveillance report from Public Health England. The number of people testing positive for the virus in England also reached a new record high, with a total of 232,169 in the week to December 23 – the highest weekly total since Test and Trace was launched in May. But, after announcing that school reopening would be delayed, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson told Sky News yesterday: ‘I’m confident that we won’t be moving into a national lockdown situation because the tiering structure is the right place to be.’
Meanwhile intensive care doctor Professor Hugh Montgomery yesterday warned people would have ‘blood on their hands’ if they do not wear masks and mixed unnecessarily.
He told BBC Radio Five Live listeners: ‘Anyone who’s listening to this who doesn’t wear their mask and behaves like this – they have blood on their hands, they are spreading this virus. Other people will spread it and people will die.’
‘Need to take further action’