The UK government’s science advisers have called for policy work on more stringent anti-Covid measures to begin immediately so that they can “be ready for rapid deployment if required.”
The Scientific Advisory Group For Emergencies (Sage) on Friday released minutes and accompanying papers from last week’s meeting, its first since mid-September. The scientists said that earlier intervention would “reduce the need for more stringent, disruptive and longer lasting measures to avoid an unacceptable level of hospitalisations,” while recognising that whether and when to introduce the so-called Plan B measures is a political decision.
Modelling work by four university teams suggested that Covid-19 hospital admissions are “increasingly unlikely” to exceed the level of the last peak in January, even without new restrictions, but the scientists said many uncertainties clouded their future scenarios, particularly around waning immunity and changing social interactions.
Sage also warned that “there should be no complacency around the risk posed by further viral evolution . . . Future waves featuring an evolution of Delta or the emergence of a new variant from a different lineage are both possible.”
The scientists noted that “cases and admissions are currently at much higher levels than in European comparators, which have retained additional measures and have greater vaccine coverage especially in children.”
Around one in 55 people in England is estimated to have been infected with coronavirus in the week ending October 16, according to the Office for National Statistics — the highest rate since January. The figure for the previous week was one in 60.
Telling people to work from home if possible will have the greatest impact among the potential Plan B measures, Sage said, though vaccination certificates and more wearing of face coverings would help too.
The advisers also noted that regular handwashing remains an important way to reduce transmission, particularly within households.
Credit: Source link
