Covid decisions ‘shrouded in secrecy’, says top scientist

[dufus]

 

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 (above), director of the Francis Crick Institute, said the government should ‘treat the public as adults’ in its communications over Covid-19.

 

He told the BBC’s Today programme: ‘I think we need greater openness in the decision-making. 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 per cent 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 prime minister Boris Johnson’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 Organization 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.

■ It is the first working day since guidance came into force permitting employers to ask staff to return to offices 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 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 forbid people from different households from meeting each other inside their homes or in gardens, while also banning separate households from mixing in pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues.

 

It comes as Mr Sunak heralded the start of the Treasury’s Eat Out To Help Out scheme, an offer of half-price meals during August to entice people out of their stay-at-home lockdown habits and into restaurants and pubs again.

 

The incentive will reduce bills by 50 per cent for all eat-in meals ordered between Monday and Wednesday this month at 72,000 participating sites, including McDonald’s, Nando’s and Prezzo.

 

The discount per person will be capped at £10 and does not apply to alcohol.

 

According to reports, however, regular outings being espoused by the Treasury and Downing Street could be curtailed in a matter of months under ‘nuclear deterrent’ plans to avoid a second national lockdown.

 

The Daily Telegraph says Boris Johnson is expected to order doctors 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

 

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.’

source

[Mutton]

People here are used to being blatantly lied to and treated like mushrooms now. They expect it and seem mostly unconcerned. It's weird.

[dufus]

Preparing for a challenging winter 2020/21 14 July 2020

 

that,s how they like it ..