Boris Johnson's lockdown easing measures 'dangerous' and more epidemics inevitable, Independent Sage warns

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A group of independent scientists has branded Boris Johnson’s easing of the lockdown “dangerous” and warned that further local Covid-19 epidemics are inevitable.

Its report accuses the prime minister of not “following the science” as work and society are gradually opened up again, and criticises the limited aim of flattening infections to ensure that the NHS is not “overwhelmed”.

“We find this attitude counter-productive and potentially dangerous,” says the Independent Sage group, led by former chief scientific adviser Sir David King.

“Without suppression, we shall inevitably see a more rapid return of local epidemics and face the prospect of further partial or national lockdowns.”

The report also strongly criticises the controversial new “stay alert” and “control the virus” messages, saying they must be replaced with much clearer advice “closely linked to action”.

Containing 19 detailed recommendations, it will be sent to the prime minister; Patrick Vallance, the current scientific adviser; and the leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

It urges the government to allow local experts to run a “test, trace and isolate” policy to clamp down on infections, amid criticism of the centralised “command-and-control” approach.

Sir David said: “Since the start of the Covid-19 epidemic, the government has told us they are ‘following the science’.

“However, in the weeks and months that have followed, it has become increasingly apparent that this is simply not the case.”

The group was set up because of criticism that the official Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) was failing to fully reflect scientific opinion and was too secretive.

In addition to Sir David, it boasts Professor Gabriel Scally, a pre-eminent epidemiologist; public health expert Professor Allyson Pollock; and Professor Anthony Costello, a former director of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

On Sunday, the prime minister announced a return to work for more staff, allowed travel over further distances for now-unlimited exercise, and permitted people to meet one person from outside their households.

In its report, Independent Sage:

* Attacks the apparent decision to stop community testing for the coronavirus in March and “allow the epidemic to spread and build herd immunity”;

* Criticises the government’s use of “inaccurate, incomplete and selective data”, calling for the Office for Statistics Regulation to assess it;

* Calls for local public-health teams to be given the resources to track and trace every case – instead of being “bypassed” in favour of private firms;

* Warns that the existing modelling of the critical “R” reproduction rate is “3-4 weeks out of date”;

* Calls for people with Covid-19 symptoms to go into quarantine for 14 days – rather than just 7 – as the WHO has recommended;

* Warns it would be “foolish” to bank on a vaccine soon, with “recurrent local outbreaks” possible for at least a year.