1/ Independent SAGE demands #ZeroCOVID strategy for #UK after the government announced that infection rates would not decrease until a vaccine became available. Via @noawitheringly

https://www.independentsage.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/A-Better-Way-To-Go-FINAL-proof-copy-1.pdf
#containment #CoronaVirusDE #BildungAberSicher #NotMyKid #Europe #Germany

2/ "The prospect of many thousands of further deaths from COVID-19 [...] is unacceptable", in addition to the large number of survivors left with long-term sequelae. The scientists call for an integrated plan to achieve "Zero COVID Britain and Ireland" as prime objective.

3/As the Republic of #Ireland, #Scotland and N-Ireland already had very small numbers of new cases, the virus was under control there. Hence, they were in a good position to achieve elimination. #England and #Wales instead, would need to make the necessary efforts to achieve this

4/ "Achieving elimination would allow all social distancing measures to be lifted, schools to be fully open, the hospitality and entertainment industries to reopen fully,
revitalisation of the economy and a sense of much needed normality for the population."

#schoolsreopening

5/ I-SAGE's plan:
1. Control of the virus: reduction of cases to a 7-day incidence of 1 per 1 million people
2. Elimination: reduction to zero new community infections, eff. dealing w. imported cases
3. Eradication: permanent reduction to "zero worldwide incidence of infection"

6/ "It is clear that the government has
consistently failed to heed broad-based scientific advice", such as large scale testing with test results available within 24 hours, a strong test-trace-isolate program, as well as public health messaging campaigns to enhance awareness.

7/ "Similarly, the government does not appear
to have learned from the experiences of other countries that have been successful in achieving elimination or near elimination of the infection."

#Germany #Welle

8/The scientists demand:"If the UK government is not prepared to accept this advice, based as it is on the best
scientific understanding of the pandemic, it must (as a matter of urgency) outline its strategic plan [...] and the analysis and advice upon which such a plan is based"

9/ The Independent SAGE committee is a body of 12 scientists chaired by Sir David King, former head of the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) who had opposed the official committee's approach and lack of transparency. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/04/rival-sage-group-covid-19-policy-clarified-david-king