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1) On 19 March, with the UK still not locked down, I noted that the role of #DavidHalpern & his Nudge Unit is key to
the ever-growing #HerdImmunityScandal
It was widely assumed the Unit had come up with the idea of #LockdownFatigue / #BehaviouralFatigue https://twitter.com/StefSimanowitz/status/1240591367488897024
the ever-growing #HerdImmunityScandal
It was widely assumed the Unit had come up with the idea of #LockdownFatigue / #BehaviouralFatigue https://twitter.com/StefSimanowitz/status/1240591367488897024
2) Ignoring the horrific evidence from Italy & advice of @WHO & their own behavioural scientist group (SPI-B), the govt - supported by Vallance & Whitty - pushed out this absurd idea that if we locked down in early/mid March, people would get bored.
The media didn't question it.
The media didn't question it.
3) On 14 March, 700 behavioural scientists published an open letter calling out #LockdownFatigue as cod science
It would later emerge that earlier in March, Spi-B & SAGE had said there was limited evidence for the idea of #BehaviouralFatigue
Clearly the govt ignored the science
It would later emerge that earlier in March, Spi-B & SAGE had said there was limited evidence for the idea of #BehaviouralFatigue
Clearly the govt ignored the science
4) It later emerged that, on 21 Feb, NERTAG had warned govt that, without action, there could be 1.3m deaths
4 days later, modelling showed NHS beds would be overwhelmed
Yet on 23 March, Faculty were still proposing to assess the impact of #herdimmunity https://twitter.com/StefSimanowitz/status/1271526217548693511
4 days later, modelling showed NHS beds would be overwhelmed
Yet on 23 March, Faculty were still proposing to assess the impact of #herdimmunity https://twitter.com/StefSimanowitz/status/1271526217548693511
5) When questioned on 9 June whether the idea of #LockdownFatigue had come from him & the Nudge Unit, #DavidHalpern couldn't remember with confidence.
“It did not, in my memory, come from SPI-B or us", he says, his eyes darting.
Memory loss is becoming a recurring theme.
“It did not, in my memory, come from SPI-B or us", he says, his eyes darting.
Memory loss is becoming a recurring theme.
6) The investigation into who was responsible for the idea of #LockdownFatigue had hit a dead end
As with all the multiple #COVID19 scandals, no one recalls who made the final decision no proper minutes were kept
But this week, @newsnight aired this previously broadcast clip!
As with all the multiple #COVID19 scandals, no one recalls who made the final decision no proper minutes were kept
But this week, @newsnight aired this previously broadcast clip!
7) This "cry wolf" footage - part of @BBCMarkEaston's interview with #DavidHalpern on 10 March - seems to be the first tentative public outing of the fatigue concept.
It was broadcast as part of a #Newsnight examination of at why the lockdown was so late. https://twitter.com/BBCNewsnight/status/1289576622970925062
It was broadcast as part of a #Newsnight examination of at why the lockdown was so late. https://twitter.com/BBCNewsnight/status/1289576622970925062
8) If we're unable to find out who was behind #LockdownFatigue now, we stand little hope of jogging memories at a Inquiry in 2022
The key take away is that this was not some tragic mistake or fateful miscalculation
The govt had models & science advice.
They chose to ignore it.
The key take away is that this was not some tragic mistake or fateful miscalculation
The govt had models & science advice.
They chose to ignore it.
9) The other key take away is to recognise that the #LockdownFatigueScandal - like the #TestingScandal, #CareHomeScandal, #AppScandal etc. - are all part of an overarching scandal: the #HerdImmunityScandal
To find out more see THREAD & follow @Under_Covid https://twitter.com/StefSimanowitz/status/1289978728601120773
To find out more see THREAD & follow @Under_Covid https://twitter.com/StefSimanowitz/status/1289978728601120773
