Read on Twitter
1 - The fact that the govt ignored SAGE's advice on #circuitbreaker lockdown doesn't come as a big surprise as SAGE has been increasingly sidelined since the setting up of the #JointBiosecurityCentre in July
The JBC is part of the "NHS" Test and Trace Service run by @didoharding https://twitter.com/StefSimanowitz/status/1310703032846475265
The JBC is part of the "NHS" Test and Trace Service run by @didoharding https://twitter.com/StefSimanowitz/status/1310703032846475265
2 - The #JointBiosecurityCentre runs the govt's #COVID19 response
Set up in May, it was originally headed by Tom Hurd (MI6)
He was replaced by Clare Gardiner (GCHQ)
This suggests it sits within UK intelligence structures
Over the last 6 months, the JBC has released no minutes
Set up in May, it was originally headed by Tom Hurd (MI6)
He was replaced by Clare Gardiner (GCHQ)
This suggests it sits within UK intelligence structures
Over the last 6 months, the JBC has released no minutes
3 - Whilst little is known about the staffing & membership of this body, sources suggest that there is no "centre"
Instead, they say, the #JBC is scattered across offices in Whitehall & beyond, including intelligence agencies & research institutes
See: https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/joint-biosecurity-centre#about-the-jbc
Instead, they say, the #JBC is scattered across offices in Whitehall & beyond, including intelligence agencies & research institutes
See: https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/joint-biosecurity-centre#about-the-jbc
4 - Whilst the importance of the work of the #JBC, bringing together data analysis & epidemiological expertise to ensure #COVID19 outbreaks are detected & brought under control is not in doubt, there concerns remain.
"It is in the shadows," says ex- @WHO director @GabrielScally.
"It is in the shadows," says ex- @WHO director @GabrielScally.
5 - The central role of intelligence service's in the #JBC raises concerns over whether a counterterrorism model for #COVID19 could be an over-engineered distraction
Military contractor, #Palantir's role in running the UKs NHS data store, is also worrying https://twitter.com/StefSimanowitz/status/1310607600422133771
Military contractor, #Palantir's role in running the UKs NHS data store, is also worrying https://twitter.com/StefSimanowitz/status/1310607600422133771
6 - A big question is the extent to which the setting-up of the #JointBiosecurityCentre increased political supervision of "the science"
What level of political control/scientific autonomy is there?
Will the #JBC be used as a counterweight to SAGE?
Are SAGE the next fall guy?
What level of political control/scientific autonomy is there?
Will the #JBC be used as a counterweight to SAGE?
Are SAGE the next fall guy?
7 - Normally the govt wait months to publish SAGE minutes & then they upload them on http://gov.uk late on a Friday/Sat night
So why were the explosive 21st Sept SAGE minutes published just after the PM's #covidbriefing?
Did the govt have any control of this decision?
So why were the explosive 21st Sept SAGE minutes published just after the PM's #covidbriefing?
Did the govt have any control of this decision?
8 - If it WAS No.10's decision to release the minutes on Monday evening, might that suggest the govt wanted to publicly clash with SAGE?
But why?
Perhaps a split SAGE is seen as necessary if the govt are planning to go down an openly #HerdImmunity route. https://twitter.com/StefSimanowitz/status/1315946892434472960
But why?
Perhaps a split SAGE is seen as necessary if the govt are planning to go down an openly #HerdImmunity route. https://twitter.com/StefSimanowitz/status/1315946892434472960
9 - #HerdImmunity has always been the govt's strategy
They tried to float the idea in early March with the PM's #TakeItOnTheChin comments, confirmed on 12 March by @peston's "senior No.10 source"
But "the public weren't ready" for it then, so they waited https://twitter.com/StefSimanowitz/status/1283928853052825600
They tried to float the idea in early March with the PM's #TakeItOnTheChin comments, confirmed on 12 March by @peston's "senior No.10 source"
But "the public weren't ready" for it then, so they waited https://twitter.com/StefSimanowitz/status/1283928853052825600
10 - The public are still a long way from accepting #HerdImmunity, but perhaps this "battle" with SAGE & @Keir_Starmer might be the start of the next stage of a bigger plan
Vallance, Whitty Harries etc are probably members of the #JBC so the "faces of science" will stay the same
Vallance, Whitty Harries etc are probably members of the #JBC so the "faces of science" will stay the same
11 - Meanwhile in the US, the White House just embraced a declaration by a group of scientists arguing that authorities should allow the #coronavirus to spread among young healthy people while protecting the elderly & vulnerable
Is this pure coincidence? https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/10/13/world/coronavirus-covid
Is this pure coincidence? https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/10/13/world/coronavirus-covid
