Ten-point plan to avoid another national lockdownArchived Message
Posted by pete-g on September 19, 2020, 1:03 am
As usual, 'Independent SAGE' are among the few people talking sense about how to contain the pandemic:
MEASURES TO AVOID A NATIONAL LOCKDOWN AN EMERGENCY TEN POINT PLAN
We are in a crisis. Infections and hospital admissions are rapidly increasing. The testing system has broken down and it will be weeks before it is sorted. If nothing changes, there will come a point soon when the situation is so far out of control that the only possible response will be a second national lockdown and our lives will be completely disrupted once again. No one wants this to happen. We can avoid it if we take urgent action. We must take action immediately to regain control of the pandemic and drive down infections now. We must implement immediately a comprehensive plan including rebuilding our broken test and trace system. And we must all - government, employers and public alike – take responsibility for our own part in making this plan work. The Government has abdicated its responsibility to provide such a plan. Independent SAGE is therefore providing its own guidance.
IMMEDIATE MEASURES (to be reviewed, as appropriate, when testing is functional and infections are back under control) 1.Close indoor service in pubs and restaurants 2.Work or study at home if possible. If impossible, don’t return to the workplace/University/College until certified COVID safe and provide financial support to employees in the interim 3.Limit indoor social interaction to a bubble of three households 4.Fund schools to allow smaller socially distanced classes and provide digital resources for all students and teachers, should they have to study and work at home 5.Create an emergency fund to support all those needing to shield or self-isolate (including those unable to get tested and their contacts) 6.Re-establish the 2 metre distance rule
A STRATEGY FOR BUILDING A FUNCTIONAL TESTING SYSTEM 7.Rebuild the testing system based on tried and trusted local NHS, primary care and public health structures 8.Recruit local contact tracers who know their patch and therefore better able both to trace individual contacts and investigate clusters 9.Provide clear consistent messaging about testing and other protective measures that is culturally competent and accessible to all sections of the community 10.Establish a clear strategy and set out priorities for symptomatic and asymptomatic testing