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Reimposing blanket lockdown measures to slow the spread of Covid-19 is “increasingly unfeasible” as the risk of death varies greatly depending on age and medical conditions, a group of leading scientists have warned Boris Johnson. Urging the Prime Minister to “step back” and “fundamentally reconsider” the Government’s response to the pandemic, 32 scientists, medics and academics have signed a letter calling for more “targeted measures” to protect the “most vulnerable.” Authored by Professor Sunetra Gupta and Professor Carl Heneghan of Oxford University, and Professor Karol Sikora of Buckingham University, it adds that attempting to suppress the virus until a vaccine is found is “leading to significant harm across all age groups.” The scientists argue that the “mortality risk” of the disease is “highly age variant”, with 89 per cent of deaths occurring in the over 65 age group, and 95 per cent among those with pre-existing medical conditions. “This large variation in risk by age and health status suggests that the harm caused by uniform policies (that apply to all persons) will outweigh the benefits,” they add. Instead, they claim that the high proportion of deaths in care homes means they should be treated as a “priority” for intervention. Pointing to Germany, the scientists say that its “effective reduction in deaths” is based on a strategy of “limiting infections in those older than 70.” The signatories also claim that placing “all the weight” on reducing deaths fails to consider the “complex trade-offs” for wider healthcare, society and the economy. Separately, Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the powerful 1922 Committee of Tory backbench MPs, warned that ministers could face a rebellion if they try to introduce new measures without proper Parliamentary scrutiny. Accusing the Government of "ruling by decree", Sir Graham, who has tabled an amendment requiring ministers to put any new measures to a vote, argued that it was "entirely possible" to push through emergency laws quickly through Parliament in the normal way. "The British people are not used to being treated like children," he added.
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