Meanwhile more back of fag packet science.
Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser to NHS Test and Trace, initially told a Downing Street briefing this morning that advice from Sage showed “for every day that we release [measures] we will need two days of tighter restrictions”.
However, a spokesperson for Public Health England later clarified that Hopkins had misspoken, and that “for every one day of relaxation, five days of tighter restrictions would potentially be needed.”
The chief medical adviser stoked speculation that England may enter a third national lockdown after the festive season, adding: “Then, I think, once we have got past the Christmas period if there has been a release and some socialisation we will all have to be very responsible and reduce those contacts again.”
The legislation lifts lockdown measures on 2nd December and the default position is the Tier system.
You can see what's going on here.
It seems SAGE want more lockdown, more restrictions.
It seems Government largely want less, possibly with the exception of Hancock.
If SAGE don't seem to be getting what they want, they leak and brief against the Government to create a pressure.
As Muddy says, you then end up with a Tier system that seemed to be working, the WHO also endorse the policy, but it wasn't what SAGE wanted and they created a pressure to go full lockdown.
What is the motivation though? Seems like control to me.