Prof Chris Whitty ‘told off’ chief scientist Sir Patrick Vallance for pushing too hard for a lockdown in March, confidential emails reveal Sir Patrick Vallance defended his performance in private email to colleagues Scientific officer said he was ‘stronger than anyone’ calling for early lockdown Sir Patrick said he was ‘told off’ by chief medical … Read more
Boris Johnson’s Covid clampdown has divided his Cabinet, it emerged last night. He faces a fierce Tory backlash over the contentious ‘rule of six’ that bans gatherings of seven or more from Monday. A string of senior ministers opposed the measure at a crunch meeting, with Chancellor Rishi Sunak among those to speak out. A … Read more
1. GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi Pasteur: 60million doses The Government revealed on July 29 it had signed a deal with pharmaceutical giants GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Sanofi Pasteur If the vaccine proves successful, the UK could begin to vaccinate priority groups, such as frontline health and social care workers and those at increased risk from coronavirus, as early … Read more
Dominic Raab today tried to pour cold water on growing claims of a split between Boris Johnson and his top scientist Sir Patrick Vallance over whether the UK could face a second nationwide coronavirus lockdown. Mr Johnson said he ‘certainly’ does not want to impose draconian restrictions again as he likened the ‘tool’ of national … Read more
SAGE scientists told the Government a month ago it would not be possible to return to a ‘pre-Covid normality’ without a vaccine or a far better contact tracing system, it emerged today. In a report submitted to ministers on June 22, scientists advising Number 10 said social distancing will need to be in place until … Read more
So where were Sir Patrick Vallance and Chris Whitty? No10 scientific advisers are notably absent as Boris Johnson gives latest Covid address – hours after SAGE chief snubbed PM’s return-to-work plea The experts have become familiar faces at Number 10 podium during the crisis Instead, Mr Johnson was joined by NHS test and trace chief … Read more
Boris Johnson today announced he is aiming for life in the UK to return to something close to normal by Christmas as he said workers will be encouraged to stop working from home from August. The Prime Minister today used a Downing Street press conference to set out his timetable for the further easing of … Read more
Coronavirus outcome in the UK ‘has not been good’, Sir Patrick Vallance admits and advice on face masks hasn’t changed since April — despite government only NOW making them mandatory in shops England’s chief scientific adviser said it’s ‘absolutely clear’ UK fared badly By Sam Blanchard Senior Health Reporter For Mailonline Published: 15:41 BST, 16 … Read more
More than 120,000 Britons could die from Covid-19 in hospital this winter, ministers have been warned. Leading academics were asked to predict a ‘reasonable worst-case scenario’ of how a second wave of coronavirus could hit Britain by Number 10’s chief scientist Sir Patrick Vallance. The group — from the Academy of Medical Sciences — found … Read more
A second wave of coronavirus this winter could result in 120,000 hospital deaths, scientists warn. Action must be taken now to mitigate the ‘reasonable worst case scenario’ which would see the NHS overwhelmed, the Academy of Medical Sciences says. The grim forecast – which does not include care home deaths – was commissioned by the … Read more