EXCLUSIVE: 'Lockdowns cause more harm than good', top scientist calls for more "compassionate" strategy
Last updated 16th Nov 2020
One of the UK’s top scientists today (Monday) delivers a stark warning to our political decision-makers – as businesses across Northern Ireland begin another period of lockdown
In an exclusive interview with Downtown Radio and Cool FM, Professor Sunetra Gupta says blanket restrictions such as circuit-breakers do more harm than good
“It (lockdown) is not a sustainable solution in any case and meantime while in doing that and in suppressing covid we are actually causing untold harm and actually more deaths than covid itself would cause, she said
Professor Gupta, a high-profile epidemiologist from Oxford University is one of three global experts behind a controversial alternative approach to tackling the pandemic
The strategy is called 'Focused Protection' and it advises more care for the elderly and the vulnerable while at the same time letting everyone else get on with their lives as normal.
Professor Gupta explained: "The idea is that people who are at risk protect themselves or are helped by the state to remain in infection-free settings while the rest of the population carries on as normal which means first of all that all the economic damage done is avoided and all of the untoward public health consequences of mitigation are avoided.
"At the same time these people so build up the naturally acquired immunity which will be a critical part of the protection we hope vulnerables will eventually have.”
Professor Gupta dismissed a suggestion from Downtown Radio & Cool FM that the plan could be regarded cruel or even dangerous.
Indeed, she said that it was a much gentler and more effective answer to lockdown.
“We are at a position where things aren’t working so what we need to do now – in fact what we needed to do from the outset is to think very carefully about how to process given the huge cost of lockdown circuit-breakers you name it,” she said.
“We are not suggesting it should be allowed to spread unfettered through the community and indeed the protection of the vlunerable may be complemented in some areas by also adopting measures to suppress infection in certain regions or scertain piockets
We just need a more carefully thought through strategy which is compassionate towards those who are affected by lockdown itself.”
Professor Gupta says that by focusing on protecting those most at risk, it is also saving more lives
“While infections are rising you are also building up a wall of protection for those who are vulnerable so it’s kind of a win-win.”
Meanwhile, businesses were initially supposed to have re-opened after the four-week circuit-breaker lockdown ended on Friday.
However, on Thursday, at the 11th hour, a deal was struck by the Executive to end the deadlock over exiting the current coronavirus circuit-breaker.
Hair and beauty salons and premises without an alcohol licence like cafes and coffee shops can reopen next Friday, with hours restricted to 8pm.
Driving lessons can resume by appointment only.
Restaurants, pubs and hotels can lift shutters on November 27.
Pubs and bars will be permitted to sell sealed off-sales from November 20.