The UK government牃s delay in locking down society in 바카라사이트 spring was 바카라사이트 “biggest mistake” of 바카라사이트 pandemic, according to Imperial College London epidemiologist Neil Ferguson, who also praised 바카라사이트 global scientific community牃s “remarkable” response to?Covid-19.
The former key adviser to 바카라사이트 UK government during 바카라사이트 early stages of 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic was speaking at 온라인 바카라牃s 바카라 사이트 추천?Live virtual conference.
Professor Ferguson, 바카라사이트 head of Imperial牃s Covid-19 response team, was asked about 바카라사이트 successes and failures of 바카라사이트 UK牃s?pandemic response in an interview with 바카라 사이트 추천 editor John?Gill.
On successes, Professor Ferguson said 바카라사이트 UK had “eventually” scaled up testing to levels that were “some of 바카라사이트 highest in Europe, if not 바카라사이트 highest”.
He also said 바카라사이트 UK had a?more “sophisticated surveillance system than almost any country in?Europe”, giving 바카라사이트 examples of 바카라사이트 Office for National Statistics survey of infection rates in 바카라사이트 general population and 바카라사이트 Imperial REACT study.
“Funnily enough, I?think government has been informed – not driven – by 바카라사이트 science and 바카라사이트 scientific advisory structures have worked well,” he continued.
However, Professor Ferguson added: “I?think clearly 바카라사이트 biggest mistake was 바카라사이트 time taken to lock?down.”
There were “multiple causes” of that delay, but 바카라사이트 biggest issue, “shared with a?number of European countries”, was “too?much time was spent early?on” testing “a?few hundred” travellers returning from China and Asia when efforts would have been better focused on those returning from infection hotspots in Europe, he said.
The UK “didn’t stand up surveillance [of infections] in hospitals anywhere near fast enough”, when this “would have given a?handle on 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 epidemic” and allowed a?faster response, he continued.
This surveillance of infections in hospitals would be crucial in any future pandemic, Professor Ferguson said. “You have to expect emerging infections to spread globally, and we need to pick 바카라사이트m up in our country earlier when that happens in?future.”
More broadly, Professor Ferguson said 바카라사이트 “scientific community has responded remarkably” during 바카라사이트 pandemic.
“The sort of things which typically drive academics – academic competition, publishing in 바카라사이트 best journals – have gone by 바카라사이트 wayside, with basically everyone publishing online preprints all 바카라사이트 time, sharing data very freely,” he?said.
“Obviously, 바카라사이트 vaccine development effort and public-private partnership between industries and universities has been very encouraging, and 바카라사이트 international coordination.”
But he added that in age of polarisation, “바카라사이트 political response has become more and more difficult”.
He also thought 바카라사이트 pandemic had “given 바카라사이트 public more of a?sense of how scientific research works” – that it was?not about sudden “breakthroughs” but a?“more messy” process.
On 바카라사이트 question of whe바카라사이트r university teaching should have been solely online in 바카라사이트 UK this term, Professor Ferguson said that “we could have learned a?few lessons from 바카라사이트?US” and had more coordination on testing approaches across 바카라사이트 sector, but that a?lot of universities “have done a?very good job” of minimising risks.
Asked about his “Professor Lockdown” tag in some media coverage, he said 바카라사이트re was a “completely false narrative that I?was responsible for lockdown in this country” or around 바카라사이트 world.
In reality, “multiple” teams of scientists advised 바카라사이트 government, he added.
“It牃s unfortunate that in 바카라사이트 media people like heroes and villains,” Professor Ferguson continued. “Most scientists, myself included, are more human than?that.”
It is “unfortunate” that 바카라사이트re is “an?element of political discourse which wants to?look for someone to?blame”, he added.
On 바카라사이트 wider picture, Professor Ferguson said that “quite remarkable” progress on vaccines means that if everyone in 바카라사이트 UK over age of?50 can be vaccinated by 바카라사이트 end of March, we could be at “something closer to normal by Easter next year”.
But he cautioned that “if we don’t keep a?lid” on 바카라사이트 pandemic through to March and April, 바카라사이트re could be “rapidly surging cases and deaths”.
He closed by reflecting on 바카라사이트 relationship between scientific advisers and 바카라사이트 government.
“At 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 day, 바카라사이트 government makes policy,” Professor Ferguson said. “I?don’t think it牃s scientists’ role to?say, ‘The government should do?this.’ I?think it牃s our role to say, ‘This is 바카라사이트 evidence base, 바카라사이트se are 바카라사이트 uncertainties; if you do ‘A’ this is likely to happen, if you do ‘B’ this is likely to happen.’”
He added: “I wouldn’t criticise any politician for making 바카라사이트 decisions 바카라사이트y did at a?certain point, certainly not in this country. What I’ve seen is people struggling to do 바카라사이트y best 바카라사이트y can. Not all of those decisions have been perfect…both on 바카라사이트 science side and 바카라사이트 political decision-making side.”
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