The Government’s Chief Scientist Sir Patrick Vallance has admitted to a committee of MP’s that there was “no hard evidence” that imposing curfews was effective in bringing down coronavirus cases.
Being questioned along with Chris Whitty by the Science and Technology Committee and Health and Social Care Committees as part of their joint inquiry into the coronavirus pandemic he was asked by Greg Clark MP why a 10pm curfew, which has now been changed, was introduced, Sir Patrick said alcohol was likely to increase risk of infections through interactions.
Sir Patrick was earlier asked if there is any specific modelling to show whether Covid-secure measures in pubs, bars and restaurants had made a difference to infection rates.
He replied: “It’s just not possible to model that with any degree of accuracy.”
Earlier in the questioning Whitty said that people may need to be re-vaccinated after nine months.
He said the current vaccine offered good protection “short and medium” term but long-term they may need a further vaccination.
“We don’t know how long that lasts, it might last for a very long time, it might last for nine months.I think it’s more likely to be somewhere in between those two, in which case we may have to be in a position to re-vaccinate people, especially the most vulnerable.”
While on the subject of lockdowns and whether they could be ended in light of the rollout, Professor Whitty insists any decision to lift restrictions would be a “political and societal one”.
He warns the country will not have sufficient protection from the virus for the next three months but is confident the vaccine will substantially decrease deaths and hospital admissions.
