National lockdown delay could prove costly - Pat McFadden
Delaying the national lockdown from when scientific advisors initially suggested until now could prove "more costly", an MP has said.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced new national lockdown restrictions for England, which will see everywhere except essential shops and education settings closed for a month.
The Office for National Statistics estimated that 568,100 people in households were infected with coronavirus in the week ending October 23, and government scientific advisers believe it is now too late for a two-week national circuit-breaker to have enough of an effect.
At its September 21 meeting, the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) suggested immediately introducing a national lockdown lasting between two and three weeks to halt the rapid spread of the virus – dubbed a “circuit break” lockdown.
But the Prime Minister appeared to reject the idea when he laid out a tiered system of restrictions.
