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Reuters

Britain’s death toll from Covid-19 could have been halved if lockdown had been introduced a week earlier, a former member of the British government’s scientific advisory group said on Wednesday.
The country has an official death toll of more than 40,000 from confirmed Covid-19 cases, rising to over 50,000 when deaths from suspected cases are included.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson imposed the lockdown on March 23.
Epidemiologist Neil Ferguson told lawmakers that Britain had taken the right measures but too late.

“The epidemic was doubling every three to four days before lockdown interventions were introduced. So had we introduced lockdown measures a week earlier, we would have then reduced the final death toll by at least a half,” Ferguson said.
“So whilst I think the measures … were warranted … certainly had we introduced them earlier, we would have seen many fewer deaths.”
Ferguson, a professor at Imperial College in London, produced a model which influenced Britain’s response to the pandemic, but later stood down from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) after he was accused of breaking lockdown rules.
His comments echo those of another scientific adviser, John Edmunds, who said over the weekend that Britain should have gone into lockdown earlier.
UK coronavirus adviser quits after breaking lockdown rules
Johnson said it was too early to say what regrets he had or lessons he could learn over the handling of the pandemic.
“We made the decisions at the time on the guidance of Sage, including Professor Ferguson, that we thought were right for this country,” he told reporters.
Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty said the one issue he would choose to look at was how to speed up testing earlier.
“Many of the problems that we had came because we were unable to work out exactly where we were,” he said.

The government has begun to ease the lockdown, with the relaxing of movement restrictions and the return of some children to school, but says it will proceed cautiously. Britain is still seeing several thousand new confirmed coronavirus cases and hundreds of deaths a week. According to the global coronavirus count kept by Johns Hopkins University, the nation is second only to the United States in the number of Covid-19-related fatalities.
Non-essential stores and outdoor spaces such as zoos are being allowed to reopen in England starting on Monday. And starting this weekend, adults living alone and single parents can form “support bubbles” with one other household. Members of the same bubbles can meet, indoors or out, without remaining two metres (six feet) apart.
The change means some grandparents will be able to hug their grandchildren for the first time in months – and couples who live apart can legally be intimate.
However, the new rule applies only in England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can make their own policies.
Additional reporting by Associated Press


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Coronavirus pandemic

Britain could have halved coronavirus death toll if lockdown came a week earlier, scientist says

The coronavirus pandemic has prompted a public display of appreciation for National Health Service workers in Britain, as the government eases Covid-19 restrictions. Photo: AP

A video grab from footage broadcast by the UK Parliament's Parliamentary Recording Unit (PRU) shows Professor Neil Ferguson of Imperial College London appearing before the Science and Technology Commitee in the Houses of Parliament, central London on May 13, 2020. - British MPs will return to parliament on Tuesday as the virtual system introduced during coronavirus pandemic is ended, with controversial plans to quarantine people entering the country set to be presented. (Photo by Handout / various sources / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT " AFP PHOTO / PRU " - NO USE FOR ENTERTAINMENT, SATIRICAL, MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS

Children use hoops for social distancing at L'Ecole des Petits, an independent French bilingual school, as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) lockdown eases in Fulham, London, Britain, June 9, 2020. REUTERS/Kevin Coombs TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

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Feby Dela Peña withdrew the money that was supposed to feed her family of five for a month to pay for free meals. Photo: AP

In this Wednesday, June 3, 2020 photo, Gary Dela Pena of Laguna, Philippines, puts fried mackerel on a plate to help Feby Cachero Baguisa Dela Pena feed those who need it in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Dela Pena, a mother of three, is unemployed, but when she saw people lining up for free meals one night outside her building two weeks ago she decided to use whatever money her family had to help out the countless numbers of Filipinos and others who've lost jobs amid the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)

In this Wednesday, June 3, 2020 photo, Esperidion Jr. Artillaga Dela Pena, lower left, and Gary Dela Pena, lower right, both of Laguna, Philippines, wheel out free food for a line of people who need it in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Feby Cachero Baguisa Dela Pena, a mother of three, is unemployed, but when she saw people lining up for free meals one night outside her building two weeks ago she decided to use whatever money her family had to help out the countless numbers of Filipinos and others who've lost jobs amid the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)

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Epidemiologist Neil Ferguson tells lawmakers that right measures were taken, but too late
Britain further relaxing restrictions as number of fatalities tops 50,000, including deaths from suspected cases



Epidemiologist Neil Ferguson tells lawmakers that right measures were taken, but too late; Britain further relaxing restrictions, PM Boris Johnson says.


Britain could have halved coronavirus death toll if lockdown came a week earlier, scientist says

Epidemiologist Neil Ferguson tells lawmakers that right measures were taken, but too late Britain further relaxing restrictions as number of fatalities tops 50,000, including deaths from suspected cases

Epidemiologist Neil Ferguson tells lawmakers that right measures were taken, but too late

Britain further relaxing restrictions as number of fatalities tops 50,000, including deaths from suspected cases