Ex-WHO expert Anthony Costello claimed there are 38,000 coronavirus infections per day as chaos mounts over the lack of testing – but the PM insisted a second national lockdown would be ‘disastrous’
The Government has hit back at speculation that Chris Whitty wants a second national lockdown as coronavirus cases see a sharp rise.
A former director at the World Health Organisation earlier said the Chief Medical Officer for England was pushing for a new two week national lockdown – but later rowed back on the claims.
Ex-WHO expert Anthony Costello tweeted: “I’m hearing from a well-connected person that government now thinks, in absence of testing, there are 38,000 infections per day.
“Chris Whitty is advising PM for a two week national lockdown.”
But he has since tweeted: “I’ve been told by another insider I respect that Chris Whitty does not support a 2 week lockdown, so I’m pleased to correct the record.”
Costello sits on the Independent SAGE panel, which is not an official government group. It has regularly been critical, urging the government and its Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) to go further with a harder lockdown.
While Prof Whitty has not responded to the claims Health Minister Edward Argar insisted: “It is not something I have heard from Chris or that I have seen in my capacity from Chris.”
Mr Argar also played down the reports the Government is considering a two-week national lockdown – something Boris Johnson has repeatedly said he doesn’t want.
The debate comes amid concerns about the rising number of coronavirus cases and chaos over the lack of testing.
But the PM said yesterday a second coronavirus lockdown would be “disastrous” for the the UK economy.
Instead the government is sticking to its plan for restrictions in local areas, despite more than 25 areas having them in place by the end of this week.
The Government has hit back at speculation that Chris Whitty wants a second national lockdown as coronavirus cases see a sharp rise.
A former director at the World Health Organisation earlier said the Chief Medical Officer for England was pushing for a new two week national lockdown – but later rowed back on the claims.
Ex-WHO expert Anthony Costello tweeted: “I’m hearing from a well-connected person that government now thinks, in absence of testing, there are 38,000 infections per day.
“Chris Whitty is advising PM for a two week national lockdown.”
But he has since tweeted: “I’ve been told by another insider I respect that Chris Whitty does not support a 2 week lockdown, so I’m pleased to correct the record.”
Costello sits on the Independent SAGE panel, which is not an official government group. It has regularly been critical, urging the government and its Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) to go further with a harder lockdown.
While Prof Whitty has not responded to the claims Health Minister Edward Argar insisted: “It is not something I have heard from Chris or that I have seen in my capacity from Chris.”
Mr Argar also played down the reports the Government is considering a two-week national lockdown – something Boris Johnson has repeatedly said he doesn’t want.
The debate comes amid concerns about the rising number of coronavirus cases and chaos over the lack of testing.
But the PM said yesterday a second coronavirus lockdown would be “disastrous” for the the UK economy.
In England, they will include Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Gateshead, Bolton, Trafford, Bury, Tameside, Rochdale, Salford, Preston, Leicester, Sandwell, Solihull, Oldham, Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, County Durham, Sunderland, and parts of Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Pendle and Blackburn.
Asked whether the country could afford a second full lockdown under questioning from MPs at the Commons Liaison Committee, the PM said: “I don’t want a second national lockdown – I think it would be completely wrong for this country and we are going to do everything in our power to prevent it.”
He added: “And can we afford it? I very much doubt that the financial consequences would be anything but disastrous, but we have to make sure that we defeat the disease by the means that we have set out.
