Committee urges Government action to try to avert COVID-19 winter resurgence
24 July 2020
The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee has written to the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP, recommending that the Government undertake significant preparations over the next two months to reduce the likelihood of a winter COVID-19 resurgence.
- 23 July 2020 - Letter from Lord Patel to the Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP, Prime Minister, ref COVID-19 pandemic: preparing for winter
- Inquiry: The Science of COVID-19
- Science and Technology Committee
The letter
The Committee recommends that the Government should:
- reduce levels of infection in England as much as possible over the next two months, with a set target level;
- ensure sufficient testing capacity, including for regular testing of those in high-risk environments and high-exposure occupations;
- use a more localised approach, including local public health authorities, local healthcare services, and local testing capacity;
- provide greater transparency in the use of scientific advice, and greater clarity about who is responsible for implementing policies; and
- reinforce to the public the importance of driving down infection rates before winter, and have a public health campaign ready by October for use in the event that there is a significant resurgence of the virus over the winter months requiring further changes in behaviour.
Chair's comments
Chair of the Committee, Lord Patel, commented:
"The Committee has heard overwhelming evidence about the potential for a resurgence of the virus in the winter. I have therefore written to the Prime Minister with five specific recommendations for preparations that need to be made over the next two months. We urge the Government to act quickly in putting these recommendations into action."
Further information
Image: House of Lords / Roger Harris