Written Evidence Submitted by Ralph Baker

(CLL0024)

THE GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC MAY BE WRONG

With reference to the reaction of the UK government to the Covid-19 pandemic, I would like to draw attention to the recent publication of a meta-analysis of the fatality of this virus. In the WHO’s recent publication of its Bulletin there is a scientific study by John P A Ioannidis titled, ‘Infection fatality rate of COVID-19’. On page I of this study there is the abstract. In the ‘Results’ section of the Abstract, last sentence, it says that the infection fatality rate of people under 70 is 0.05%. That is, the study estimates that 5 people out of 10,000 will die of Covid-19.

Therefore, could the present government be overreacting to the threat from this virus? Could the government be destroying the economy and therefore society because of an insignificant threat?

(November 2020)