This isn’t accurate. In January, what were our ventilator and testing capacities? When did @MattHancock first read the Exercise Cygnus report from 2016? How can he claim we were one of the best prepared? Compared to who? We knew of #COVID19 threat in January. Why decision delays?
And here are a few other questions which should be asked at the #COVID19 briefing this afternoon - and repeatedly until we get honest and satisfactory answers.....
Why did the Govt at the time of Exercise Cygnus choose not to publish the final report, or at least share it with key partners? How could highlighting the ventilator shortage in the NHS acute sector not be in the national interest? It would have given us time to prepare
Has the advice on the right approach been challenged? What alternatives were considered? Throughout February, public health & infectious disease experts repeatedly expressed concerns about the Government’s approach. Were their opinions heard? Why not - or why were they dismissed?
Why was the UK out of step with most of the world in its management of the #covid19pandemic until at least mid March? Why did our Government think it knew best? Did it have access to different data sets/clinical evidence? If so, from where?
The Taiwanese government instituted medical checks on all passengers arriving at its international airport from Wuhan on December 31st 2019. Why did the UK judge it unnecessary to do the same? Were the Taiwanese wrong?
Has our government contacted the Taiwanese - and other countries that have achieved better outcomes so far - to learn from their #COVID19 approaches? If not, why not? And if so, when? What did we learn? How have we acted on the findings?
Infectious diseases like #COVID19 spread by close contact. Why did the Govt believe large, crowded international events (e.g. Cheltenham, Anfield, Crufts) involving the close proximity of thousands were acceptable up until mid March whilst other countries had already banned them?
When did the Govt first discuss care homes in the context of adequate PPE coverage for #COVID19? Did the Government consider introducing dedicated facilities for the concentration of COVID19 cases in specially selected care homes? If not, why not?
