Independent SAGE will meet again today at 11.30am GMT.
Watch here:
Youtube:
#IndependentSAGE @Sir_David_King
Watch here:
Youtube:
#IndependentSAGE @Sir_David_King
Allyson Pollock is presenting this weeks numbers, in slides prepared by Christine Pagel.
The number of cases: the criteria for testing has changed so the definition of a case is an issue. 
Hot spots in the SE, the Midlands and the North
Why the variations? Is it differences in testing policies? False positives are due to changing in testing policies where repeat mass testing is taking place. There are many explanations. Hospital admissions are still going down.
Professor Scally: Zero Covid is still the indie sage policy - get the numbers as low as possible.
Northern Ireland and Scotland have very low numbers. Our definition of the virus being under control is 1 case per million.
Taiwan has eliminated the virus. They've had 100 days with no domestic cases. the same in New Zealand. But new cases are arises from people coming into the country.
We believe that zero is attainable and should be adopted by the UK government.
The latest lockdown was announced at 9.30pm at night, the night before Eid.
This is the least preparation that people have had. Sudden announcements are very damaging to trust in the leadership.
When so many people in these communities were about to celebrate Eid, the inconsistency and insensitivity are part of a pattern of not having joined-up messaging.
We don't yet know when we're allowed to go out in Leicester. there is still a great deal of confusion.
The lack of strategy is a greater problem than the communication. Quickly reimposing restrictions is bad for public health, bad for trust in the government and bad for the economy.
We have just under a month to get to zero Covid before schools open
Children are low risk and it's disgraceful that they're been deprived of education for six months.
We recommended outdoor schools and summer schools. We need better community data and effective test and trace. the government is not playing its part to make sure the public health systems are effective.
Children under five seem to spread the virus for much longer. Schools need hygiene and distancing measures in place.
Our measures are not tied together to form an effective strategy. Massive inequalities are still a huge problem.
Everything should be oriented towards the question Sof how can we get our children back to school and re-establish sone equality in education.
We have a series of ad hoc measures of dither and drift and confusion.
We need a strategy that integrates all the measures.
I would expect that the lockdown in the North is based on local data but they should explain background to it. This is no way to handle a pandemic. We need an explanation of why, where the information came from, why it was announced at the time of night and why by social media.
The universities are working closely with unions and public health departments - certainly in my university, this is being taken incredibly seriously. One of the great losses is the universities don't have their own health clinics any more.
Universities are like any workplace - it has to be a matter for the employer and their staff, trade unions and their representatives. I'd be interested to know the HR response when employees say no to going back.
There are huge inconsistencies between different universities. The background risk must be as low as possible and local spikes must be monitored.
The influx of students from many countries must be managed very carefully as we go into September.
Staff must have a workplace safe coded charter. Some employers are very good but certain consistent standards must be maintained. Vulnerable people should be able to work from home and there should be clear guidance from the government with certification of safe places.
What organisations is the joint biosecurity centre joint between? It seems to be a shadowy organisation and we have no idea how it operates.
I can see absolutely no reason why the government shouldn't be as transparent as it possibly can in its response to this pandemic. We should have a response of collective solidarity.
Parliament should be scrutinising the joint biosecurity centre. there should be primary legislation.
