News

Law

Asset Management

Investment Banking

Wealth

Hedge Funds

People

Newsletters

Events

Lists

News

Changes to lift lockdown sooner would leave England ‘flying blind’, says top scientist

Chris Whitty: 'At some point, we will get a surge in virus'

England’s chief medical officer, Chris Whitty has said that easing the UK’s lockdown rules to include indoor mixing for everyone on 17 May would create 'significant risks'
England’s chief medical officer, Chris Whitty has said that easing the UK’s lockdown rules to include indoor mixing for everyone on 17 May would create 'significant risks' Photo: Daniel Leal-Olivas/Getty Images

Higher take-up of the coronavirus vaccine and its better-than-expected results on transmission and efficacy against new variants have bolstered the government’s roadmap to ease lockdown, but scientists remain cautious and warn against any moves to lift the restrictions sooner.

As part of its investigation into the government’s handling of the pandemic, MPs on the Science and Technology Committee quizzed the UK’s top two scientific advisers on 9 March on whether lockdown phases could be sped up if the data showed promising results.

WSJ Logo