• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Meet the Team
  • Contact us
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Britain was not properly prepared for a pandemic, deputy CMO admits

“We were not fully prepared for this pandemic and, as I’ve said, I’m very happy to accept there is an awful lot to learn," Dr Jenny Harries said.

Henry Goodwin by Henry Goodwin
2021-04-01 10:02
in News
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

Britain was not adequately prepared for a pandemic of this type, England’s deputy chief medical officer has admitted.

Dr Jenny Harries said more testing would have been carried out if tests were available earlier on, and knowledge about asymptomatic transmission could have resulted in a prompt recommendation to wear masks.

Speaking at the launch of the new UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), of which she is chief executive, Dr Harries told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We were not fully prepared for this pandemic and, as I’ve said, I’m very happy to accept there is an awful lot to learn.

“I think we share some of those failings with many other countries.”

Asked if the initial response to the pandemic was poor, she said: “I think it had merits and it had things that we would wish to improve.”

She said that while asymptomatic transmission had been “considered carefully”, the proportion of cases – now thought to be 30 per cent – was not recognised.

“So obviously the response that we put in place and some of the interventions were not accounting for that high degree of numbers of asymptomatic cases, so I think there’s learning as we’ve gone through.”

RelatedPosts

Mogg will be pleased! Government staff work in corridors over desks shortage

Good Friday agreement: People moved by Liam Neeson’s cameo in final episode of Derry Girls

Anger as Govt brands Disability News Service ‘vexatious’ for trying to acquire info on DWP deaths

BBC says govt took broadcaster to court to block story of MI5 agent using secret status to terrorise girlfriend

Asked about face coverings indoors, which were not initially recommended, she said: “We’ve learned more, as I’ve said, about asymptomatic transmission, and I think we would recommend face coverings earlier.”

Dr Harries said the issue around testing was that more tests were needed early on.

Public Health England (PHE) has been heavily criticised over a decision to stop community testing and contact tracing last March after it became clear the virus was spreading at a fast pace.

Dr Harries said: “We were using the 2,000 tests a day that we had – maximum – to save lives in the best way we could.”

There are now “hundreds of thousands of tests available,” she added. “So, yes, it would have been good to have had more tests and, yes, we would have used them, but we’ve now processed, I think, nearly 90 million tests, so clearly (a) lesson has (been) learned and, I think, (there are) lots of opportunities going forward.”

Dr Harries said the aim of UKHSA is to bring expertise under one roof to fight future threats, including pandemics.

Asked what the mission is, she said: “I think the mission is that I wake up every morning and worry about protecting the country, and that clearly is the most valuable mission in public health terms.

“We have learned an awful lot from the pandemic and the value, I think, in the new UK Health Security Agency is in continuing that work, so it’s about putting all of the expertise in the country under one roof.”

Asked if this means moving faster in future, she said: “I think one of the things which is evident, not just for the UK of course but for many other countries, is the sheer scale of the problem that the pandemic has caused.

“And whereas I would recognise the work of Public Health England colleagues, for example, over many years, managing 10,000 outbreaks a year – not of the scale that we’ve seen with this particular pandemic.

“So we need something which is proportionate to the problems we have and scalable very rapidly.”

Related: Fury after race report accused of ‘putting a positive spin on slavery’

Since you are here

Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.

Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.

Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.

If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.

To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.

The TLE shop is also now open, with all profits going to supporting our work.

The shop can be found here.

You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending on TLE

  • All
  • trending
Abdollah

‘Rescue us’: Afghan teacher begs UK to help him escape Taliban

CHOMSKY: “If Corbyn had been elected, Britain would be pursuing a much more sane course”

What If We Got Rid Of Prisons?

More from TLE

How To Make: Coronation Chicken

Gap between rich and poor began 7,000 years ago, say scientists

Policing is about to go through one of the most testing periods in its history

Nigel Farage blames ‘vindictive cancel culture’ after rugby club dinner gets binned

How To Make The Perfect… Rice Pudding Breakfast Bowl

Interview – Pumajaw

Captain Tom Moore, 99, has raised £12 million in NHS fundraising bid

Reading attack: Forbury Gardens image goes viral as residents show unity

The Lowdown on British Film Making Duo ‘Jones’ creators of ‘Everyone’s Going To Die’

Corbyn’s PMQs leaked, claims his top adviser

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.