Urgent changes needed to failing covid response

Dithering, cronyism and numerous strategic failures have left the country stuck in a cycle of lockdowns; Over 100,000 dead, top of the international table of death rates by size of the population and with one of the worst affected economies.

It is an immense challenge for every government, but Johnson’s strategy has so far failed to adequately protect the population and their livelihoods.

The rollout of the vaccine offers hope with first jabs already given to 7 million – only Israel and the UAE have vaccinated more (per 100,000 of population), but the government must urgently fix the other elements of its strategy: test and trace, economic support, local and national coordination if it is to finally grasp control of the virus.

Full story in The Lowdown, 25 January 2021