National coronavirus restrictions are needed to prevent a “catastrophe” at the start of 2021, a member of the Government’s New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag) has warned.
Andrew Hayward, professor of infectious diseases epidemiology at University College London, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I think we are entering a very dangerous new phase of the pandemic and we’re going to need decisive, early, national action to prevent a catastrophe in January and February.
“A 50% increase in transmissibility means that the previous levels of restrictions that worked before won’t work now, and so Tier 4 restrictions are likely to be necessary or even higher than that.
“I think we’re really looking at a situation where we’re moving into near lockdown, but we’ve got to learn the lessons from the first lockdown.”
The dramatic rise of cases has prompted scientists to call for a new Tier 5, which would include the closure of secondary schools.
The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) is reported by Politico to be pushing for the new measures as they suggest a lockdown similar to the one in November would not be enough to put the brakes on the new strain of coronavirus.
The Sun reports that measures being considered are similar to the March lockdown, with the closure of secondary schools, pubs and non-essential shops.
Cabinet minister Michael Gove has refused to rule out tougher measures being introduced, including the whole of England going into Tier 4.
He told BBC Breakfast: “We review which tiers parts of the country should be in on the basis of scientific evidence.
“The Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC) will be making a recommendation to ministers, but I can’t pre-empt that because it obviously has to be a judgment based on the medical situation.
“As you quite rightly point out, the NHS is under pressure and these are difficult months ahead.”
