The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) has great influence over the British government, but its activities have always been conducted behind a veil of mystery.
The British government has mentioned SAGE many times without ever saying what advice it gives, or even who the scientists are.
Critics assess that this delay makes the pandemic in the UK worse, but people still do not know why the government chose such a risky option.
A medical staff member stands behind an ambulance outside Lewisham hospital in London, England on April 20.
Why did SAGE on March 9 recommend loose social distancing measures, while France and Ireland at that time banned mass gatherings and ordered blockades, and a series of evidence appeared about the
Why at the end of February did a group of SAGE experts downplay the percentage of patients who would be hospitalized due to nCoV infection?
Why, after Imperial College London on March 16 published worrying research, warning that 500,000 people could die if Britain did not act tougher to prevent nCoV, Prime Minister Boris Johnson still took another week
`Is it true that the government is following science to fight Covid-19? I also don’t know, because I don’t know what advice they have been given. Scientists are also not free to tell the public about their ideas.
`Political decisions are often cited as following the best scientific advice. However, science is also just an endorsement of how we should make decisions. They are likely estimates
Some see Prime Minister Johnson and his aides’ frequent references to scientists as a warning sign.
In an attempt to alleviate curiosity about the identities of SAGE members, the British government turned its attention to Patrick Vallance, their chief scientific adviser, who is also the head of SAGE and frequently appears in public.
In a recent letter to parliament, Professor Vallance said the anonymity of SAGE members is intended to ensure the safety of scientists and prevent `lobbyists, as well as
One of the members of SAGE who has `stepped into the light` is infectious disease expert Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust medical foundation.
`The UK certainly risks becoming one of the hardest hit countries in Europe, if not the worst,` he added.
Another notable SAGE member is Neil Ferguson, an epidemiologist at Imperial College London.
Ferguson then showed symptoms of nCoV infection.
Professor Ferguson did not reveal his advice to the UK government or the opinions of SAGE.
`The UK has been struggling for the past few weeks to think about how to handle the pandemic in the long term. We don’t have a clear strategy, but we will still have to contain this virus until there is a vaccine. It is a difficult situation.
As of mid-March, Ferguson, Vallance and other scientists seemed to be leaning toward `herd immunity,` which means letting a significant proportion of the population catch the virus and build up immunity,
The March 9 report is one of the few public documents showing SAGE’s calculations.
The measures do not include bans on large gatherings, such as music or sporting events, in part because behavioral scientists doubt people’s ability to comply.
One of the other mysteries about SAGE is the composition of the group.
However, outside experts question whether SAGE has enough representation from fields such as public health and logistics, as shortages of masks, gloves and other protective gear are among the problems.
Many people still doubt the independence of scientists at SAGE.
Professor King, a former consultant to the British government, said that authorities have no reason to keep SAGE members and their meeting minutes secret.
“It is a mistake to think that a small group of experts can never make a mistake, or miss any information,” said Sarah Wollaston, former chair of the House of Commons Health and Social Care Select Committee.