SAGE

Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) advised Britain to implement a “circuit breaker” to curb the infection rate of coronavirus in the region. U.K. currently has 635,000 coronavirus cases, which started to pick up rapidly in October, while the death toll from the virus rose to 43,000. Yesterday, the region reported 17,232 new coronavirus cases in which 14,310 cases were in England. Minutes from a 21 September meeting of the SAGE was published on the government website which indicated that a short period of lockdown or a “circuit breaker” was the priority of a list of measures to be considered for "immediate introduction." The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) provides scientific and technical advice to support U.K. government decision makers during emergencies. Keir Starmer, the leader of the opposition Labour party, accused Prime Minister Boris Johnson of ignoring SAGE’s advice weeks ago and pressured the PM to act now as the region is at a decisive moment in the fight against coronavirus, citing that SAGE believed a short period of national lockdown restriction would bring the R-rate down and re-set the incidence of disease to a lower level. The circuit breaker would mean only essential work and travel to continue, while everyone who can work from home should do so. All pubs, bars and restaurants would be closed for two to three weeks.