Revealed: The 'major flaw' of doomsday Covid modelling which spooked ministers into lockdowns
Daily MailDoomsday Covid modelling which spooked ministers into lockdown had a 'major flaw', analysis suggests. Professor Neil Ferguson's modelling in March 2020 for then Prime Minister Boris Johnson suggested 510,000 people in the UK would die due to Covid without drastic action The epidemiologist drew heavy flak for his team's modelling on the Covid pandemic. Their work suggested 500,000 Brits would die if nothing was done to stop the spread of the virus and there would be 250,000 deaths if two-thirds caught Covid This suggests models used during the pandemic, such as the infamous one wielded by Professor Neil Ferguson, were too inaccurate to be relied upon, Dr Johnson said. The scientific paper published by Professor Neil Ferguson and his colleagues on the Imperial College COVID-19 Response Team was credited for persuading Boris Johnson's Government to ramp up their response to the coronavirus. Professor Ferguson's terrifying March 2020 models warned that 500,000 Brits would die unless tougher action was taken to curb the virus's spread.
History of this topic
Government’s ‘fatal strategic flaws’ in Covid planning led to avoidable deaths and economic pain
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Boris Johnson’s massive maths mistake over Covid deaths is an embarrassment
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Scientists warned 820,000 could die in UK from coronavirus, Matt Hancock reveals
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‘Disaster’: PM Johnson’s former adviser blasts UK’s COVID plan
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Another 100,000 Britons could die if lockdown lifted too soon, Neil Ferguson warns Boris Johnson
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Architect of UK’s coronavirus lockdown Neil Ferguson says he has never met Boris Johnson
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UK scientist who warned over virus quits for lockdown breach
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