The Downgrade
Did the UK government’s Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens downgrade Covid‑19 from a dangerous disease to a common, flu-like diease?
As of 19 March 2020, COVID‑19 is no longer considered to be a high consequence infectious disease (HCID) in the UK.
The 4 nations public health HCID group made an interim recommendation in January 2020 to classify COVID‑19 as an HCID. This was based on consideration of the UK HCID criteria about the virus and the disease with information available during the early stages of the outbreak. Now that more is known about COVID‑19, the public health bodies in the UK have reviewed the most up to date information about COVID‑19 against the UK HCID criteria. They have determined that several features have now changed; in particular, more information is available about mortality rates (low overall), and there is now greater clinical awareness and a specific and sensitive laboratory test, the availability of which continues to increase.
The Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP) is also of the opinion that COVID‑19 should no longer be classified as an HCID.
Did the UK goverment delay publishing the downgrade?
As of 19 March 2020, COVID‑19 is no longer considered to be a high consequence infectious disease (HCID) in the UK.
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21 March 2020
Added explanation of the removal of COVID‑19 from the list of HCIDs in the UK.
Did the lockdown in the UK begin before or after Covid‑19 was downgraded to a common, flu-like virus?
The coronavirus is the biggest threat this country has faced for decades — and this country is not alone.
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From this evening [March 23] I must give the British people a very simple instruction — you must stay at home.
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If you don’t follow the rules the police will have the powers to enforce them, including through fines and dispersing gatherings.
Questions to ask? Comments to add?
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