The Covid inquiry continues labouring under the lopsided assumption that the only thing that matters in a pandemic is the number of deaths prevented. There was always an alternative to lockdowns, says Charles Amos

Recently the Covid inquiry has stated the government acted too little and too late in introducing lockdown in March 2020 with the consequence being an additional 23,000 deaths in the first wave. The inquiry states ‘restrictions…were too weak’, ‘not in place long enough’ and the government had ‘a lack of adequate surveillance mechanisms’. Such judgements are grounded on the false premise government should have broadly sought to minimise the loss of life. No. Freedom should have been upheld instead; whilst still protecting the vulnerable, even if this would have resulted in more deaths.

Many people are fervent lockdowns should have been much tougher given 227,000 people died with Covid across the pandemic. An obvious assumption here is that lockdowns actually work. This is questionable. While Britain had three severe lockdowns and ended 2023 with an excess death rate of 390 per 100,000, Sweden,........

© City A.M.