SAGE scientists have warned Christmas is still in jeopardy unless social distancing rules are toughened up after England's second lockdown. The case count is the highest since the Covid-19 outbreak began and comes a week after England's second national lockdown started. SAGE fought tooth and nail for the second lockdown, presenting the Government with increasingly gloomy models that predicted thousands of daily deaths and hospitals being overwhelmed by December. It is hard to judge the effects of the three-tier system because it was only used properly for a fortnight before the national lockdown was announced. SAGE said the R rate is highest in the South West, where it is likely between 1.2 and 1.4 and in the East, at between 1.1 and 1.4.

Source: Daily Mail November 15, 2020 14:58 UTC