Thousands of sun worshipers gathered on beaches across the country last summer to soak up the rays, raising concerns about Covid-19’s “super-widespread” events.
But there has never been a Covid-19 outbreak linked to a crowded beach, lawmakers said on Wednesday.
Professor Mark Woolhouse, Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh, told the Science and Technology Committee: thing.
“There have been no outbreaks related to crowded beaches, there has never been a Covid-19 outbreak related to a beach ever anywhere in the world, as far as I know.”
He said mass gatherings – such as a horse racing event – are an exception because they do not involve social distancing and there are “catch points” such as travel facilities and soft drinks.
“I think we need to understand where the risks are so that we can do as much safety as possible,” he added.
Sun worshipers flock to Bournemouth Beach
The same group heard scientists “shout” for someone in a position of political power to decide what level of Covid-19 infections are “acceptable.”
“I think it’s reasonable to say we don’t have Covid winters that are worse than bad flu winters. But, in fact, bad flu winters could be pretty bad, ”said Dame Professor Angela McLean, chief scientific adviser at the Ministry of Defense.
“It’s one of the things we shouted at again and again – could someone in a position of political power tell us what an acceptable number of infections are.
“Maybe last year, maybe a 2020 in which the number of infections and deaths was so high, maybe no one would say that.
“But we have to decide what level is acceptable and then we can manage lives with that in mind.”
Professor Woolhouse added: “The answer is not zero. If you think that no covid death or anything like that is acceptable, write an blank check to do harm through the measures you have implemented to try to control them. ”
The comments came as the prime minister joked with reporters at a mass vaccination center at Cwmbran Stadium in Cwmbran, South Wales.
Mr Johnson said: “I think they have made 46,000 in this center, a truly remarkable achievement.
“I think, as the song says, ‘I’ve been all over the world and then to Japan, I’ve never found a place for vaccines like Cwmbran.’ What do you say about this?”
He added: “I think that, in general, if you look at the infection rates in the UK, they are going down a little bit now. It is very encouraging.
“I think one of the big questions people will want to ask is how far vaccination is going. Hopefully it is, there are some encouraging signs, but they are still in their early days. ”