Coronavirus

Hilary Benn Excerpts

Tuesday 3rd March 2020 Commons Chamber

[Matt Hancock]

My hon. Friend is completely right and, in fact, our no-deal planning and our no-deal stockpiles are playing an important part in making sure we are fully prepared and ready.

[Hilary Benn (Leeds Central) (Lab)]

On when to move to the delay phase, the Secretary of State said that he was

“mindful of scientific advice that reacting too early…carries its own risks”.

Could he set out for the House what those risks are?

[Matt Hancock]

I would highlight two. The first is that there is an economic and social impact of disruption; if an action has no medical benefit, there is no need for that disruption. The second is a medical risk. Behavioural science and experience from previous similar outbreaks shows that, if we ask people too early to do things that are disruptive to their normal life, they may try to return to normal earlier than they otherwise would. At the moment, the number of cases is relatively small. If we go into the reasonable worst-case scenario, it will rise sharply and be high for a number of weeks. We need to keep people doing the right, responsible thing over a period of weeks and, if we ask them to move too soon, they may question whether that advice was the right advice.