Government passing blame for isolation impact to public

Professor Adrian Bell makes a statement on the UK government's response to the COVID-19 outbreak, following the meeting of the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee.

Read the full statement

After the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee met this morning (Wednesday 25 March) to scrutinise the UK government's response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Professor Adrian Bell, Research Dean for Prosperity and Resilience at the University of Reading, said:

“The UK government is facing some criticism today as the economic impacts of its response to the COVID-19 outbreak become clearer. It feels to some as if the government’s tactic in recent days has been to blame the public for perceived bad behaviour in ignoring social distancing, thereby requiring the imposition of more severe isolation measures and the economic costs they bring."