Covid inquiry: Government developed intervention package without scientists’ advice before second lockdown

The Eat Out to Help Out scheme, the “rule of six,” and the local tier system introduced in England between August and October 2020 were not assessed by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), the UK Covid Inquiry has heard. During an inquiry session on 19 October, Catherine Noakes, chair of SAGE’s environmental modelling group, revealed that the group had not been asked to consider the implications of the Eat Out to Help Out scheme.1 SAGE was meant to give advice to support government decision making during emergencies.Under Eat Out to Help Out, which aimed to support hospitality businesses reopening after the first lockdown, the government covered 50% of the cost of food and non-alcoholic drinks consumed on the premises of participating businesses, Monday to Wednesday, from 3 to 31 August 2020.“Had we been asked, I think we would have had a concern that encouraging people to get together…
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