China beat coronavirus by means of a nationwide lock down; Singapore came through because of testing and intensive contact tracing. The UK has done little of the latter, while its lock down has been partial and probably ineffective. Indeed, if you look at London’s transport in the 10 days since the city was locked down (supposedly), you may well wonder whether the UK has a strategy at all.
London’s mayor Sadiq Khan ordered a reduction in underground services in an attempt to dissuade people from using the Tube. “Public transport should only be used by key workers,” warned Khan, “otherwise people will die”.
Unfortunately, many people are still required to work and therefore to commute. As a result, operating fewer trains meant that people were packed into them – the same as a normal rush hour and the complete opposite of social distancing.
In response, prime minister Boris Johnson instructed mayor Khan to reinstate the services he had only just cut. But Khan couldn’t obey the prime minister’s instructions because too many Transport for London staff were off sick and/or self-isolating. In turn, travelers became fearful and angry about having to board crowded trains.
Instead of a professional approach to fighting COVID-19, the row between No 10 and City Hall looked amateurish.
Message to Boris and Co: Come on, chaps. This is no time for Dad’s Army tactics.
