Row breaks out over whether it’s now time to ditch daily Covid stats

10 February 2022, 08:22 | Updated: 10 February 2022, 08:32

The row over daily updates erupted after the PM announced plans to ditch all restrictions, including isolating for people with covid.
The row over daily updates erupted after the PM announced plans to ditch all restrictions, including isolating for people with covid. Picture: Alamy

By Elizabeth Haigh

A fierce row has broken out about whether it is time for the government to stop giving daily covid statistics to help people move on from the virus and start returning to normal life.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The government currently publishes daily statistics on the number of new cases of coronavirus, the number of hospitalisations and the number of deaths within 28 days of a positive test.

It also publishes the number of people who are vaccinated each day.

Speaking to Nick Ferrari on LBC this morning, former cabinet minister Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: "I'm completely in favour of moving away [from daily statistics.]"

He said: "I think the way things are going now we are going to have to learn to live with it."

Sir Iain criticised the BBC for continuing to publish the figures: "I’ve been really puzzled why the BBC keeps on flogging this thing the whole time, and then having to accept that the figures aren’t altogether correct."

Read more: Will everyone follow Boris? Scotland and Wales face mounting pressure to scrap Covid rules

Read more: Cost of living crisis: Most businesses say they'll hike prices as 1 in 20 consider closing

He added: "Much of those figures, or a significant amount, probably died from other causes."

The former cabinet minister referred to the fact that daily death figures include anyone who died within 28 days of a positive covid test, regardless of the cause of death.

He said: "If we’re going to publish covid figures for deaths and for hospitalisations, surely we should be publishing the figures for everything else as well while we’re at it, because otherwise the public is skewed in this idea that somehow only covid is the cause of a death.

"Those figures don’t tell us anything really that informs how we behave."

But critics of the PM have accused him of using covid statistics and restrictions as a tool to distract from the Partygate scandal.

They claim he has lost control of No10 following a wave of resignations, including his Chief of Policy, last week.

The daily number of cases and deaths has been steadily dropping in recent weeks, after reaching a new peak in January.

Tory MP says we have to learn to live with Covid but it's time to move on from dwelling on deaths

It is the main way for the public to keep track of the pandemic within the UK.

Yesterday Prime Minister Boris Johnson hinted at plans to get rid of self-isolation for people with covid from the end of the month.

He confirmed he will appear before the Commons before the end of February and set a plan for "Living With Covid", around a month earlier than planned.

Sources told the i newspaper the PM wants to phase out daily updates in the current form by Easter at the latest.

Read more: UK puts 1,000 troops on standby to help Ukraine refugees as Boris and Truss fly out

At Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Johnson said: "It is my intention to return on the first day after the half-term recess to present our strategy for living with Covid.

"Provided the current encouraging trends in the data continue, it is my expectation that we will be able to end the last domestic restrictions - including the legal requirement to self-isolate if you test positive - a full month early."

But many of those who are clinically vulnerable have expressed concerns over the plans.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

President Donald Trump speaks with reporters as he signs executive orders in the Oval Office at the White House, Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, in Washington. (Photo/Alex Brandon)

'Let all hell break out': Trump says Gaza ceasefire 'should be axed' if Hamas doesn't free all hostages on Saturday

Kim Leadbeater after the bill passed its first reading in November

Assisted dying cases could go ahead without judge's approval

Kanye West

Kanye West slammed for Super Bowl advert directing viewers to site selling swastika t-shirts

Matar is accused of trying to murder Salman Rushdie

Man accused of trying to murder Salman Rushdie says 'Free Palestine' as he is led into court

Legendary strongman Geoff Capes left nearly £240,000 in his will

Legendary strongman and Olympian Geoff Capes leaves £240k in will following death aged 75

The scene in Coulter Road, Hammersmith, west London, following the death of a woman in a flat

Woman, 36, found dead after man seen trying to force his way into flat in west London

Quinn Parker

'Inhumane' NHS trust admits maternity failings as three babies die within months of each other

The Aesculapian snake can grow up to two metres in length

Europe's biggest snake 'thriving' in UK and living in people's attics, study finds

The Aurora Borealis, Or Northern Lights, Visible From Large Swath Of North America

Northern Lights to be visible across parts of UK tonight

Zhenhao Zou is accused of rape

Woman among 10 allegedly raped by Chinese PhD student in London left “angry and ashamed” after attack, court told

London, UK. 28th January, 2025. Attorney General Richard Hermer arrives in Downing Street to attend the weekly Cabinet meeting. Credit: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Alamy Live News

Labour spat as peer brands attorney general Lord Hermer 'arrogant, progressive fool' and calls for him to quit

Jaysley Beck, 19, was found dead at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire

Soldier, 19, complained of 'unwelcome behaviour' from 'psychotic and possessive' boss before taking her own life

Watch the rousing Super Bowl ad directed by Michael Bay on behalf of the Secret Service

US Secret Service spends millions on recruitment film from Hollywood director Michael Bay

Father jailed for at least 15 years after murdering daughter, 14, in 'kitchen play fight'

Scarlett Vickers' grandad defends father who stabbed teen to death in 'kitchen play fight'

Israeli captive Eli Sharabi was handed over on Saturday

Hamas delays the release of hostages 'until further notice' over claims Israel violated ceasefire deal

Donald Trump has said he is working on a plan to broker a deal to bring an end the war in Ukraine

Trump's Russia-Ukraine plan explained: How the US President intends to end the war