Ministers need reminding that speed trumps perfection in a pandemic
“If you need to be right before you move, you will never win,” the WHO's Dr Michael Ryan said of the most crucial lesson he learned from controlling ebola epidemics. “Perfection is the enemy of the good. Speed trumps perfection.” On the same day amid rapidly escalating Covid rates in the UK, the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) committee concluded that “household isolation and social distancing of the elderly and vulnerable should be implemented soon, provided they can be done well and equitably”. However, it was not until 23 March – ten days later...