Sage stands down, signifying ‘end of Covid pandemic’ in the UK

Government’s scientific advisory group has faced criticism for modelling, which has been repeatedly shown to be wrong

The Government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) will no longer be meeting regularly to discuss coronavirus, the PA news agency understands.

Led by chief scientific officer Sir Patrick Vallance and chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty, the group met frequently at the height of the pandemic.

But as all remaining legal restrictions have been removed in England as part of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s “Living with Covid” plan, the group will not be meeting as often.

Restrictions have been eased across the UK, with Wales removing all remaining legal orders from March 28, Northern Ireland replacing orders with guidance, and Scotland scrapping more measures from March 21.

The Government will still receive scientific and technical advice from groups including the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), and Sage “stands ready if required”, PA understands.

Sage is typically activated when an emergency requires science advice at pace, according to the Government.

The group provided numerous models during the pandemic which advised ministers’ responses including the enforcement of national lockdowns.

It doesn't matter whether they end the mandates or not, the reality is there's a massive cull coming to those who took the bait. It may not happen this year, it may not even happen next but history shows that it can even take upto a decade for the full fallout of an inoculation drive so broad across the world. Smallpox for example, Cases only kept increasing in the decades that followed some of the stricted vaccine drives during the 19th century. This isn't over by a long shot.