This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament
Rejected petition Buy Us Time to Fight Coronavirus with a Hammer-and-Dance Suppression Strategy
Our NHS is collapsing. It will only get worse. Flattening the curve isn’t enough. We must buy time to fight the coronavirus.
Implement immediate and tough social distancing measures to prevent hundreds of thousands of deaths and give medics, scientists and policymakers time to learn how to respond.
More details
Some may hesitate to bring down the “hammer” now because they fear the outbreak will resume as soon as we ease social distancing. But South Korea, Singapore and China showed that 3-8 weeks of suppression can get the virus under control. After that, it’ll be an ongoing “dance” to keep the virus from breaking out again until vaccinations arrive.
A Hammer-and-Dance strategy is the best way to save lives and minimise economic damage.
[UK counterpart of a US petition created by T.P. on 19/03/20]
This petition was rejected
Why was this petition rejected?
We can't publish petitions when the request is something that's already happening or something that has been announced since you started your petition.
We think your petition is covered by Government or Parliament action already. If you'd like something else, you could start a new petition clearly explaining what it is.
Since you started your petition, the Government has imposed a number of restrictions on individuals and businesses as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. You can find out what you can and can't do here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do
If you wish the Government to place further restrictions on individuals and businesses, you may wish to sign some of the petitions below.
If you want the Government to consider closing down offices and businesses and ordering home working, you may wish to sign this petition: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/301439
If you want the Government to close all businesses that 'are not vital', you may wish to sign this petition: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/308122
If you want the Government to implement a complete lockdown, you may wish to sign this petition: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/310805
If you want the Government to close all shops including supermarkets, you may wish to sign this petition: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/310341
If you want the Government to close all 'unnecessary businesses including takeaways', you may wish to sign this petition: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/307294
If you would like the Government to close all non-essential online stores and warehouses, you may wish to sign this petition: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/311765
You can find out more about coronavirus and how you can protect yourself and others here:
NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
UK Government website: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
You can read NHS tips to help if you are worried about coronavirus here: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-anxiety-tips
You may also be interested to know that because of the large number of petitions that have been started in relation to coronavirus, the Petitions Committee has been questioning the Government about its response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Find out more and watch the Committee put questions suggested by petitioners to Government Ministers and the Deputy Chief Medical Officer: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/news/145767/committee-question-deputy-chief-medical-officer-and-ministers-on-coronavirus-response/
Read correspondence with Government Ministers asking further questions: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/publications/3/correspondence/
We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.