Faith in coronavirus modelling is no substitute for sound political judgment | David McCoy

It's convenient for leaders to say they are following the science, but technical evidence can only take us so far

On the Andrew Marr Show last Sunday, speaking about Covid-19, Prof Neil Ferguson was described as being "more influential right now than any politician". Ferguson leads a team of modellers at Imperial College London whose mission has been to predict the pattern and health impact of coronavirus transmission in the UK under different scenarios, and thereby help government make the right decisions about how best to protect the population.

The UK has some of the best infectious disease modellers in the world, and the government has been wise to draw upon their expertise. But all models have their limitations, and none can avoid the fact that decision-making must also be informed by people with relevant expertise and experience, and by the facts on the ground. In the case of Covid-19, where so much about the disease and its transmission dynamics is still unknown or unclear, models are useful - but experience and sound judgment are crucial.