THE Tory government’s Covid-19 alert system is “inconsistent, unclear and costing lives,” a damning new report found today.

The National Preparedness Commission said that the system, ranging in severity from levels one to five, is “close to meaningless” because each stage is not linked to specific actions such as the rule of six or mask-wearing. 

Currently, each tier is associated with an increased number of infections and related stress on the healthcare system but does not prescribe corresponding restrictions or public advice based on each level. 

The organisation, comprised of more than 40 experts with backgrounds in policing, defence, science and industry, warned that coronavirus advice seemed politically driven and lacked a scientific basis, leading to a lack of public compliance.

The report called for more transparent decision-making, enforcement of rules, clearer expectations of the public and standardisation at a national level.

Co-author Dr Carina Fearnley from University College London said: “Without a robust system, people are being bombarded with a stream of ever-changing advice that is reactive, inconsistent and unclear. There is no doubt this is costing lives.

“Government advice is increasingly seen as politically driven, rather than representing the best available information.

“Conflicting messages have led to confusion and an increasing sense of ‘them and us,’ which we know reduces compliance.”

Commission chairman Lord Toby Harris stressed Britain is at a “critical point” in the pandemic where non-compliance with the rules is a serious problem.

“A strong alert level system should provide a road map for a country dealing with a crisis, maintaining independence from the ebb and flow of politics and personalities,” he pointed out. 

“The country could do better. There is still time to make a difference and to save countless lives.”