Petition · past parliament
Implement a Hammer and Dance strategy for dealing with COVID-19 Immediately
Rejected
21 signatures
What the petition asks
The NHS faces being totally overwhelmed by COVID-19 in the coming days. We must buy time to fight the coronavirus.
Lockdown - countrywide enforced social distancing - can prevent hundreds of thousands of deaths and allow medics, scientists, and policymakers time to learn more and respond.
Lockdown - countrywide enforced social distancing - can prevent hundreds of thousands of deaths and allow medics, scientists, and policymakers time to learn more and respond.
Millions of lives are at stake!
There is hesitation to bring down the “Hammer” now because of fear the outbreak will resume as soon as we ease social distancing. But South Korea has shown that 3-8 weeks of suppression can get the virus under control. After that, it’ll be an ongoing “Dance” of testing and tracing to keep the virus from breaking out again until effective treatments and vaccinations arrive. A Hammer-and-Dance strategy is the best way to save lives and minimise economic damage.
There is hesitation to bring down the “Hammer” now because of fear the outbreak will resume as soon as we ease social distancing. But South Korea has shown that 3-8 weeks of suppression can get the virus under control. After that, it’ll be an ongoing “Dance” of testing and tracing to keep the virus from breaking out again until effective treatments and vaccinations arrive. A Hammer-and-Dance strategy is the best way to save lives and minimise economic damage.
Why it was rejected
The UK Government or Parliament was already taking the action it asked for.
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: Businesses to work from home for an appropriate amount of time amidst COVID19
If you want the Government to close all businesses that 'are not vital', you may wish to sign this petition: Complete UK lockdown of all business but those essential to our survival
If you want the Government to implement a complete lockdown, you may wish to sign this petition: Have a complete lock down to control the spread of the virus
If you want the Government to close all shops including supermarkets, you may wish to sign this petition: Close all shops including supermarkets during covid 19
If you want the Government to close all 'unnecessary businesses including takeaways', you may wish to sign this petition: Close all unnecessary businesses including takeaways to safeguard health
If you would like the Government to close all non-essential online stores and warehouses, you may wish to sign this petition: Close all non essential online stores/warehouses
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/
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: Businesses to work from home for an appropriate amount of time amidst COVID19
If you want the Government to close all businesses that 'are not vital', you may wish to sign this petition: Complete UK lockdown of all business but those essential to our survival
If you want the Government to implement a complete lockdown, you may wish to sign this petition: Have a complete lock down to control the spread of the virus
If you want the Government to close all shops including supermarkets, you may wish to sign this petition: Close all shops including supermarkets during covid 19
If you want the Government to close all 'unnecessary businesses including takeaways', you may wish to sign this petition: Close all unnecessary businesses including takeaways to safeguard health
If you would like the Government to close all non-essential online stores and warehouses, you may wish to sign this petition: Close all non essential online stores/warehouses
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/
Timeline
| 23 Mar 2020 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 15 Apr 2020 | Rejected by the Petitions Committee |
Key facts
Signatures
21
Status
Rejected
Rejected
15 Apr 2020
Follow this petition
Sign in to get an email when the government responds, a debate is scheduled or held, or the petition closes.
Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.