It has become clear that a hard lockdown does not protect old and frail people living in care homes—a population the lockdown was designed to protect.3 Neither does it decrease mortality from COVID-19, which is evident when comparing the UK’s experience with that of other European countries. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31035-7/fulltext#%20