Watch Live Coronavirus: Top scientists call for herd immunity approach - as government's 'soft touch' criticised -- -- 'soft touch' criticised Other scientists are disputing the calls, claiming herd immunity is "very unlikely" before a COVID-19 vaccine is found. Created with Sketch. -- -- functions, and organised sport. (Photo by Hollie Adams/Getty Images) Image: The declaration makes several suggestions to achieve herd immunity * * -- -- Why you can trust Sky News Top scientists are calling for a herd immunity approach to the coronavirus pandemic by allowing people who are less vulnerable to the effects of the disease to return to normal life. -- -- The so-called Great Barrington declaration, signed by leading experts from the universities of Oxford, Nottingham, Edinburgh, Exeter, Cambridge, Sussex and York, suggests herd immunity as a way forward. The declaration states: "The most compassionate approach that balances -- -- The declaration states: "The most compassionate approach that balances the risks and benefits of reaching herd immunity, is to allow those who are at minimal risk of death to live their lives normally to build up -- are at minimal risk of death to live their lives normally to build up immunity to coronavirus through natural infection, while better protecting those who are at highest risk. -- -- Dr Rupert Beale, group leader of the cell biology of infection laboratory at the Francis Crick Institute, says herd immunity is "very unlikely" before a COVID-19 vaccine is found. -- -- He said: "This declaration prioritises just one aspect of a sensible strategy - protecting the vulnerable - and suggests we can safely build up 'herd immunity' in the rest of the population. "This is wishful thinking. It is not possible to fully identify -- -- vulnerable individuals, and it is not possible to fully isolate them. "Furthermore, we know that immunity to coronaviruses wanes over time, and re-infection is possible - so lasting protection of vulnerable -- and re-infection is possible - so lasting protection of vulnerable individuals by establishing 'herd immunity' is very unlikely to be achieved in the absence of a vaccine." -- -- Suggestions in the declaration include: * Allow those who are at minimal risk of death to live their lives normally to build up immunity to the virus through natural infection, while better protecting those who are at highest risk * Those who are not vulnerable should immediately be allowed to -- -- resume life as normal * Simple hygiene measures, such as hand washing and staying home when sick should be practised by everyone to reduce the herd immunity threshold * Schools and universities should be open for in-person teaching -- -- * People who are more at risk may participate if they wish, while society as a whole enjoys the protection conferred upon the vulnerable by those who have built up herd immunity Where jobs are being lost across the UK economy