如何分析than should be the case?

有一读者问: 有这样一句话:

(1)This enables the British authorities to issue fewer “poor air quality” warnings than should be the case.

句中的than should be the case是什么结构? the case何意?

than可视作关系代词;亦可视为连词,其后省去了主语what(这样分析对初学者也许易于接受)。the case意为“实际情况”或“事实真相”,实例再如:

(2)That is the case .

(3)That is not the case .