BRITAIN IS FACING a “very dangerous moment” with the easing of lockdown restrictions, the deputy chief medical officer has said after a growing number of experts questioned the relaxation of rules.
Professor Jonathan Van-Tam called for people to show restraint as shutdown measures are eased in England from Monday.
He told the daily Downing Street press conference that the government and the public had a “dual responsibility” to prevent a second wave of the virus, adding: “I believe this is also a very dangerous moment. We have to get this right.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced last week that from Monday in England, friends and family can meet in parks and gardens in socially distanced groups of six.
But as people flocked to beaches and beauty spots in the sweltering heat over the weekend, Professor Peter Horby, of the University of Oxford, joined scientists Jeremy Farrar and Professor John Edmunds, all members of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), to warn that ministers are taking risks.
Prof Van-Tam said scientific opinions “always vary to some extent”, and told the press conference that the lockdown easing must go “painstakingly” slowly.
He added: “This is a dual responsibility here of government to go slowly and carefully and to take the advice from the scientists.
Of the scientists, to watch this whole thing very closely over the next few weeks. And, of the public in general to actually follow the guidance. Don’t tear the pants out of it, and don’t go further than the guidance actually says.
The comments came as Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden announced that elite sport events would begin again next week behind closed doors.
Declaring that “football is coming back”, Dowden said: “Football, tennis, horse racing, Formula 1, cricket, golf, rugby, snooker and others are all set to return to our screens shortly.
“I’m glad to confirm today that a third of matches to finish the season will now be free to view including the Liverpool v Everton derby and live Premier League football will be on the BBC for the first time in its history.”
Asked for his response to experts who have expressed concern the lockdown is being eased too quickly in England, Mowden said it must be remembered there are more than 50 scientists in Sage “all of whom will have their different perspectives”.
He told the daily briefing that scientists are “absolutely right to urge caution”.
Infections
But Professor Robert West, a participant in the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Behaviours (SPI-B) which advises Sage, emphasised that some 8,000 infections and 400 deaths a day are still occurring.
Speaking in a personal capacity, he told the PA news agency: “Put all this together and you have a huge risk, and it’s not just me saying that, that there will be an increase in infection rates.
Because we don’t have track and trace in place, we won’t know whether this easing of the lockdown has caused (an) increase in infections for some time, by which time it will be well under way, the second peak will be well under way.
“The government is not taking its responsibilities for political leadership seriously.
“This should not be treated as a political crisis but as a health crisis, if you treat it as a political crisis it’s all about managing your reputation, if you treat it as a health crisis it’s about saving lives.”
When asked whether he believes news about the PM’s key adviser Dominic Cummings travelling from London to Durham during the full lockdown would have an impact on people sticking to the latest rules, the UCL scientist said: “Trust in authority telling you to do things is very important when it comes to people adhering to those rules.
“When people see something like the Cummings affair… that’s not a recipe for trust.”
The easing of England’s lockdown will also signal the reopening of schools to allow some students to return, and more shops will resume trading along with outdoor retailers and car showrooms.
Prof Van-Tam told the press conference that the lockdown easing must go “painstakingly” slowly, adding: “The scientists will continue to give that advice to the Government. No apologies for that, we will absolutely continue to do that.”
In answer to a question at the briefing about Dominic Cummings, Professor Van-Tam said:
In my opinion the rules are clear and they have always been clear. In my opinion they are for the benefit of all. In my opinion they apply to all.
Asked if he agrees it is too soon to ease more of the lockdown, Prof Horby told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Actually, I do. We have still got 8,000 cases a day.”
He added that although measures taken so far “have been very successful in… decreasing the numbers”, it is vital “we don’t lose control again”.
He said one of the key issues is the NHS Test and Trace system, which has been rolled out across England with the help of 25,000 contact tracers.
But the programme will not be operational at a local level until the end of next month, while an accompanying app is delayed by several weeks.
Prof Horby added: “We are entering a period where there is a risk of increasing transmission, but we don’t yet have that safety net fully in place.”
Another Sage member, Professor Calum Semple, insisted that a “brave” political decision had been taken on schools reopening “were everything normal”, but cautioned that high levels of transmission were still being seen, according to the BBC.
Farrar also said the track and trace system needs to be “fully working” before measures are eased, warning the virus is still spreading “too fast to lift lockdown in England”.
In Scotland, people can now meet others from one other household at a time as long as it is outdoors, but social distancing should continue and groups must be a maximum of eight people.
People in Wales will be allowed to meet up with others outdoors from Monday.
In Northern Ireland, more retailers can open and small outdoor weddings will receive the go-ahead from 8 June if the coronavirus infection rate remains under control.
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