Scotland makes most of sunny new taste of freedom
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 Oxford University joined scientists Sir 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 said 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 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 in England would begin again next week behind closed doors.
Declaring that “football is coming back”, Dowden said: “Football, tennis, horseracing, Formula 1, cricket, golf, rugby, snooker and others are all set to return to our screens shortly.”
Asked for his response to experts who have expressed concern the lockdown is being eased too quickly in England, Dowden said it must be remembered there are more than 50 scientists in Sage “all of whom will have their different perspectives”.
But Professor Robert West, a participant in the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Behaviours (SPI-B) which advises Sage, emphasised yesterday that some 8,000 infections and 400 deaths a day are still occurring.
Speaking in a personal capacity, West said: “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.”
Professor West added: “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.”