At a Downing Street press conference yesterday (16 March) Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab didn’t give a specific date for when the lockdown measures would be lifted but warned that lifting the lockdown too early ‘would require an even longer period’ of lockdown restrictions.
The government has put in place five measures that it says will have to be satisfied before lockdown measures would be relaxed. These are:
- Ensuring the NHS is able to cope with patient numbers
- Evidence that there is a sustained and consistent fall in daily deaths
- Reliable information showing that the rate of infection is decreasing to manageable levels
- Confidence that there are enough tests for the virus and PPE are available
- Confidence that any changes to the lockdown restrictions will not lead to a second peak of infections
“When we are confident on these five points guided by the science, guided by the data, we will look to adjust the measures to make them as effective as possible to protect public health whilst allowing some economic and social activity resume,” said Raab.
The announcement comes as other European countries announced plans to gradually ease their lockdown restrictions.
Earlier this week, German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced that shops under a certain size could soon reopen for business and that schools will start to reopen on 4 May.
She said social distancing rules would remain until at least 3 May, with people advised to use face masks in shops and on public transport.
Restaurants, bars and cafes, however, will remain closed.
France’s president Emmanuel Macron. meanwhile, has said that the country will begin easing its lockdown restrictions on 11 May, beginning with nurseries, schools and colleges. Restaurants, cafes and hotels will stay closed until mid July at the earliest.
