Boris Johnson ‘wary of easing lockdown too soon’ amid fears of second coronavirus wave
The PM is currently recovering after being treated in hospital for coronavirus.
3 min read
Boris Johnson remains cautious about easing Britain’s lockdown restrictions too soon amid concern over a second wave of the coronavirus outbreak.
The Times reports that the Prime Minister has told colleagues loosening curbs aimed at stopping the spread of the virus could lead to a further peak and result in a fresh lockdown being imposed further down the line.
The Government is coming under mounting pressure to set out its strategy for lifting the movement restrictions which have now been in place for four weeks.
Mr Johnson, who is recovering from Covid-19 at Chequers, held talks on Friday with his de facto deputy Dominic Raab and senior advisers Dominic Cummings and Lee Cain, during which he is said to have expressed caution.
A government source said: “The idea that we will be rushing to lift measures is a non-starter. If the transmission rate rises significantly we will have to do a harder lockdown again.”
The Prime Minister is said to be concerned that little is yet known about the effect that easing elements of the lockdown will have on the virus’s transmission rate.
According to The Times, Mr Johnson will begin to step up his role in the coronavirus fight again this week, including receiving daily updates and having regular conversations with Mr Raab - although he is not expected to return to Number 10 for some time.
Ministers have already extended Britain’s lockdown - which has seen pubs, bars, restaurants and most shops close their doors and people ordered to stay indoors for most of the day - by three weeks, meaning it will run until at least the beginning of May.
But there is concern that an extended lockdown could impose a severe toll on the economy and exacerbate social problems including poor mental health and a surge in domestic violence.
Cabinet minister Michael Gove on Sunday denied reports that the Government had adopted a “traffic light” strategy drawn up by researchers at University College London as a way out of the lockdown.
The plan - which The Telegraph reports has the backing of Conservative MPs including former party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith - would see small shops reopening as part of a “green” phase as early as 4 May, with a second “amber” phase following three weeks later permitting family visits and car journeys.
A final “green light” phase would see sporting events and mass gatherings once again permitted, with larger firms and department stores reopepning.
The paper, which is written by Dr Gerard Lyons, a former economics adviser to Boris Johnson when he was mayor of London, and Paul Ormerod, a UCL visiting professor, says ministers should consider “unlocking based on economic activity, as this is the only way that is guaranteed to help the economy and the most likely way to ensure that people behave cautiously and keep the virus under control”.
PoliticsHome Newsletters
PoliticsHome provides the most comprehensive coverage of UK politics anywhere on the web, offering high quality original reporting and analysis: Subscribe
