Government are being urged not to lift restrictions prematurely
Experts have urged caution from the government regarding the relaxing of current lockdown restrictions, warning that lifting measures prematurely could result in the UK facing another surge of cases which could overburden the NHS.
According to Steven Riley of the Spi-M modelling group, which have been advising government, scientists remain concerned about the prospect of another wave – despite the relative success of the vaccine rollout.
Speaking to Radio 4’s Today show, Riley said: “If we were to allow a very large wave of infection, that wave will find all the people who couldn’t have the vaccine for good reason, those people who had the vaccine but unfortunately didn’t give them the protection they need.
“Nearly 20% of the UK’s population is over 65 years or older. If you do some simple back-of-the envelope [calculations] for a vaccine that is very good but not perfect. There is the potential for another really substantial wave.”
Although Riley added that the prospect of current restrictions suddenly being lifted was highly unlikely, he warned that such a move could lead to a wave similar to the one from which the UK is currently emerging.
“I don’t believe anyone expects we’re suddenly going to lift all the social restrictions… but if for some reason we did choose to just pretend it wasn’t here any more at some point then yes, there is the potential to go back to a wave that’s a similar size to the one we’re in now.”
The government is anticipated to announce plans for how the country will exit lockdown measures before the end of the month. Some unconfirmed reports have indicated Boris Johnson will approve a three-stage plan for reopening the economy, which could see nonessential shops and businesses reopening by the start of April.
