Normality a 'long way away' despite Boris Johnson's pledge, scientists say
Video report by ITV News Political Correspondent Romilly Weeks
A “significant return to normality” is still a "long way away" despite Boris Johnson's pledge to deliver his vision in time for Christmas, leading scientists have warned.
The Prime Minister signalled another significant easing of coronavirus lockdown restrictions in England on Friday, relaxing work-from-home guidance and paving the way for theatres and sports stadiums to reopen.
At a No 10 press conference, he said it was his “strong and sincere hope” that ministers would be able to review the remaining restrictions from November onwards “possibly in time for Christmas”.
However, Professor John Edmunds, a member of the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), has said a return to pre-lockdown normality is “a long way off”.
“Unfortunately I think it is quite a long way away,” he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.
“If what you mean by normality is what we used to do until February and the middle of March this year – go to work normally, travel on the buses and trains, go on holiday without restrictions, meet friends, shake hands, hug each other and so on – that’s a long way off, unfortunately.
“We won’t be able to do that until we are immune to the virus, which means until we have a vaccine that is proven safe and effective.
“If we return to those sort of normal behaviours the virus will come back very fast.”
Sir Mark Walport, a former chief scientific adviser said it could prove difficult to achieve with respiratory illnesses tending to flourish in the colder weather.
He said that while the disease was declining, there were still between 3,000 and 11,000 new cases a day in England.
“It is going to be difficult. We know that winter is when respiratory viruses thrive so it is going to be tough,” he told BBC2’s Newsnight.
“The Prime Minister said ‘Hope for the best, plan for the worst’. Of course what we need to do as far as possible is prevent the worst.”
His comments echoed the chief medical officer for England Professor Chris Whitty who warned measures such as hand-washing, isolation and household quarantine would be needed for a “prolonged period”.
Giving evidence to the Lords Science and Technology Committee on Friday, he said: “It has not gone away. So, all of those need to continue for a long period of time.”
The Government’s chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance – who had previously warned against easing the work-from-home guidance – told the committee that the winter would be a “very complex time” with people going down with other illnesses which were not Covid-19.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told ITV News that great public understanding of the disease meant it would be easier to control outbreaks and enabled the country to take these next steps out of lockdown.
But he added that the government would "not hesitate" to go back to tougher measures if the situation called for it.
"When we first said 'stay alert' perhaps people weren't sure, but now they know it's about social distancing, one metre plus, taking mitigating measures - washing your hands, nothing touching your face, wearing a face covering," he said.
"I think if you take all of those things together then it does give us a sense of being able to provide direction and some hope to people that if we can continue like this then this is where we can expect or hope to be.
"But it will all depend on the data, and won't hesitate to backtrack on these steps if that's what we need to do, which we've done in other areas."
Government to 'pause' publishing daily coronavirus death figuresIn his address, the Prime Minister said it will be up to employers in England to discuss with workers whether it is safe to return from August 1.
From that date, also most remaining leisure centres will reopen and indoor performances with live audiences can resume if pilots are successful, while trials will begin for sports stadiums to reopen from October.
Mr Johnson – who also immediately scrapped the advice to avoid public transport – said Sir Patrick and Prof Whitty had taken part in a Cabinet discussion before the relaxation was announced.
However he said that ultimately “decisions are taken by the elected politicians”.
It means that from next month, wedding receptions for up to 30 people can resume, and bowling lanes, skating rinks, casinos and beauticians can reopen as long as they have measures in place to reduce Covid-19 transmission.
Pilots to reopen sports stadiums will include the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield from July 31 and the Glorious Goodwood horse racing festival from August 1.
ITV News Political Correspondent Romilly Weeks on how powers for local authorities are set to change:
In an attempt to prevent another nationwide shutdown, Mr Johnson said local authorities in England will have new powers from Saturday to close specific premises, shut outdoor spaces and cancel events.
Ministers will also be able to close entire sectors or types of premises in an area and issue “stay at home” orders, Mr Johnson said.
He also set out his plans to prepare the NHS for a potential second spike in Covid-19 cases coinciding with the flu season this winter, saying the nation must be “hoping for the best, but planning for the worst”.
An extra £3 billion funding for the NHS in England, and extra cash for the devolved nations, will allow Nightingale hospitals to remain open and for private hospital capacity to be used until the end of March.
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