Two week national lockdown "wouldn't be long enough" according to Cambridge Professor

  • Video report by ITV News Anglia's Matthew Hudson

A two-week national lockdown to stem the spread of coronavirus in the UK "would not be long enough" according to a Cambridge professor of microbiology.

Ravi Gupta, who is part of the team who devised and distributes the SAMBA-II Covid testing machine, said the idea of a national lockdown is an effective one, but that two weeks wouldn't be long enough to stop the spread of the virus.

"I think of course a national lockdown is going to be much more effective but the problem is I don't think that two weeks will be enough to stem the transmissions," he said.

"That's partly because people shed for longer than the 1-2 weeks we talk about and of course there will be transmission within families even with that lockdown."

ITV News Anglia asked shoppers in Northampton what they thought of the prospect of another lockdown

A second "circuit-break" national lockdown for England would be the "last line of defence" in stopping the spread of coronavirus Health Secretary and MP for West Suffolk Matt Hancock has said.

But he admitted a two-week imposition of national restrictions was still "on the table" as Covid cases surge.

The question mark hanging over the Autumn months is already affecting how businesses operate, according to Cara Martin, who runs the Knights Lodge pub in Corby.

She felt restrictions have already unfairly targeted the hospitality sector, and said the suggestion pubs could be closed again was "disappointing" and made her "slightly angry as well".

She added: "I think if it was to be a lockdown as such I think it should be across the board and not just directed at pubs, gyms, beauty salons.

"Normally at this time of year, lots of pubs and restaurants would be advertising their Christmas menus but nobody that I’ve seen has been doing that at the moment because everyone’s holding off to wait and see what’s happening next."

The Anglia region recently saw its biggest rise in cases since the end of May, with fears for places like Corby and Northampton, where local lockdowns are still possible.

Both Northamptonshire boroughs, as well as Peterborough, remain 'areas of concern' on the government's watchlist. Corby has the highest infection rate in the region, with 50.8 cases per 100,000 people. The rate in Northampton and Peterborough and 42.6 and 30.3 respectively.

Mr Hancock told Sky News the government wanted to "use local action" to curb rising coronavirus cases before imposing UK-wide measures.

"The country once again needs to come together and recognise there is a serious challenge. That the virus is accelerating," he said.

"Unfortunately, it isn't just cases increasing, it's also the number of people ending up in hospital increasing."

He continued: "We will do what is necessary to keep people safe, and the first line of defence is that everybody should follow the social distancing."

The Health Secretary's desire to avoid a full-scale lockdown was shared by Riet Jones, manager of Cambridge Manor Care Home.

Thanks to a rigorous testing regime provided by a private lab, the home is moving towards allowing residents' families inside for visits, progress Ms Jones worried could be jeopardised by any new restrictions.

She said: "Our residents, although very stoic, would love to see their loved ones in person.

"There are garden visits but obviously those people who are bed-bound are unable to see them face to face.

"I think it’s just the reassurance, particularly going towards the Christmas period, that they really would like to have some sense of reality returning."

Professor Gupta said that any national lockdown could also have a crippling effect on the economy.

That message was echoed by Amy Vince, manager of No. 5 beauty salon in Newmarket.

She said it would be "devastating" if new restrictions are imposed, adding: "We’re just back in the swing of things and getting the diary back into a routine and to then have another two weeks is just going to throw everybody off, so we’re really going and keeping everything crossed that we don’t go back into lockdown."