AMBER ALERT
BRITAIN’S coronavirus alert level has been lowered from four to three - paving the way for a relaxation of the two-metre rule.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock described the move as “big moment for the country” and praised Brits’ determination to beat the disease.
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The Government’s chief medical officers, led by Prof Chris Whitty, say transmission of the bug is no longer high or rising exponentially.
It prompted the Joint Biosecurity Centre to advise ministers they could reduce the alert level from four to three on their five-point scale.
This allows for a “gradual relaxation of restrictions and social distancing measures” - raising hopes that the two-metre rule could be eased.
It comes as:
- Matt Hancock revealed the UK's death rate is back to normal for the first time since lockdown began
- New ONS stats show the epidemic is shrinking with 33k people currently infected
- Schools in Northern Ireland to cut 2m rule down to 1m so all kids can go return
- One in three NHS trusts reported no coronavirus deaths for a week
Green shoots
Sources say it has no immediate implications but gives ministers confidence they can take further steps towards ending lockdown at the start of July.
This is likely to include reducing the two metre social distancing rule and allowing pubs, restaurants and cafes to reopen.
The Government has been under pressure to scrap the strict measure by schools and the hospitality sector who are worried they cannot fully reopen.
The UK moving to a lower alert level is a big moment for the country
Matt Hancock
Mr Hancock said: “The UK moving to a lower alert level is a big moment for the country, and a real testament to the British people's determination to beat this virus.
“The Government's plan is working.
“Infection rates are rapidly falling, we have protected the NHS and, thanks to the hard work of millions in our health and social care services, we are getting the country back on her feet.”
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A joint statement from the CMOs said: “The Joint Biosecurity Centre has recommended that the Covid-19 alert level should move from Level 4 (a Covid-19 epidemic is in general circulation; transmission is high or rising exponentially) to Level 3 (a Covid-19 epidemic is in general circulation).
“There has been a steady decrease in cases we have seen in all four nations, and this continues.
“It does not mean that the pandemic is over. The virus is still in general circulation, and localised outbreaks are likely to occur.
“We have made progress against the virus thanks to the efforts of the public and we need the public to continue to follow the guidelines carefully to ensure this progress continues.”
The Prime Minister unveiled the five-stage coronavirus warning system as part of a gradual easing of the lockdown during a televised address on May 10.
He said he was establishing a new "joint biosecurity centre" (JBC) to run the alert system, which is similar to that used to establish the terrorist threat.
The group would detect increases in Covid-19 infection rates and judge how strict lockdown measures and social distancing rules should be.
Two factors determine the UK's coronavirus threat level - the R number and the number of confirmed Covid-19 infections at any one time.
Five stages
The alert levels range from level one - green - to level five - red.
When the scheme was launched, the country was at level four, which means a "Covid-19 epidemic is in general circulation, transmission is high or rising exponentially".
The system says that current social distancing measures and restrictions should remain in place.
Level five is when transmission is high or rising but also when there was a risk of healthcare services being overwhelmed and will require an increase in social distancing measures.
Level one means Covid-19 is no longer known to be in the UK and the only action should be "routine international monitoring".
Level three is when the epidemic is in general circulation and gradual easing of restrictions can take place, while level two is when the number of cases and transmission is low and "no or minimal" restrictions are required.
But under level two there will be enhanced testing, tracing, monitoring and screening.
At the end of May, Mr Johnson told MPs that "we're coming down the Covid alert system from level four to level three tomorrow, we hope, we're going to be taking a decision tomorrow".
But the alert level was not lowered - despite the easing of some restrictions - and it remained at four until now.
Representatives from industries, such as the hospitality sector, may hope it could also pave the way for the two-metre rule to be relaxed which is key for many pubs, restaurants and cafes to reopen.
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Prof Matt Keeling, of Warwick University, believes the downgrade is currently "justified" but cautions against the easing of social distancing.
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He said: "The move to level three is not a time for complacency, there is still the prospect of a second wave if controls are relaxed too quickly and the reproductive number (R) rises above one.
"We are likely to be entering a new phase of this outbreak, where nationally and regionally cases will continue to decline, but locally there will be isolated clusters of cases that need to be contained."
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