While most restrictions will stay for at least three weeks, some are unlikely to be lifted before June, the Foreign Secretary said. If they opted to either change course or lift these restrictions, they could witness more death due to the virus and massive damage to the economy, Mr. Raab explained.
Standing in for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Mr. Raab said Britons have come a long way to give up now. Despite the decline in infection rate, he noted that the fight with coronavirus was at a "delicate and dangerous stage," and it is up to the country to eliminate the virus.
Before the government ends the lockdown, Mr. Raab has set out five important tests to be met. First off, the NHS's ability to cope needs to be protected, and there must be a noteworthy and consistent drop in daily death rates. Thirdly, there must a decline in infection rates.
Aside from that, it is equally important to make sure there is confidence in the testing capacity and adequate supply of PPE (personal protection equipment). Finally, the changes should not risk a second wave of outbreak. Mr. Raab pointed out that though there is the hope of recovery, the country is still in a delicate and dangerous stage in this pandemic, Express reported.
If the restrictions are listed without considering the consequences, Mr. Raab said the country would end up wasting the sacrifices and the progress that has been made so far. On top of that, it could risk an immediate return of the virus, coupled with the risk of losing more lives and economic damage caused due to a second lockdown.
If the latest figures are anything to go by, 103,093 people in the U.K. have tested positive for coronavirus and 13,729 have succumbed to the deadly virus in hospital, raising the number of deaths by the disease to 861 as compared to the day before. Sage (Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies), the emergency Cobra committee and the Cabinet jointly decided to extend the lockdown restrictions after meeting.
Based on experts' advice, the government will permit some economic and social activity to resume, Mr. Raab said. While some areas could be allowed to resume certain essential activities, others would be placed under stricter measures. According to the Foreign Secretary, infected people were transmitting the disease to less than one person on average, but that was still not low enough.
Hinting at extending restrictions in some form until June, the Foreign Secretary stated the Prime Minister's remark that it would take about three months to pass through the peak, adding that is still the outline. He said it is not possible to give a definitive timeframe; however, the country is making progress but it is imperative for people to follow the social distancing measures.