Good Morning Britain’s Dr Hilary warns more Covid variants are on the way as he begs Brits not to abandon lockdown rules
GOOD Morning Britain’s Dr Hilary Jones this morning warned more Covid variants are on the way as he begged Brits to not treat lockdown easing as a “free-for-all”.
Today marked the latest step in Boris Johnson’s “roadmap to freedom” which aims to see all restrictions lifted by June 21.
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The medic spoke to presenters Ben Shephard and Susanna Reid today about the new lockdown rules which allow groups of six to meet outdoors, or two households of any number with only brief trips inside permitted – for example to reach the garden or to use the toilet.
Dr Hilary told viewers: “In the last 15 months we have learned that we went into lockdown too late and we have come out of lockdown too early, those are the lessons we’ve learned three times so we need to be really careful.
“But don’t take this removal as ‘it’s time to have a free-for-all’ there are still very clear rules in operation … we’re going to get new variants emerging, look what happened in Spain, France, Germany.”
He went on: “So stay at home ends – although the government is advising us to keep travelling to a minimum.
“So stay local. Make it a journey to meet family and friends again, but not so ridiculous. Try to keep them as infrequent as possible.”
“We still have, you know, a high infection rate. We still have the virus circulating. There’s still a concern about new variants. Less than half the population to be vaccinated.
“Whilst it’s great that we’re able to ease some of these restrictions and people will welcome and celebrate, we still need to be cautious.”
The NHS revealed that there will be a “significant reduction” in the availability of Covid vaccines throughout April.
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The blow means anyone under the age of 50 will now have to wait longer for their jab.
A leaked NHS letter yesterday said first doses will be “significantly constrained” due to a “significant reduction in supply from manufacturers”.
But vaccine makers claim there is nothing wrong at their end.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said vaccines remain “on track” and that every adult will get their first jab by the end of July.