BORIS Johnson has today warned Brits who are looking forward to lifting parts of the lockdown that the UK must pass its five tests first.
In a fresh video address today the PM thanked the nation for “all you have been doing” to stop the spread of coronavirus.
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Ahead of another review of the lockdown measures this week, he insisted that Britain is “making progress” but the five tests for changing them are not yet met.
Scientific advisers will this week hand the Government evidence of how the lockdown has worked and what options could be on the cards for adjusting the strict measures.
But nothing, except small tweaks, will be expected in this week’s review.
Boris said this morning: “Thank you for all you’ve been doing to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
“Thanks to all of you I believe we are making progress.
“But we will only be able to move onto the second phase of this conflict when our five tests have been met.”
He went on explain how the NHS must have “sufficient capacity” to cope, and give out specialist treatment across the UK.
There must be a sustained and consistent fall in daily deaths from coronavirus, and reliable data to show that the rate of infection is decreasing.
PPE must be able to be resources, testing at the right capacity, and confident that any adjustments don’t risk another peak which will overwhelm the NHS.
“Then will be the time to move onto the second phase,” he added.
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“The worst thing we can do now is ease up too soon and allow a second peak of the coronavirus.”
Boris’ warning comes ahead of a speech this week where he will outline how the lockdown measures may be lifted.
It’s expected he will set out plans for getting Brits back to work, kids back in school, and how to fire up the economy once again.
This morning Nicola Sturgeon said it was still too early in the outbreak to change the measures.
Scotland’s First Minister today insisted the infection rate is still too high to make “any meaningful change”.
It came as the Scottish leader unveiled the new test, trace, isolate strategy, which she said would speed up easing the lockdown.
She said: “Although we’re making real and significant progress, the numbers still being infected by the virus and the all-important R number remain too high right now to make any meaningful change without risking the virus running quickly out of control again.
“We also know as we see that care home transmission continues to be a very significant challenge.
“All things considered, decisions are yet to be formally taken, it is almost very likely that on Thursday I will be asking you to stick with lockdown for a bit longer.”
It has been reported that some small tweaks may be on the way – such as easing restrictions on exercising or going outdoors.
But little more is likely to change when the PM addresses the nation in the coming days.
Discussing the new tracing programme, Ms Sturgeon insisted it was not a “quick fix or magic solution”.
She explained: “We will test people in the community who have symptoms consistent with COVID-19. We will use contact tracing, a well-established public health intervention, to identify the close contacts of those cases, who may have had the disease transmitted to them.
“We will ask and support those close contacts to self-isolate, so that if they do develop the disease, there is less risk that they will pass it on to others.
“And we will make sure that support is available to enable people to isolate effectively.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock is expected to unveil the UK Government’s own “test track and trace” programme later today.
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