Easing restrictions in England next week is the right thing to do, the government has said, after a warning that it might cause a “substantial resurgence” in hospital admissions.
Health minister Edward Argar urged people to behave responsibly as lockdown measures are relaxed across England on Monday.
It comes amid mounting concern over the spread of the COVID-19 variant first detected in India, with some scientists calling for a delay in the easing.
The variant is believed to be more transmissible than other ones – thought there is no evidence to suggest it causes more severe illness or that it is resistant to vaccine, and hospital admissions currently remain low in affected areas.
The four stages of England’s lockdown lifting
The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) said the relaxation could “lead to a substantial resurgence of hospitalisations (similar to, or larger than, previous peaks)”.
Minutes of a meeting on Thursday suggest there is a “realistic possibility” that the Indian variant is 50% more transmissible than the coronavirus one that emerged in Kent late last year.
The scientists said there “may be some reduction in protection” when it comes to vaccines.
Health minister Edward Argar told Sky News: “We are confident that easing restrictions on Monday is the right thing to do, is the safe thing to do.
“We all have our part to play in behaving responsibly, as that happens, following the rules on things like mask-wearing.”
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‘I have to level with you’: PM airs variant concerns
At a Downing Street briefing yesterday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the new variant could delay the fourth stage of lockdown easing on 21 June.
The government has set out four tests that must be met for lockdowns to be eased – but Professor Christina Pagel, a member of the Independent SAGE group of experts, has said that one of these tests has not been met.
While the vaccine rollout has been successful and has helped reduce hospital admissions and deaths, and current infection rates do not risk putting unsustainable pressure on the NHS, she warned this new variant of concern increases the risks associated with relaxing the rules.
On Tuesday, she said moving to stage three of the roadmap “risks adding fuel to the fire”, adding that attention should turn to ensuring the Indian variant isn’t a threat – or stamping it out.
“Personally, I would like to slow down now to reduce chance of reversing the map later risking more uncertainty, more damaging closures and longer recovery from a worse situation. We need to learn from previous experience,” Prof Pagel wrote in a Twitter thread.
During Friday’s Downing Street briefing, England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said the Indian variant is expected to become the most dominant in the UK over time.
The Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (SPI-M-O) has also warned it could cause a “significant resurgence” of COVID-19 because “there are still too few adults vaccinated” to stop its progress.
However, the prime minister has stressed there is no evidence to suggest that vaccines currently in use would be less effective against the Indian variant, which is known as B.1.617.2.
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Indian variant expected to become ‘dominant’
Four people died in the UK with the Indian variant of COVID-19 – the first known domestic deaths – between 5 May and 12 May.
Public Health England also said on Thursday there had been 1,313 cases in England of the Indian variant in a week, more than double the previous week’s figure.
While the news represents a new watershed for the virus, Sky’s Ed Conway says it does not necessarily imply the new variant is any more lethal than the others in circulation around the UK.
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What do we know about Indian variant?
Mr Johnson has unveiled plans to accelerate vaccinations among the over-50s and those who are clinically vulnerable. Instead of receiving their second dose 12 weeks after their first, the final jab will now be delivered within eight weeks.
Scotland is preparing to drop to Level 2 restrictions on Monday, meaning cinemas, theatres, concert halls and stadiums can reopen.
However, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced that Glasgow and Moray will remain in Level 3 of the five-tier system for a week after both areas experienced a surge in cases.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health and Social Care has said that care home residents will be able to nominate five visitors for regular visits when lockdown eases on Monday.
Residents will be able to see a maximum of two visitors a day, who can either attend together or separately. Young children will not be included in this figure.