BRITS are risking a second spike in coronavirus cases as "lockdown is eased too soon", experts have warned.
People flocked to parks and beaches to make the most of the hot weather over the weekend - with temperatures set to soar again today.
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It comes as new rules come into play today including allowing up to six people to meet outdoors and in gardens and sending kids back to school.
But with temperatures set to reach 29C tomorrow, health officials warn that the relaxed measures were "not supported by the science" and the Government's own five tests - designed to avoid a second spike - were not being met.
The Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) said pictures of crowded beaches and beauty spots over the weekend showed "the public is not keeping to social distancing as it was".
They added that the NHS test and trace programme "is currently far from being the robust operation that is now urgently required as a safeguard to easing restrictions".
The five tests haven't yet been met
Dr Jeanelle de Gruchy
Dr Jeanelle de Gruchy, president of the ADPH, told Radio 4's Today programme there was a need to balance the easing of restrictions with the risk of causing a resurgence in infections.
"A lot of people including local directors of public health across the country are increasingly concerned that the Government is misjudging this balancing act and lifting too many of the restrictions too quickly," she said.
"The five tests haven't yet been met.
"In terms of the R (a measure of infections produced per person) it's 0.7 to 0.9, in the latest Government assessment it is below one, but it's a very limited room for manoeuvre and we know how quickly this virus can spread.
"It's difficult to predict then, with quite a lot of the measures being eased at once, what the impact that will have on the R value.
"We're also concerned about meeting all the other operational challenges ready to meet a potential rise in infections."
She said the national testing programme and the test and trace scheme must be "robust and ready" and the personal protective equipment (PPE) supply must be adequate.
"We're not feeling just yet that we're confident enough to meet any potential challenge if the Government goes too quickly on easing lockdown measures," she added.
In a blog on Sunday, the ADPH said: "Over the weekend we have seen signs that the public is no longer keeping as strictly to social distancing as it was.
"Along with this, we are concerned that the resolve on personal hygiene measures, and the need to immediately self-isolate, if symptomatic, is waning.
"A relentless effort to regain and rebuild public confidence and trust following recent events is essential."
The blog said the Government's second test from its list of five - a sustained and consistent fall in the daily death rate - was happening, but "the downward trend is slow - particularly in care settings".
The impact of easing restrictions on the R value - which represents how many people one infected person will pass the virus on to - was difficult to judge given they were being eased in a rapid way, it added.
"As we saw in March, R can go above one in a very short space of time - and once it does it can take many months to bring it back down. The room for manoeuvre is tight."
The ADPH also said a second peak cannot be ruled out, and asked: "Do we really want the same number of deaths again?
"The scale to date represents an unimaginable tragedy and we must do everything possible to limit further loss of life."
But Cabinet ministers have insisted the lockdown is being eased in a "very cautious" way - as some children return to class today.
Business Secretary Alok Sharma said he understands parents' concerns but added that the Government had not undertaken a "dash" to re-start the economy.
Mr Sharma told BBC Breakfast: "This is not a dash. These are very cautious steps that we are taking. They are phased."
He said that he "completely" understands that "every parent wants to keep their child safe", but insisted the Government had taken steps to ensure schools are safe to return to.
Act responsibly
Government have warned Brits not to "tear the pants out of" the new lockdown freedoms.
Ahead of the relaxation of measures today, England's deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van Tam urged the public to act responsibly.
Professor Van Tam said: "It is like having a spring in a box and you have got the lid on. Now you can take the lid off a little but you haven't disconnected the spring or broken the spring in any way.
"If you take the lid right off the spring is still under tension and off it will go again.
"This is a dual responsibility here of Government to go slowly and carefully and to take the advice from the scientists, of the scientists to watch this whole thing very closely over the next few weeks and of the public in general to actually follow the guidance.
Don't tear the pants out of it and don't go further than the guidance actually says
Professor Jonathan Van-Tam
"Don't tear the pants out of it and don't go further than the guidance actually says."
Speaking at the Downing Street press conference at the weekend, Prof Van-Tam said the process of emerging out of lockdown would have to be slow - and would change depending on how the case numbers are doing.
He said: 'The scientists will continue to give that advice to the Government. No apologies for that, we will absolutely continue to do that.
"I believe this is also a very dangerous moment. We have to get this right."
Meanwhile, classrooms began reopening to more pupils in England as social restrictions across the UK were being eased so people can have limited contact with friends and family outdoors.
Groups of up to six people were also permitted to meet outside at a distance in England from Monday, and outdoor markets and car showrooms are reopening.
Socially-distanced outdoor meetings of the same size could already take place in Northern Ireland, while in Scotland individuals can meet those from one other household in groups of up to eight.
Wales has not set a size restriction, but groups meeting outside must only be comprised of individuals from two different households.
Many schools had remained open to vulnerable children and those whose parents are key workers, but they are now opening their doors wider in a phased approach from the Westminster Government.
Second wave 'inevitable'
The minutes from a Sage meeting held on May 5 but published on Friday, suggest easing back to what resembles a more "normal" life is highly likely to trigger a second spike of cases.
Experts warned that phase four is "highly likely" to push the crucial R rate above 1 - meaning that the epidemic would grow.
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They suggest phase 4 could kick in around August 15 and would involve all kids heading back to school in September, most leisure facilities being open and most people being back at work.
The documents state: "As things currently stand, Phase 4 of the modelled options is highly likely to push R above 1.
"This phase of the option involves more extensive relaxing of measures across a range of areas."
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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiY2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRoZXN1bi5jby51ay9uZXdzLzExNzUzNzgwL2dvdmVybm1lbnQtcmlza2luZy1zdWRkZW4tc3VyZ2UtY29yb25hdmlydXMtZWFzaW5nLWxvY2tkb3duL9IBZ2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRoZXN1bi5jby51ay9uZXdzLzExNzUzNzgwL2dvdmVybm1lbnQtcmlza2luZy1zdWRkZW4tc3VyZ2UtY29yb25hdmlydXMtZWFzaW5nLWxvY2tkb3duL2FtcC8?oc=5
2020-06-01 11:35:21Z
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