The Government has announced that the current lockdown restrictions will remain in place for another three weeks until at least 7 May, but life will not go back to normal straight away when the restrictions are eventually eased.
Since the evening of 23 March, when Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the nation, Islanders have been following the Government’s instructions to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives. According to the data available on new cases of COVID-19, this appears to have had the desired effect with the country now reaching the peak of the pandemic.
As a result of advice from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, the Government has this evening (Thursday) confirmed that the lockdown must continue to fully get over the peak and lead the country on the right path to recovery.
The current restrictions will continue until 7 May 2020 when another review will be held. First Minister of State, Dominic Raab, has said that 5 points must be met before the lockdown will be adjusted or lifted:
– Be able to protect the NHS
– See sustained and consistent fall in the daily death rate
– Presence of reliable data from SAGE to show the rate of infection is decreasing
– Ensure a range of operational challenges, including PPE and testing, is in hand
– Confidence that any adjustments to the lockdown will not risk a second peak of infections
Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, earlier today said that life will not go back to normal straight away with a phasing out of the restrictions planned when it is deemed the right time to change the current situation. It is unclear how the restrictions will be phased out, but it could be by age group or even region.
