By Tony O’Riley-
Boris Johnson today indicated he would pursue a data led approach in determining the complete easing of the UK lockdown.
Mr Johnson said a “data not dates” approach to coming out of lockdown is “absolutely right”, stressing England will exit restrictions “cautiously”.
The prime minister’s comments follows a call from deputy chief scientific adviser Professor Dame Angela McLean for a data-led approach, and could be interpreted to mean that the scheduled announced plans for the road map for easing the lockdown to be announced on February 22, is subject to change at any time, depending on the data- which itself could change.
The prime minister indicated he would set out what was possible in a road map for easing measures on Monday.
“We want to be going one way from now on, based on the incredible vaccination rollout,” he said.
Speaking at a mass vaccination centre in Cwmbran, south Wales, Mr Johnson said relaxation of measures would be done in “stages” and that the reopening of hospitality was one of the last things to return after the first lockdown.
Professor Dame Angela McLean, chief scientific adviser at the Ministry of Defence, earlier told the Commons science and technology committee: “The important issue is to really watch very closely what is happening, so that if infections start to increase and that we do everything we can to decide whether it is a good moment to take another step in unlocking.”
She added that each step should be “irrevocable”, adding “that means we have to be extremely careful, before we add another unlocking”.
Pubs, bars and restaurants are not expected to re-open until early May under the plans, with a maximum of two households allowed to sit together indoors and the rule of six applying outside.
Mr Johnson said easing restrictions should be done “cautiously” as he noted that hospitality was one of the last sectors to reopen after the first lockdown.
“I know there’s a lot of understandable speculation in the papers and people coming up with theories about what we’re going to do, what we’re going to say, and about the rates of infection, and so on,” he told reporters.
“I would just advise everybody just wait, we’ll try and say as much as we can on that.”
Giving evidence to the Commons Science and Technology Committee, Prof McLean, chief scientific adviser at the Ministry of Defence, was asked if the R level needs to be at a certain level before restrictions can be eased.
“I think the timing is probably more important; it’s how many of the people who are more at risk of – that’s a mixture of old people or people with underlying conditions – have been vaccinated before we do more unlocking,” she said.
“The important issue is to really watch very closely what is happening, so if infections start to increase, and that we do everything we can to decide whether it is a good moment to take another step in unlocking.
The latest roadmap news came as it was claimed that the Government will soon unveil a mass-testing campaign which would see 400,000 rapid tests posted to homes and workplaces everyday.