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Coronavirus: Easing social distancing rules 'risks second peak' | Coronavirus: Easing social distancing rules 'risks second peak' |
(32 minutes later) | |
Easing social distancing measures in the UK too soon would risk a second spike of coronavirus cases, the foreign secretary has warned. | Easing social distancing measures in the UK too soon would risk a second spike of coronavirus cases, the foreign secretary has warned. |
Dominic Raab told the daily press briefing this could trigger a second lockdown that would "prolong the economic pain" across the country. | Dominic Raab told the daily press briefing this could trigger a second lockdown that would "prolong the economic pain" across the country. |
"We're not out of the woods," he said. | "We're not out of the woods," he said. |
Meanwhile, the UK's chief medical officer said it was "wholly unrealistic" to think life could return to normal soon. | |
Mr Raab, who is deputising for Prime Minister Boris Johnson, acknowledged the mental, physical and economic strain social distancing measures were having on people throughout the UK. | |
But he said that the measures "must remain in place for the time being". | |
Mr Raab said: "The greatest risk for us now, if we eased up on our social distancing rules too soon, is that we would risk a second spike in the virus with all the threats to life that would bring and then the risk of a second lockdown which would prolong the economic pain we are all going through." | |
His warning came as Professor Chris Whitty, the government's chief medical adviser, said forms of social distancing would be needed for a "long time". | |
He said it was "a wholly unrealistic expectation" that the UK suddenly moved from lockdown to everything being lifted. | |
"We are going to have to do a lot of things for really quite a long period of time." | |
Prof Whitty added that the best "way out" was via a "highly effective" vaccine or drugs, but said the chance of having those within the next calendar year was "incredibly small". | |
He said: "This disease is not going to be eradicated, it is not going to disappear." |