Top medics say UK is at ‘real risk’ of second coronavirus wave and must prepare

Dr Hilary Jones has warned of a second coronavirus spike in winter, with lockdown easing branded as ‘extremely risky’ by experts.

The UK’s top medics have called for an urgent review of lockdown easing, amid fears of a renewed outbreak later this year, in an open letter to the government.

Boris Johnson announced the biggest easing of lockdown in England yesterday afternoon (June 23rd).   

Health experts have written an open letter saying that Britain should be prepared for a real risk of a second wave of COVID-19, the BBC reports. 

The public is now advised to abide by a one metre plus rule as the original two metre rule has been eased to help the hospitality industry, such as pubs and restaurants, open and get back on their feet. 

The one metre plus rule advises that people should wear a mask, wash hands regularly and avoid sitting face to face where the two metre distance can’t be maintained. 

Dr Hilary Jones spoke on Good Morning Britain today saying: “We’ve got the heads of most of the Royal colleges writing an open letter to the government saying, ‘Please put in place preparation for a second spike, which we really fear will happen if not by the winter, before then’.

“The two-metre rule is still there. Professor Chris Whitty says please do not take these derestricting measures too lightly, or too vigorously because we still want people to socially distance two metres, but it can go down to one metre at a minimum.”

Former Chief Scientific advisor, Sir David King, has advised that the Government’s easing of lockdown is ‘extraordinarily risky’.

He said: “I think it’s extraordinarily risky. If we take the long view, we know that the winter is a likely period when the virus takes off again.

“We must therefore aim to completely get rid of the virus from this country before the winter. If we move too quickly – and which is what I think is being proposed here – the risk of running into a second wave is very significant.

“We have done such a good job in this country in staying at home – if we could only be a little more patient.

“We still see a 1,000 at least new cases a day in this country and I don’t think there’s anyone who can believe from the scientific point of view that this is a wise move.”

Sir David later told BBC News: “It sounds alright if you’re out of doors and you do keep that one-metre distance apart.

“But if you’re indoors you’re at a much greater risk because you’re sitting in proximity to other people, you’re not wearing masks if you’re in restaurants and pubs and the level of viral infection in the air could well be quite high.”

The British Medical Journal published a letter from the Royal College of Physicians, Surgeons, GPs and Nursing, as well as the chairman of the British Medical Association, appealing to the leaders of all the UK political parties.

“While the future shape of the pandemic in the UK is hard to predict, the available evidence indicates that local flare-ups are increasingly likely and a second wave a real risk,” they said.

“Many elements of the infrastructure needed to contain the virus are beginning to be put in place, but substantial challenges remain.

“The job now is not only to deal urgently with the wide-ranging impacts of the first phase of the pandemic, but to ensure that the country is adequately prepared to contain a second phase.”

“We believe this will be essential if the UK is to get ahead of the curve,” they said.

“It should focus on those areas of weakness where action is needed urgently to prevent further loss of life and restore the economy as fully and as quickly as possible.

“We think there’s a strong case for an immediate assessment of national preparedness, with the first results available no later than August, and that all its work should be completed by the end of October.”

Speaking at the Number 10 briefing, Professor Whitty said it was ‘absolutely critical’ that people continue to abide by social distancing and take other measures to mitigate the spread of the disease when it is not possible to stay 2-metres apart. 

The Government’s chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said: “Don’t be fooled that this means it has gone away. The disease is growing across the world. It is coming down in the UK but it hasn’t gone away.” 

See all the latest updates given by Boris Johnson here.