What are Boris Johnson’s five tests the UK needs to pass before lockdown rules are eased?

BRITAIN remains in lockdown in a bid to limit the spread of coronavirus as officials look to safeguard the NHS and save lives.

But Prime Minister Boris Johnson could announce an easing of strict lockdown measures today if five key tests have been met in the fight against Covid-19.

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How will UK lockdown end?

Lockdown is gradually being reduced as the number of known infections and deaths fall.

On June 19 UK’s chief medical officers agreed to downgrade the coronavirus alert level from four to three, after a “steady” and continuing decrease in cases in all four nations.

Localised outbreaks of Covid-19 are still “likely” to occur, the advisers warned, and the virus remains in general circulation.

Government guidance states that a reduction of the alert level three will mean the “gradual relaxing of restrictions and social distancing measures”.

Representatives from industries, such as the hospitality sector, may hope it could also pave the way for the two-metre rule to be relaxed which is key for many pubs, restaurants and cafes to reopen.

A vaccine for Covid-19 is the ultimate goal but is likely to take at least six months to a year before it’s made available.

Meanwhile, testing is of the utmost importance – with hopes being pinned on the antibody test, which can tell if a person has had the disease and is immune to it.

The UK’s test, track and trace system has now gone live, with hopes that it could start to pave the way to lifting the lockdown.

So what needs to happen before lockdown can be lifted?

What are the five tests the UK needs to pass?

The Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam has laid out a five-point criteria of what needs to be done or met before relaxing the lockdown restrictions.

1. NHS capacity to provide critical care and specialist treatment

This is an area that has already largely been met around the country, as hospitals begin to feel an ease of strain.

Field hospitals were set up to help them deal with this pressure, like the Nightingale Hospital at the London ExCel Arena.

It was set up in early April with a capacity of 4,000 beds – but on May 4, it was placed on standby and stopping admissions.

Similar has happened at the other temporary hospitals across the UK, with Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow and Belfast also having centres.

2. Sustained and consistent fall in daily deaths

The UK’s daily death toll hit its peak on April 21 when nearly 1,200 people died in and out of hospital due to coronavirus.

But the death rate in the UK has been slowing down since the start of May.

Although this still needs to be lowered, the consistent fall provides hopes that Covid-19 is becoming manageable and the end is in sight.

3. Rate of infection decreasing to manageable levels

The infection rate remains over the 1,000 new cases limit – which has been seen as the target level before lockdown measures will be eased.

Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty revealed at the beginning of May that lockdown would remain in place until daily coronavirus cases fell below the 1,000 limit.

4. Operational challenges such as testing and PPE and be able to meet future demand

This is one of the most pressing concerns with hospitals still looking to get their hands on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

NHS staff around the country have been pushing for the government to bring in more PPE, with some even needing to hold their breath and wear bin bags in their attempts to prevent from catching the virus.

As for testing, this can be broken down into the swab tests and the antibody versions.

Swab tests are being carried out either at home or at one of the drive through centres.

This test is available to 25million people, notably those that are key workers, their families and those with symptoms.

Yet, antibody tests are a key component to limiting the coronavirus spread, as it would show if someone has had the killer bug and whether they are immune.

5. Confident in changing the lockdown measures

The final test is that the government and medical professionals must be certain that there will not be a risk of a second wave of infection, similar to that in Germany.

Professor Van-Tam said: “We have to be confident that the adjustments we contemplate are not going to risk a second peak of infections and this is really a matter of deep scientific discussion.

“It’s one we are keeping under detailed scientific review as the days and weeks go by.”

A tracing app is being rolled out thatnotifies people if they have come into close contact with someone who later tests positive for coronavirus or is showing symptoms.

It allows people to quickly self-isolate before spreading it further.

The strategy was successful in other countries including South Korea, where less than 300 people have died from Covid-19.