#liftingthelockdown-What's involved?

As Boris Johnson prepares to lay out his #roadmap for phase two of the shutdown at 19:00 on Sunday the 10th of May all indications point to a gradual easing of the restrictions, rather than a wholesale #liftingthelockdown. (A bit like allowing a bit of water to escape from a breached dam wall, I am not sure how effective this will be!)

At PMQ's this week, the Prime Minister confirmed that he had hoped to get going on some of these measures on Monday

The Government’s next actions will be based on predictions supplied by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), on how much the rate of infection or ‘reproduction’ (R0) value may increase under different scenarios. The R0-value is currently thought to be below 1 but must remain there to avoid a second peak. 

As such we can expect the measures to be relaxed individually allowing the effects of each to be closely monitored until the experts are satisfied more changes can be made.  

Effectively the Stay Home, Save Lives message is being replaced by Stay Safe, Save Lives

Work

Office-based employees who can continue to work from home will be advised to do so. (This remains pertinent as so many children still need to be cared for during the day) Companies could be staggering arrival and departure times for those who do attend. The PM recommended that employees avoid public transport if possible and travel to work by bike so expect flexibility in working hours.

It will be recommended that offices are adjusted to allow for social distancing – with screens and barriers erected to protect people working side-by-side. (If this is not possible you may look to our Quickdesk Solution to achieve this)

Meetings will be advised to take place remotely wherever possible and employers will be encouraged to provide hand sanitiser and handwashing facilities including "pop-up" solutions

Many remote workers have continued in their roles throughout the crisis but with increased interaction should be taking care to avoid contamination.

Schools

Despite Downing Street confirming a Telegraph story that primary school pupils will start returning to class from June 1, Health Secretary Matt Hancock on Wednesday warned that schools may not reopen until September.  Professor Chris Whitty said last week said there was “no doubt” that reopening schools would increase the R0 Figure. A survey conducted by the online parenting forum Mumsnet found that 57 per cent of parents would prefer to keep their children at home initially even when they are allowed to return to the classroom. Just one in five parents (22 per cent) believe schools should reopen now.

At Wednesday night’s Downing Street press conference, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick would only say the phased reopening of schools will happen “when the time is right”  Don't expect this to be one of the first items to be changed!

Family and Friends

We could be allowed to reunite with loved ones using a cluster arrangement which would see people choose a small number of friends and family to mix with. The emphasis will be on meeting outdoors for the time being, with strict orders not to mix with anybody else.

At the same time expect to be allowed outside more often and for longer. Although the Government’s strong preference is to “move as one” as the UK starts to relax the lockdown, Mr Jenrick warned they may make "smaller interventions" in regional hot spots if there is a surge in cases. (Number of cases is still on the rise in parts of the UK)

Face masks

Mr Johnson is expected to issue more guidance on face coverings because commuters will not be happy using trains and buses until the Government has made the wearing of face masks compulsory

In a poll of 2,000 passengers, carried out earlier this month, 83 per cent of passengers said they also wanted hand sanitiser made available on vehicles as well as train stations and bus stops, and 62 per cent said they would not venture back onto public transport unless effective social-distancing measures are in place. It came after Mr Johnson last week said face coverings "will be useful, both for epidemiological reasons, but also for giving people confidence that they can go back to work".

Earlier this week findings were submitted to Sage by a sub-group of the Royal Society claiming that Face Shields could be at least half as effective as surgical masks and the public should be encouraged to wear them at work, on public transport and when shopping and visiting entertainment venues. Pubs and clubs are expected to remain closed for the foreseeable future, although further advice is expected on the provision of takeaway services. 

Bluntly the only reason that they have not already been made compulsory is that even with a modest 50% of the population becoming more active and using them we would need over 200000000 per week! (Two hundred million, do the maths.) These are not available!

Entertainment

Some cafes have already begun to reopen while implementing social distancing measures – while McDonalds has announced it will reopen 15 of its restaurants in the UK offering delivery services only from May 13.

Cinemas, Clubs and Hotels and places of Worship are likely to be further down the line of priorities. (How these industries will survive this all is another discussion altogether)

Retail

Although there have been multiple reports about non-essential shops like Gardening Centres and Hardware Outlets re-opening, nothing has been mentioned about this so far.

Retailers that are currently trading have taken measures outside and inside stores, introducing plexiglass screens at tills and limiting numbers both in-store and in socially-distanced warehousing operations and more of these operations should start trading again.

Over 70s

The Telegraph claims the advice for over 70s is going to “morph” amid claims it currently discriminates according to age. (Which is about the dumbest thing I have heard as there is proof the damn virus is discriminatory!)

At the moment, all over 70s classed as “clinically vulnerable” regardless of their health (while 1.5 million people with pre-existing health conditions are regarded as “extremely clinically vulnerable” and have been told to shield for 12 weeks).

A cabinet minister said the advice was not expected to get stricter for over 70s following reports that pensioners were going to be told to adhere to stringent social distancing rules until a vaccine is found. In fact, with more activity, it remains crucial that this shielding is continued

Exercise 

Although Mr Johnson is expected to announce that people can do as much exercise as they like – overruling the current guidance of once a day – gyms and playgrounds are expected to remain closed “Playgrounds and gyms, and outdoor gyms will be the sort of things that will come in at a later point because there's an increased risk of infection.”

Instead, the emphasis will be placed on easing restrictions outdoors following evidence showing there is less likelihood of transmission of the disease in the open air than indoors.