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The higher level of restrictions in England’s new three-tier local lockdown system “will not be enough” to curb COVID-19 infections alone, England’s chief medical officer said.
From Wednesday, England will be divided into “medium”, “high” and “very high” coronavirus alert levels.
Speaking at a Downing Street press conference shortly after Boris johnson confirmed the new system of localized COVID-19 restrictionsProfessor Chris Whitty said he was “very confident that the measures currently being put in place are helping to curb the virus, and these measures will help to curb it even more.”
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However, it cast doubt on whether the basic package of measures for high-alert areas would be sufficient to limit the spread of COVID-19.
“I do not trust, nor does anyone trust, that the Tier 3 proposals for the highest rates, if we made the absolute base case and nothing else, would be enough to overcome it,” he added.
“And that’s why there is a lot of flexibility at the Tier 3 level for local authorities … to really move up that rank, so that they can do a lot more than absolute base.
“Because the foundation won’t be enough, I think that’s clearly the professional vision.
“But there are many more additional things that can be done within that, with local guidance.”
Professor Whitty urged the public to respect the new restraint system, adding: “The bottom line is that they only work if people accept them.”
The prime minister also called on the public to adhere to the coronavirus rules, hoping to achieve a relatively normal Christmas season.
“We will do everything possible to make sure that life is as normal as possible for Christmas,” he said.
“But that will depend, I fear, on our success in eliminating this virus and our ability as a country to comply with the package of measures.”
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The very high alert level will make people prohibited from socializing with other households both indoors and in private gardens, while bars and pubs will remain closed unless they can function as restaurants.
Johnson stressed that this was a “baseline” package of measures for the worst affected areas and local leaders could decide to add additional restrictions.
The Liverpool city region, which is the first part of England to be placed on the very high bar, will also close gyms, leisure centers, bookmakers and casinos.
Johnson said the government was working with local leaders across the country on new restrictions and accompanying packages of support.
But he sent a message that he could impose restrictions even if they did not agree to new measures.
“If we cannot reach an agreement, then clearly it is the duty of the national government to take the necessary measures to protect public and public health and we will,” he said.
Steve Rotherham, the mayor of the Liverpool city region, said it was “totally untrue that I myself or anyone else locally agreed to the measures; they were dictated to us by the government.”
“The only conversations were about the money and additional resources that are coming to the city region to help deal with the fallout,” he added on Twitter.
Professor Whitty warned that it would be an “illusion” to think that the country can reduce the rise in coronavirus infections “without causing harm.”
“It is a balancing act between two damages: damage to society and the economy on the one hand and damage to health on the other,” he said.
He also promised that the UK would be in a “markedly better place” to fight COVID-19 next winter, even if a vaccine had not been approved by then.
“This is not dependent on a vaccine, science will support us from many different directions,” he said.
“I cannot predict, and no one can predict what combinations of treatments, vaccines, diagnostics, and other interventions we will have available to us.
“But I am very confident that when we enter next winter we will do so in a notably better place than today.”
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