Government ‘lifting too many restrictions, too quickly’, warn public health directors

Senior officials say ministers are ‘misjudging’ the easing of lockdown rules

Senior public health officials have accused the government of lifting coronavirus restrictions too quickly and risking a second wave of infection.

In a last-ditch intervention, the Association of Directors of Public Health said ministers were “misjudging” the decision on easing the lockdown at a “critical moment”.

The organisation, which represents officials from councils across the UK, also questioned whether the relaxation of the rules and guidance was supported by the science.

And it urged the government to reconsider implementing Phase Two of its plan until the NHS Test and Trace system is able to cope.

“Now is the time for steady leadership, careful preparation and measured steps,” wrote ADPH president Jeanelle de Gruchy in her official blog on Sunday evening.

“The risk of a spike in cases and deaths — and of the social and economic impact if we have to return to stricter lockdown measures — cannot be overstated.

“This needs to be understood, not only by the public but also by the government.”

Ms de Gruchy also highlighted the apparent increase in the number of people failing to abide by lockdown rules over the weekend.

“We are at a critical moment,” she wrote. “We need to weigh up the balance of risks between easing restrictions, to enable more pupils to return to school, more businesses to open and more social connections to happen, with the risk of causing a resurgence of infections.

“Directors of Public Health are increasingly concerned that the government is misjudging this balancing act and lifting too many restrictions, too quickly.

“Based on what is currently known, several leading scientists and public health experts have spoken out about a string of recent national policy announcements affecting England which project a degree of confidence that many — including ADPH members — do not think is supported by the science.

“Over the weekend we have seen signs that the public is no longer keeping as strictly to social distancing as it was — along with this, we are concerned that the resolve on personal hygiene measures, and the need to immediately self-isolate, if symptomatic, is waning. A relentless effort to regain and rebuild public confidence and trust following recent events is essential.​”

The test and trace programme was “currently far from being the robust operation that is now urgently required as a safeguard to easing restrictions”, she added.

It came after the deputy chief medical officer, Professor Jonathan Van Tam, warned the UK was at a “very dangerous moment” as it eased restrictions.

However housing secretary Robert Jenrick said at the daily briefing on Sunday the government were “reasonably confident” that the measures it had announced were “manageable”.