Lockdown lifting: Britons urged to ‘be measured, stay cautious’ over coronavirus

Exclusive: ’This is a very difficult, agile virus’ says Professor Anthony Harnden

Washed up: boats at St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly (Simon Calder)

As the stay at home rule is lifted in England, one of the UK’s most influential medical experts has urged the public to “be measured, stay cautious”.

Twelve weeks after England’s third lockdown was imposed, Professor Anthony Harnden, deputy chairman of the Joint Committee of Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), told The Independent: “We’ve got ourselves into a really good place with vaccinations and we don’t want to blow it all away now.

“Then we may have to reintroduce further lockdown measures, which would be just awful.”

The lifting of the ban on leisure travel on 29 March was revealed on 21 February by the prime minister, who said at the time: “People should continue to work from home where they can and minimise all travel wherever possible.”

Downing Street has provided no further guidance on what travel is permitted, and ministers have not offered clarity.

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But Prof Harnden said: “Rushing over to other parts of country? I’m not sure it’s a great idea in the next few weeks.

“The vaccines have done a fantastic job at protecting the vulnerable and the elderly, but we’ve still got a large unvaccinated population between the ages of 18 and 50, plus all those over-50s who haven’t taken up the offer of a vaccine yet.

“Infection rates are going down, but they are still too high.

“The slowly, slowly approach and being cautious this summer will pay dividends in the medium and long term.”

In common with other senior figures, Prof Harnden has warned that international travel this summer may not be feasible.

The government has said that holidays and other trips abroad may be permitted from 17 May, seven weeks from now.

“It really depends on what the infection rates are in other parts of the world before you decide whether it’s appropriate to travel or not,” Prof Harnden said.

“The roadmap to freedom is quite clear. If we get to June and we’ve got low infection rates in this country, then that’s fine.

“But if they’ve got high infection rates in other countries, I would suggest it’s not very sensible to go there.

“I don’t think it’s the medical profession making a doomsday scenario, trying to be too strict on the public.

“This is a very difficult, agile virus, and vaccination together with distancing measures is the way to conquer it.

“What we just don’t want is another massive wave over the autumn-winter period. Then we may have to reintroduce further lockdown measures, which would be just awful.

“Maybe it’s the year to enjoy the UK.”

Prof Harnden has booked “a few days in the Lake District and Eden Valley” as well as a week in south Devon.

Meanwhile the aviation industry has warned of the “emotional and economic cost” if international travel were not to resume this summer.

The chief executive of Heathrow airport, John Holland-Kaye, said: “A safe and irreversible resumption of international travel from 17 May is within our sights.

“Resuming transatlantic travel would add £2.4bn to the national economy this summer alone and help protect over 50,000 jobs.”

Sean Doyle, chief executive of British Airways, said: “The emotional and economic cost of not starting to reopen international travel on 17 May is clear.

“With more than 50 per cent of the UK adult population vaccinated in a programme that has been the envy of the world, the government must now urgently provide a phased, risk-based framework for travel to restart this summer that will save the economy and jobs, allow business to restart and reunite friends and families.”

The government’s Global Travel Taskforce is expected to report next week on protocols for possibly opening up international travel.