Lockdown lifting Step Four in England is in doubt says expert

The next stage of lockdown lifting in England is in doubt because of Indian Covid, says an expert.

Paul Hunter, professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia, said the June 21 lockdown lifting could be in doubt if the Indian variant causes increases in cases in elderly people and a rise in people needing hospital care.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I think the big question is how many of people who are getting the Indian variant will end up requiring hospitalisation.

“And at the moment the hospitalisation rate doesn’t seem to be increasing yet, although if this becomes much more common we’ll almost certainly see some increase, so I think it’s certainly a concern.

“I think the step four is in doubt in June now, but we really need to see what impact it has on severe disease before we can really be certain.”

Asked why June 21 is in doubt, he said: “Well, because if the epidemic continues to increase, if the Indian variant of the epidemic continues to increase at the same rate as it has over recent weeks, we’re going to have a huge number of cases by June.

“The issue though is that because it seems to be spreading in unvaccinated younger people at the moment and not yet that much more active in older people maybe we’ll be able to weather it and we’ll still be able to have the step four in June.

“But if that increases cases in elderly and starts to increase hospitalisations, and puts pressure on the NHS again then I think step four would be in doubt.”

Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi stressed that the Government’s four tests must be met for the June 21 easing of restrictions and warned there could be a delay if variants or infection rates become a problem.

Asked if there is a possibility that the June 21 easing could be paused, he told LBC: “The way we don’t have to do that is by everybody doing their bit, by taking the two tests a week, doing your PCR test in those areas, and to isolate, isolate, isolate.

“We have got to break the cycle of infection, because one of those big tests was infection rates have to be suppressed, and the other big test is variants.

“If those cause a problem, then the tests will fail. The four tests have to be met for June 21.”