The Solicitor General has warned there may be an increase in deaths after covid restrictions are eased - but that there are also "consequences" from staying in lockdown.
Lucy Frazer says issues such as mental health, people's jobs, and the economy have been particularly affected by coronavirus restrictions in the UK.
It comes after the Government’s chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, warned the number of people in hospital with coronavirus could reach “quite scary” levels within weeks.
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Ms Frazer told Sky News: “I don’t think that the Health Secretary (Sajid Javid) has suggested anything otherwise than the infection rate is going to rise and, as a consequence of the infection rate rising, that means, because there is a link between the two, that it follows that hospitalisations and deaths will rise as well.
“But there are also consequences for not opening up, real consequences not just to people’s jobs and the economy, but to mental health as well (and) also to people who haven’t been going to the doctor because they fear it.
“It is really important that we get the balance right between ensuring that we keep this virus under control and we take the necessary clinical measures to do that, but that we also recognise that there are consequences of not opening up and not allowing people to go about their daily lives.”
Ms Frazer also stated the government recognizes “significant impact” that the NHS Covid-19 app is having on businesses.
She stated as well as relaxing self-isolation rules on August 16 for the fully vaccinated, there are pilots being undertaken which could allow people to start a testing regime rather than self-isolate.
“It (the app) is an important tool because it is important that you do isolate if you do come into contact (with a positive case), but I know this is something the Government is looking at,” she told Sky News.
“In addition to the changes in mid-August, the Government is also carrying out a number of pilots to see whether instead of isolating when you get pinged, you could take a test.
“The Government is looking at this very carefully, recognising the significant impact this is having on businesses.”
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