The UK's 'stay-at-home' order had little impact on the spread of coronavirus, scientists claim.
In a study into how the UK government's measures affected the outbreak, researchers from the University of East Anglia said the closure of schools and banning of mass gatherings did work in slowing down the spread.
However, they found that the government's message to 'stay at home' was not associated with "any additional impact" on efforts to curb the virus.
In their findings, they wrote: "The current epidemic of COVID-19 is unparallelled in any recent history as are the social distancing interventions hat have led to a significant halt on the economic and social life of so many countires.
"However, there is very little empirical evidence about which social distancing measures have he most impact."
They continued: "We found that closure of educational facilities, prohibiting mass gatherings and closure of some non-essential businesses were associated with reduced incidence whereas stay at home orders, closure of all non-businesses and requiring the wearing of face masks in public was not associated with any independent additional impact."
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The study also revealed that "widespread closures of all non-essential businesses and stay at home orders seem not to have much if any value".
The research follows claims from Dr Johan Giesecke, of Stockholm's Karolinska Institute- who said lockdowns are unnecessary because the virus is unstoppable.
Although he admits the benefit of preventing hospitals from becoming overwhelmed which, the UK Government says, has been its aim all along.
Writing in an article in The Lancet, Dr Giesecke said: 'Many countries (and members of their press media) have marvelled at Sweden's relaxed strategy in the face of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: schools and most workplaces have remained open, and police officers were not checking one's errands in the street.
In a televised address on March 23, Mr Johnson said: “From this evening I must give the British people a very simple instruction - you must stay at home.”
He then went on to list the reasons people could leave their homes:
- Shopping for basic necessities, as infrequently as possible
- One form of exercise a day - for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your household
- Any medical need, to provide car or to help a vulnerable person
- Travelling to and from work, but only where this is absolutely necessary and cannot be done from home
In his address on March 23 the Prime Minister said the emergency measures will be in place for at least three weeks before they were later extended for another three weeks.
On Monday, the government is expected to release more detail on changes to lockdown rules.
However, any changes to the UK lockdown this Monday will be "very limited" and could be reversed if the virus spikes, Boris Johnson's spokesman insisted today.
Downing Street moved to clarify the situation after the Prime Minister revealed he would be lifting some measures in just three days' time "if possible".
Mr Johnson will outline a "roadmap" at 7pm on Sunday spelling out how lockdown might be relaxed over several months.
But after a flurry of leaks overnight, including to the Mirror, No10 insisted the vast majority of changes would not happen immediately.
And Downing Street ordered the nation not to go sunbathing or go out to mark VE Day this weekend - stressing that the lockdown remains fully in place for now.
Mr Johnson told his Cabinet today he would use "maximum caution" and "track" each stage of lifting restrictions before moving on to the next one.
His spokesman told journalists: "Any easements to the guidelines next week will be very limited.
"We are at a critical moment in the fight against the virus and we will not do anything which risks throwing away the efforts and the sacrifices of the British public.”
Today is the legal deadline to review the lockdown every three weeks.
But the UK government made clear the full restrictions remain in place until any announcement on Sunday.
Asked if people should go sunbathing this weekend, a Downing Street spokesman said: "The social distancing rules remain in place and we would ask everyone to respect them, just as they have so far."
