UK sets sights on loosening lockdown, but only slightly

LONDON

Amid more talk of relaxing restrictions, British authorities announced on Friday that the total number of UK-wide deaths from coronavirus was 31,241, a rise of 626 in 24 hours.

Environment Secretary George Eustice told a daily press briefing that charities will receive £16 million ($19.9 million) in government funding to feed the country’s most vulnerable people during the lockdown.

On rising speculation as to when and how the lockdown will end, Eustice said: “There isn’t going to be any dramatic overnight change. We will be very, very cautious as we loosen the restrictions we have. As the data that we’re outlining on a daily basis shows, we are not out of the woods, there are still major challenges with this virus for some time to come.

"And it’s therefore important to avoid that second peak that could overwhelm our NHS, that we exit and evolve these restrictions very, very carefully.”

The local Welsh government announced that it would extend its lockdown by a further three weeks, ahead of an announcement by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the status of the nationwide lockdown on Sunday.

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said the lockdown would continue, but there would small changes to loosen it slightly, such as allowing people to exercise more than once a day and allowing libraries to reopen.

Local media have reported in recent days that Johnson is expected to renew the lockdown but announce a slight loosening of restrictions as well.

Local media reported that a 6-week-old baby died from coronavirus on May 3. It is thought the baby is the youngest person to die in England from COVID-19.

Joint statements by teaching and national unions said schools should not be reopened unless both parents and staff are convinced they are safe.

The statement said there should be ““no increase in pupil numbers until full rollout of a national test and trace scheme,” adding that staff must be given personal protective equipment.

“The wider reopening of our schools will depend greatly on ensuring that families and carers are fully confident that allowing their children to return to school is safe. We do not believe that sufficient levels of confidence exist at this time,” the statement said.

The global death toll from the pandemic has surpassed 271,700, with total infections nearly 3.89 million, while recoveries have passed 1.3 million, according to figures compiled by the US’ Johns Hopkins University.