The lockdown in the UK will almost certainly be extended in May because the peak of infections is expected in ten days.
Before positively infected by Covid, Boris Johnson pledged to review lockdown on Easter Monday, April 13. It is three weeks after it began on March 23. The stand in leader Dominic Raab will give a firm indication that lockdown could be extended into May. He also urge Briton to stay indoor as much as possible.
Ministers are preparing to extend the lockdown into May after warning that relaxing it too soon will kill thousands more. Advisers insist the virus outbreak’s peak could still be ten days away, perhaps on April 18. The government themselves will set an extension early next week formally. However, there are some tensions in Cabinet because the damage in economy. A senior government source said tonight: “Nobody is going to argue about extending the lockdown into May.
Look at where the peak is now expected. It’s becoming obvious that’s where we’re heading. It would be seriously negligent not to do that.” Chancellor Rishi Sunak, to slap down demands for a timeline to end the lockdown, today said “Rather than speculate about the future, we should focus here and now on the present.
What really matters is that people stay home, protect the NHS and save lives.” Opinion polls show the public still strongly support lockdown. The Welsh Government confirmed its measures would stay in place beyond Easter Monday. Then Commons Health Committee chairman Jeremy Hunt said it was a “reasonable assumption” that at least another month is needed.
The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies will tomorrow assess how the measures have fed through to infection and death rates so far. The group is chaired by the Government’s chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance. Friday’s meeting will include chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty and Professor Powis. On the other hand, Italy has extended its time of lockdown until at least mid-of-May.