What is phase 2 of coronavirus response? What Boris Johnson has said about easing lockdown restrictions as UK enters second stage of tackling coronavirus

By Finlay Greig
Published 28th Apr 2020, 14:43 BST
Updated 30th Apr 2020, 11:55 BST
The government haven't explicitly said what phase of their response to the coronavirus pandemic would look like (Getty Images)The government haven't explicitly said what phase of their response to the coronavirus pandemic would look like (Getty Images)
The government haven't explicitly said what phase of their response to the coronavirus pandemic would look like (Getty Images)
On April 27 the Prime Minister announced that the UK was nearing phase 2 in its response to the coronavirus pandemic

Speaking outside Number 10 Downing Street in his first public address since he was hospitalised with coronavirus the Prime Minister said that the UK was “turning the tide” against the virus.

Mr Johnson said there are signs that the UK is "passing through the peak" of the outbreak and "coming now to the end of the first phase of this conflict".

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The Prime Minister compared the disease to a mugger, saying: "This is the moment when we have begun, together, to wrestle it to the floor."

So what exactly is the next phase of the coronavirus referred to by the Prime Minister?

What is phase one coronavirus pandemic response?

The first phase which Mr Johnson claimed was coming to an end refers to the peak of the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

The UK will have moved beyond the first phase once five tests are met according to the government, these are; ensuring the NHS can cope, a sustained a consistent fall in death rate, rate of inffection decreasing to a manageable level, increasing testing capcity and PPE supply, and eliminating the chance of a second peak. And what is phase two?

The second phase which Boris Johnson refers to are the plans which will be in place beyond the current strict lockdown period.

Phase two would see the government continuing to use social distancing methods in order to suppress the spread of the virus and minimise the rate of infection.

The government has provided limited information on what the loosening of lockdown measure would look like to the public, but have always underlined that they will be ‘guided by the science’.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has already revealed the approach that a Scottish government would take when entering the so-called second phase.

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