COVID-19: Sunshine brings crowds out 鈥� but SAGE expert warns we could blow chances of ending lockdown
Go out and exercise but don't have parties on the beach or picnics in the park, the professor says.
Sunday 28 February 2021 14:20, UK
Britons are being warned making the most of warmer weather and sunshine could jeopardise our chances of sticking to the prime minister's reopening road map.
Yesterday's warmer temperatures and bright sunshine brought out crowds across the country, with pictures showing packed parks and waterfronts.
But professor Calum Semple, an expert in "outbreak" medicine, warned the public to continue sticking to the lockdown rules or we could "blow it".
Asked whether crowds could cause case numbers to rise again, professor Semple, who sits on the government's SAGE advisory board, admitted to Sky News: "This is a big worry to us."
He added: "Really, we do urge people to take care.
"We're just not quite there on the road map - we can't take a short cut with people's health."
He said the public should remember that 10% of hospital COVID beds are still taken by people aged under 50 with no underlying health problems. The same group takes up one in five intensive care beds too.
Police forces across the country have also joined his call for the public to remember that England remains in lockdown and outside activity is only permitted when exercising with one other person.
Meeting for coffee, picnics or socialising is still not allowed.
Prof Semple said it was "entirely possible" that "inadvertent activities" could drive up cases of coronavirus.
"It just takes a few families.... and we can kick off outbreaks," he said.
"We're so close but we could blow it by breaking the rules now," he added.
"Certainly people can go out and exercise" in the good weather, he said, "but it's this clustering - it's the meeting up in large parties on the beach or parks for picnics, that's where the rules are being broken".