STUDY IDENTIFIES 275 WAYS TO REDUCE VIRUS SPREAD AFTER FIRST WAVE RESTRICTIONS EASED

ATHERSTONE has made its feelings known that lifting lockdown is not an option at the moment but stay-at-home residents were today given a whopping 275 ways to reduce the spread of coronavirus when the loosening process begins.

The Government is reportedly looking at 'traffic-light' plans to ease the restrictions in staged phases over the next two months although Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove gave a strong hint pubs would be the "last in the line" for reopening.

One strand of new thinking is laid out in a report authored by Tory peer Lord Gadhia and GlaxoSmithKline chairman Sir Jonathan Symonds which calls on us to "learn to live with Covid" as it cannot be fully beaten with a vaccine up to 18 months away.

But another from researchers suggests reopening of schools, businesses and open spaces should be considered alongside a range of practical ways to keep people physically apart in relaxing lockdown after the first wave of infection has peaked.

The research did not consider medical possibilities when compiling the 275 measures.

The study does not offer recommendations but the scientists said a shortlist of the most appropriate options for specific regions and contexts should be considered in terms of their likely effectiveness, cost, practicality and fairness.

Here are some prime practical options from the study Nub News has highlighted for our readers:

- Cafe owners opening outdoor areas only at first and wiping down tables – spaced well apart – after each customer;

- Access to public parks could be restricted to different age groups at different times of day, with gates left open so they do not need to be touched, and users asked to walk on the right side of the pavement or clockwise around large open spaces;

- Patients with doctors' appointments being asked to wait in their car outside the surgery until called in; and

- School classes could be split into smaller groups with dedicated teachers, who only go into school one week in every three.

Professor William Sutherland, from the University of Cambridge's department of zoology, who led the study, said: "There's increasing pressure to reopen the economy and get people back to work and out of isolation.

"But if we return to operating as we did before the pandemic, there will be a second wave of the virus.

"All activities will need to be considered individually, and phased back in carefully, depending on the risk they pose to spreading the virus."

While strict lockdown measures are proving to be effective in controlling the spread of Covid-19 in many countries, they are putting a strain on the population's mental and physical health, and on the economy.

A vaccine is unlikely to be available for at least 12 months, and probably longer.

Measures such as physical distancing, enhancing personal hygiene and reducing contamination are likely to remain central elements of all control strategies for some time, the researchers said.

Yesterday former Atherstone and North Warwickshire MP Mike O'Brien warned of the dangers of relaxing too soon on coronavirus restrictions for the general population.

The former Labour Solicitor-General said the Covid-19 lockdown "will cause job losses, companies going bust and real pain, but it will also saves lives".

Prof Sutherland added: "It's basically about how to stop people hanging around together, and phasing in activities starting with the ones that are the safest.

"Making this happen will be up to the people responsible for every element of society."

Identifying, assessing and applying a wide range of options could enable some of the stricter lockdown conditions to be lifted earlier, and make the transition period shorter, said the researchers.

For that full list of 275 measures, click here.