Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Association of Directors of Public Health on their call for full implementation of all Phase 2 measures to be delayed until further consideration of the ongoing trends in infection rates and the R level gives more confidence on what the effect of those will be; and if he will make a statement.

The United Kingdom’s response to COVID-19 is underpinned by scientific advice provided by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE). Part of this advice is informed by a number of infectious disease models, as well as advice from a range of experts in other scientific fields like behavioural science and epidemiology. Each of these models is overseen by world-leading academic and public health institutions, who come together in the UK Government’s Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (SPI-M). SPI-M and SAGE regularly review R based on the latest available data.

The recent changes in lockdown regulations are a cautious next step in bringing families and friends back together whilst limiting the transmission risk. We remain ready to put the brakes on and increase lockdown measures if the data shows that R is increasing.

The Chief Medical Officer’s office holds regular calls with the Directors of Public Health about a range of issues relating to COVID-19 and some of the broader challenges.