Skip to main content
Global Edition
Friday, March 29, 2024

Brits crowd beaches despite warnings of COVID-19 resurgence

Duration: 01:10s 0 shares 1 views

Brits crowd beaches despite warnings of COVID-19 resurgence
Brits crowd beaches despite warnings of COVID-19 resurgence

England risks losing control of the coronavirus pandemic again because it is starting to lift its lockdown without a fully operational track and trace program in place, senior scientific advisers warned on Saturday.

Edward Baran reports.

Sun-seekers in Britain headed to parks and beaches on Saturday -- just days before lockdown measures are set to be eased.

While people enjoyed the sunshine and warm temperatures, senior scientific advisers warned that England risks losing control of the pandemic again The reason?

They say it's starting to lift its lockdown without a fully operational track and trace programme in place.

One of the slowest countries to lock down, Britain is now one of the worst hit.

To allow some parts of the economy to reopen while curbing the virus spread, a test and trace system was introduced on Thursday It will ask the contacts of people who have been infected to isolate for 14 days.

The government says they are taking cautious steps to ease the burden on lockdown and keep the virus reproduction rate down They allow for up to six people to meet outside their homes in England from Monday and the resumption of some school classes.

But some scientific advisers say the system is untested and risks being overwhelmed by the infection rates - currently around 8000 new cases a day.

You might like