What are the four phases of the government’s coronavirus action plan and what stage are we at now?
The Prime Minister addressed the UK this morning.
In his first speech from Downing Street since being hospitalised with coronavirus, Boris Johnson today said the country is ‘coming to the end of the first phase’ of the battle against coronavirus.
The Prime Minister also warned the country is at the point of ‘maximum risk’ in its battle with Covid-19, confirming lockdown restrictions will not be relaxed imminently.
He acknowledged frustrations over the continuing lockdown and thanked the country for following them.
‘Once again I want to thank you, the people of this country, for the sheer grit and guts you’ve continued to show,’ he said.
‘Every day I know this virus brings sadness and mourning to households across the land.’
But what does Johnson mean when he says we are at the end of phase one, and where are we in the government’s four-part coronavirus action plan, first launched in March?
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What is the first phase of coronavirus, and is there a phase 2?
When Johnson said we are reaching the end of the ‘first phase’ of the coronavirus pandemic, It is understood he was referring to the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The PM addressed the nation, declaring the UK is ‘passing through the peak’ of the outbreak but that relaxing restrictions too quickly would cause a second wave.
Johnson also stated measures are in place to win ‘phase two’, just as the UK is winning phase one.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed the UK is currently at the peak of coronavirus, during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, where he said: ‘I just want to thank everyone from across the country for their steadfast commitment in following the rules, including in this House.
‘It is making a difference. We are at the peak.’
It is possible the Prime Minister was also referring to the UK nearing the end of phase one of lockdown, after Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte told the country during a television address last night that ‘Phase two starts now,’ announcing the country will ease some of its lockdown restrictions.
It is not yet known what the next steps are for the UK lockdown, although it is understood the prime minister may modify some elements of it before 7 May.
What stage of the government’s coronavirus action plan are we in now?
On 3 March, the government outlined its plans to tackle coronavirus using a four-stage strategy.
The phases were:
- Contain
- Delay
- Research
- Mitigate
The contain phase, launched on 3 March, focused on stopping coronavirus from spreading in the UK for as long as possible while the delay phase – which the UK entered on 12 March – aims to slow the spread of the virus in the UK and push the worst of the outbreak further from winter.
The research phase aims to put resources into better understanding, and combating the illness.
Finally, the mitigation phase involves offering the best possible care for those who end up catching the virus, in an effort ‘to minimise the overall impact of the disease on society, public services and on the economy.’
The UK is currently working through the latter three stages of the plan in tandem, with vaccine trials underway, and increased NHS capacity, including the government’s hasty creation of the new Nightingale hospitals.
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