Over-70s could be in coronavirus lockdown for A YEAR to protect them from Covid-19
UNDER plans to phase the UK back into life after lockdown, the over-70s could be forced to stay at home for a year.
Those in the vulnerable group could be stuck in the "red" phase of the traffic light style release system for months.
⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
The first steps towards normal life could begin within the next four weeks if infection rates begin to fall.
In the “red” phase, people will still be banned from many things they did before the outbreak, but a number of non-essential shops and businesses would re-open.
Some officials are concerned the over-70s and those with poor health may have to be shielded for up to 18 months, even when many of the restrictions have been lifted.
An insider said: “It’s going to be a slow path back. But just because we aren’t talking about it doesn’t mean we aren’t thinking about it.”
Those in the vulnerable shielding category may have to wait until a vaccine is available before they can get back to normal life.
But for the rest of the UK an “amber” phase could be introduced, with caution still required despite much more economic activity being unlocked.
This would be followed by the green light for much of normal life to resume — but with measures still in place to avoid infection.
The first tentative steps are unlikely to be taken before May 11, according to documents seen by The Sun on Sunday.
Give now to The Sun's NHS appeal
BRITAIN’s four million NHS staff are on the frontline in the battle against coronavirus.
But while they are helping save lives, who is there to help them?
The Sun has launched an appeal to raise £1MILLION for NHS workers.
The Who Cares Wins Appeal aims to get vital support to staff in their hour of need.
We have teamed up with NHS Charities Together in their urgent Covid-19 Appeal to ensure the money gets to exactly who needs it.
The Sun is donating £50,000 and we would like YOU to help us raise a million pounds, to help THEM.
No matter how little you can spare, please donate today here
www.
This would allow small, non-essential shops and businesses to re-open, providing they observed strict social distancing.
Low-risk personal activities would be allowed, such as visits to hairdressers and shopping trips providing masks were worn. Nurseries would reopen.
The amber phase could be ushered in by June — but no earlier than May 25. It would lift the ban on car journeys and family visits.
David Nabarro of Imperial College London, an envoy for the World Health Organisation on Covid-19 s: “For the foreseeable future, we are going to have to find ways to go about our lives with this virus as a constant threat.
“That means isolating those who show signs of the disease and also their contacts. Older people will have to be protected. In addition hospital capacity for dealing with cases will have to be ensured. That is going to be the new normal for us all.”
TOLL RISES
The UK coronavirus death toll today surpassed 16,000 as fatalities increased by 596.
Health authorities confirmed 16,060 people had died in hospitals across the country as infections rose by 5,850 to 120,067.
In just 24 hours yesterday, 784 deaths in England were confirmed, including patients between 26 and 100-years-old, bringing the total to 13,918.
Among those who died after catching the disease was a 44-year-old with no underlying health conditions.
Scotland's death toll rose to 893 - rising by 56 - while Wales recorded 28 new deaths bringing their total to 534.
In Northern Ireland, the number of fatalities increased by 17 to 193.
Health authorities confirmed as of 5pm yesterday, 114,217 people had tested positive for the bug, up by 5,525 in one day across the UK.
Brits will remain in lockdown for another three weeks to slow the spread of coronavirus - with the UK government reportedly two weeks away from announcing how the country will emerge from the drastic measures.
Join our George Cross campaign for NHS staff
SUN readers are today urged to sign a petition calling for our NHS staff to be awarded the George Cross.
Yesterday, we backed a proposal by Lord Ashcroft to honour our health heroes with the gallantry gong given for acts of bravery that did not take place in battle.
A No10 spokesman said: “The NHS is doing a fantastic job and the nation will want to find a way to say thank you when we have defeated this virus.”
SAS hero Andy McNab added: “The award of a George Cross would show an emotional appreciation.”
We are asking readers to sign the petition online at mcb777.site/georgecrossfornhs.
And ministers have been accused of "treating the public like children" after refusing to discuss the exit strategy from lockdown.
There has been growing pressure on the government to outline its plan, with economic paralysis wreaking havoc on jobs and businesses.
It emerged last week that NHS will have to treat coronavirus patients without full-length gowns with hospital set to run out within hours.
Public Health England is set to tell frontline staff to wear a flimsy plastic apron when gowns have run out - which could lead to more hero healthcare workers contracting the virus.
The guidance will be a U-turn on existing advice which told NHS staff that full-length waterproof surgical gowns should be worn for all high-risk hospital procedures, revealed.
The NHS launched the world's largest clinical trial for coronavirus treatments.
Adults diagnosed with the disease are being offered the chance to enroll in the trial when admitted to over 100 NHS hospitals.
Those who agree to take part are randomly assigned to standard care alone or standard care plus one of three existing drugs.
MOST READ IN NEWS
These are Lopinavir-Ritonavir, which is used for HIV, Dexamethasone, used for inflammation, and Hydroxychloriquine, used in malaria.
All have been chosen because the way they work gives researchers hope they may also prove beneficial against Covid-19.
University of Oxford scientists will continually analyse data on each of the participants to see which treatment - if any - is best.