Health officials give last minute lockdown plea as Brits flood to packed beaches

Officials at the Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) have urged the government to scrap the easing of lockdown rules. Senior public health officials have claimed relaxing

lockdown measures is "not supported by science" and must stop.

Experts have warned the relaxation of lockdown measures has come "too quickly" and could lead to a surge in new coronavirus infections.

New guidelines will soon allow millions of vulnerable people to leave their homes for the first time in 10 weeks.

More than two million clinically extremely vulnerable people in England who have been shielding since March will now be allowed to spend time with other people outdoors.

However, many charities have said the change has come suddenly without enough explanation of the reasoning behind the decision.

Those in this category who live alone can meet outside with one other person from another household.

Pictures of crowded beaches and beauty spots over the weekend have alarmed officials, with health experts concerned that “the public is not keeping to social distancing as it was”.

Thousands of beachgoers poured into Dorset's coastline despite local authorities pleading with the public not to come after a serious cliff-jumping incident.

In a statement, president of the ADPH, Jeanelle de Gruchy, expressed fears that "the Government is misjudging this balancing act and lifting too many restrictions, too quickly."

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She said: "Over the weekend we have seen signs that the public is no longer keeping as strictly to social distancing as it was.

"A relentless effort to regain and rebuild public confidence and trust following recent events is essential.

Ms. de Gruchy also expressed fears that the easing of measures could lead to a second deadly spike in coronavirus cases.

"The risk of a spike in cases and deaths cannot be overstated; this needs to be understood not only by the public but also by the Government.

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The ADPH further warned that the NHS ‘Test and Trace is "far from being the robust operation that is now urgently required as a safeguard to easing restrictions."

The move to ease lockdown restrictions for the vulnerable comes as thousands of pupils are set to return to school this week in what has been dubbed "Happy Monday".

Children can expect queues outside the school gates and divided playground areas when they come back to lessons.

Pupils in reception, Year one and Year six will be kept in "bubbles" of 15 to limit the risk of transmission of Covid-19.

Windows will remain open in classes so air moves through the building, extra cleaners may be employed and water fountains could be removed to stop the spread of the virus.

The return to school is highly controversial, with the National Education Union (NEU) calling on the Government to halt the planned reopening of schools.

The union fears the move will increase the "R-rate" and the level of risk to staff and parents.

However, nine out of 10 members of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) plan to open up their schools.

The NAHT poll suggests that three out of four will not follow the Government's guidelines on which year groups should come back. Some schools will operate a rota and bring in pupils on

different days.

The Department for Education expects pupil numbers to increase gradually as confidence grows among parents. There are no plans to levy penalties on those who do not send their children to

class.

The Education Secretary said: "We will move forward with our plan for a phased and cautious return of a limited number of pupils to primary schools and early years settings from Monday and

students in Years 10 and 12 two weeks later."

Former Labour Education Secretary Alan Johnson said teaching unions had "got it wrong" by opposing the reopening and dancing a "war dance".

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