It is too early to ease lockdown, top scientists warn, amid fears of rule flouting over warm weekend

The easing of coronavirus lockdown measures in the UK may be happening too early and could cause a spike in cases, government scientific advisers have warned.

Sir Jeremy Farrar and Professor John Edmunds, both members of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) which advises the Government on the Covid-19, said ministers were taking risks by following their current plans.

They said they are concerned at allowing the gradual reopening of shops and schools and gatherings of six people from different households while the number of new cases each day remains “relatively high”.

Sir Jeremy also said the newly-introduced NHS test-and-trace system needs to be “fully working” before measures are further eased on Monday.

In a Twitter post, he said: “Covid-19 spreading too fast to lift lockdown in England. Agree with John & clear science advice.

“TTI (test, trace and isolate) has to be in place, fully working, capable dealing any surge immediately, locally responsive, rapid results & infection rates have to be lower. And trusted.”

It came as a tranche of papers released by Sage revealed advice given to the Government in April said it was “likely” the R-value – the average number of people that will contract coronavirus from an infected person – would go above one should non-essential shops be reopened.

The document on a Sage meeting from April 13, released on Friday, showed the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (SPI-M) that advises the Government warned against reopening shops and leisure facilities.

The document said: “There is limited evidence on the effect of closing of non-essential retail, libraries, bars, restaurants, etc, but it is likely that R would return to above 1 and a subsequent exponential growth in cases.”

The comments come with Britain set for a weekend of high temperatures and police have urged the public to follow current safeguards about social contact ahead of the lessening of restrictions, which will allow up to six people to meet outside if social distancing is observed.

Downing Street warned the public that meet-ups remain prohibited until after the weekend.

The Lake District National Park Authority has urged people to “show care and consideration for everyone who lives and works” in the area, while Dorset Police has told people to “go home or elsewhere” if an area looks too busy.

Wiltshire Police Chief Constable Kier Pritchard said: “I know we are going into another weekend where the weather looks fantastic and beautiful, and that will bring many temptations for us to go outside and perhaps meet with friends and loved ones that we haven’t seen for some time, and perhaps gather in large groups, but, quite simply the rules and regulations will not allow that this weekend.”

In other developments:

Meanwhile former prime minister Theresa May says Dominic Cummings did not “follow the spirit” of the lockdown guidance.

UK returns to work as Coronavirus restrictions are eased - In pictures

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In a letter to her constituents in Maidenhead, Berkshire, Mrs May said said she can “well understand the anger” of people who had obeyed the guidance while the PM’s aide drove from London to a family farm in Durham.

She added: “In these circumstances I do not feel that Mr Cummings followed the spirit of the guidance.

“I can well understand the anger of those who have been abiding by the spirit of the guidance given by the Government and expect others to do so.”

But Mrs May added she was concerned that the focus on Mr Cummings was “detracting from the most important task” of dealing with coronavirus.

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