Coronavirus: Veteran councillor, 85, says ‘trust people’ and ease lockdown restrictions

Ministers have dismissed reports that the government has drawn up a graduated plan to start easing restrictions within weeks, with Michael Gove saying that there are tests which need to be passed before any restrictions can be lifted.

One of the lockdown exit strategies being discussed would see the over 70s and vulnerable people remain in lockdown for the foreseeable future until a vaccine is found.

Lisburn councillor Jim Dillon, who is 85 and requires two health visits a day, is keen to have the restrictions eased: “I’m going to go nuts here if I don’t get out.

“I can still get out into my fields, but what I really miss is being able to drive up to the north coast, and to get out to restaurants to eat.”

Mr Dillon was awarded the freedom of the borough of Lisburn and Castlereagh in February but has ironically had no such freedom since March.

He said: “It’s getting me down. I can see why the restrictions are in place but I think they’re too strict.

“Loneliness is getting to be an issue. I’m sitting here from seven at night until 10 the next morning and I don’t get to see anybody.

“People need to be trusted to socially distance themselves. The large parks should be allowed to open so people can get out to exercise, and get some fresh air, a change of scenery.

“These poor people living in apartment blocks, they must be going daft.

“I’d like to see the restrictions eased.

“They’re talking about exit strategies for everyone except the over 70s. That does not fill me with hope.”

Meanwhile, at UK government level, Sir Jeremy Farrar, who is a member of the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), said he hopes some lockdown measures could begin to be lifted within around three or four weeks’ time if the numbers of infections and hospital patients drop “dramatically”.

Sir Jeremy, an infectious diseases expert, told Sky News’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday: “I would hope they will get there in three-four weeks’ time because it’s clear that the lockdown can’t go on for much longer.

“The damage it’s doing to all of our health and wellbeing, our mental health ... the lockdown is damaging business and ultimately that’s damaging all of our lives.

“So the lockdowns cannot go on forever, we must lift them as soon as we can but we can’t lift them too soon and we can’t just make arbitrary dates. It has to be driven, I’m afraid, by the data.”

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove denied suggestions a ‘traffic light’ strategy is about to be brought in which would see some schools and businesses allowed to reopen in mid-May.

He said: “It is the case that we are looking at all of the evidence, but we have set some tests which need to be passed before we can think of easing restrictions in this lockdown.”

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson tweeted: “No decision has been made on when we will reopen schools.

“I can reassure schools and parents that they will only reopen when the scientific advice indicates it is the right time to do so.”

Senior Tory MPS have warned that ministers are under-estimating the public by refusing to discuss exit strategies for ending the lockdown.

Backbenchers and former ministers say there needs to be “strategic clarity” and that the argument put forward by the government about not wanting to “confuse the message” is not the right way forward.