LOCKDOWN is being lifted too early – according to the UK Government’s own rules, an expert has said.

The president of the Association of Directors of Public Health says the UK Government’s own five tests have not been met.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Dr Jeanelle de Gruchy added: “In terms of the R [rate of infection], it’s 0.7 to 0.9 in the latest Government assessment.

“It is below one but it’s a very limited room for manoeuvre isn’t it, and we know how quickly this virus can spread and it’s difficult to predict then with quite a lot of the measures being eased at once what the impact that will have on the R value.

“We’re also concerned about meeting all the other operational challenges ready to meet a potential rise in infections.”

She said the national testing programme and the test and trace scheme must be “robust and ready”, and that personal protective equipment (PPE) supply must be adequate.

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“We’re not feeling just yet that we’re confident enough to meet any potential challenge if the Government goes too quickly on easing lockdown measures,” she added.

Business Secretary Alok Sharma denied the easing of the lockdown was a “dash”, insisting measures are being eased in a “cautious” approach.

He told BBC Breakfast: “These are very cautious steps that we are taking. They are phased.”

Sharma said there is a “good likelihood” that the R rate of coronavirus infections will not go past the crucial figure of one if the public heeds the rules.

He said the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) said the lockdown must be eased “cautiously” and “that’s precisely what we’re doing”.

Sharma added: “What they also said is if people comply with the rules and the test and trace system is up and running, which it has been since Thursday, then there is a good likelihood that we will not breach the R value factor above one.”

Sharma said he understands concerns amongst parents in England and Wales over sending their children back to school — something not happening in Scotland until August.

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He told BBC Breakfast: “Every parent wants to keep their child safe. And that’s precisely what the Government wants to do in ensuring schools are safe places to return to.”

Penny Sheppard, headteacher of Queen’s Hill Primary and Nursery School near Norwich, which re-opened to reception children today, commented: “If I’m honest, a lot of headteachers were quite surprised about June 1 because I think we’d been doing a lot of reading about things in the media.

“Probably a lot of us had thought ‘OK, we won’t be having children back until September’.

“But then like anything you take it in your stride don’t you?

“You think ‘OK, right, after that little bit of a shock announcement, let’s think about this logically’ and then just start a plan of action to work towards that.”