Coronavirus alert level lowered to level three – this is what it means

The Government have confirmed that the UK has moved into “level three” of the coronavirus lockdown.

The change means that the “Covid-19 epidemic is in general circulation” however the transmission rate is lowering.

The Business Secretary Alok Sharma hinted on June 2 that the UK could move to the next level.

He said: “Throughout the period of lockdown we have been at level four. Thanks to you, people across the country, we have collectively helped to bring the R level down. We are now in a position to begin moving to level three, in careful steps.”

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has claimed that it is “a big moment” and shows that the “Government’s plan is working” before saying that “we are getting the country back on her feet”.

Here is how the alert system works:

What is the five level alert system?

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the new five level alert system in a speech to the nation on Sunday 10 March.

He said the government’s colour-coded alert system will measure the threat from coronavirus in England, with varying levels of severity.

Mr Johnson explained that the “Covid Alert Level will be determined primarily by R and the number of coronavirus cases.

“And, in turn, that Covid Alert Level will tell us how tough we have to be in our social distancing measures – the lower the level the fewer the measures. The higher the level, the tougher and stricter we will have to be.

“There will be five alert levels. Level One means the disease is no longer present in the UK and Level Five is the most critical – the kind of situation we could have had if the NHS had been overwhelmed.”

Eventually the government plans for the levels in the colour-coded system to reflect the threat of Covid-19 in certain areas of the country, rather than the country as a whole, and this will then be used to inform local lockdown restrictions.

What are the five levels?

As defined by the Government’s Covid-19 recovery strategy document, the five alert levels are:

Level 1

Covid-19 is not known to be present in the UK

Level 2

Covid-19 is present in the UK, but the number of cases and transmission is low

Level 3

A Covid-19 epidemic is in general circulation

Level 4

A Covid-19 epidemic is in general circulation; transmission is high or rising exponentially

Level 5

As level 4 and there is a material risk of healthcare services being overwhelmed

What is the current level?

The UK is currently operating in level three of the alert system.

It is a drop from level four which has been the level since March, and for the entirety of the UK lockdown.

What is level three of lockdown?

Level three of lockdown means the threat of Covid-19 in the country is “substantial”.

While this doesn't sound too positive, it means the virus’ threat to the country has decreased somewhat, from level four’s “severe” threat.

Who determines the current level?

It is the Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC) - an organisation ran by Tom Hurd, a counter-terrorism specialist - that will use testing to identify changes in infection rates, as well as environmental and workplace data, to advise chief medical officers.

However, it remains the government ministers job to decide whether to ease or tighten the lockdown restrictions based on this data.

Gradual easing of restrictions

Given that the alert level has been lowered, it could suggest that the Government will look to make further reduce the coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

The next round of easing is set to take place from July 4.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you.

How to subscribe to the print edition:

It’s easy to subscribe to your local newspaper. We have arranged a special 20 per cent off subscription offer for people to take advantage of. Visit www.localsubsplus.co.uk, choose the newspaper title, the type of subscription and enter your details.