By DOMINIC HARRISON, Public Health Director Blackburn with Darwen Council.

THIS weekend Boris Johnson will announce whether or not the lockdown will be eased and if it is, how that might be phased over the coming months.

We do not know any details of the announcement. The government are keeping it very close to their chest but we are seeing a number of other European countries now publishing their own plans, most recently Ireland.

The UK government has set itself five tests to help it decide how far it can go. These are that NHS must not be overwhelmed, that there is a sustained and consistent reduction in the daily death rate, that the number of new infections is falling to manageable levels, there is enough PPE for all who need it and that any changes proposed to the current lockdown rules do not risk another peak.

The easing of measures may not be immediate. Ireland's strategy proposes a five-phase easing and the measures eased in phase one would mainly start from May 18. They have only announced the first easing date as they want to be careful to see what happens before moving on. Phase one for Ireland will involve outdoor workers returning to work but all others who can, to remain working from home. They will allow small family groups to meet outdoors and limited opening of a range of shops currently closed such as IT, opticians, electrical, phone sales – but all only opening subject to social distancing. They will also open outdoor activity facilities, tennis courts, playing fields as well as beaches, walking routes etc – but again all subject to strict social distancing protocols. They propose a widening of childcare for essential healthcare workers and raising the distance people can legitimately travel. They also propose new measures to get the over 70s and shielded groups more physically active whilst on continued lockdown to preserve their health and immunity.

Every country will have different strategies but the main objective for them all will be to keep the number of people infected by one other person (the R number) at or below one so we can gradually manage down the disease over time until the vaccine arrives.

Until then, whatever measures we lift are going to involve us all being vigilant, always maintaining hand washing, sticking to social distancing, tracking and tracing outbreaks and getting used to wearing cloth masks in enclosed public space.

It’s not great – but things will gradually get better.