Tougher lockdown laws considered

MINISTERS are reportedly considering tougher lockdown laws for the capital as they try to bring the spiralling pandemic under control.

Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty gave a damning statement on Monday, when he said the next few weeks will be the “worst of the pandemic” as the NHS is at breaking point, with many hospitals nearing bed capacity.

Also on Monday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “We’re going to keep the rules under constant review. Where we have to tighten them, we will, but we have rules in place already which – if they are properly followed – we believe can make a huge, huge difference.

“Of course, if we feel things are not being properly observed, then we may have to do more.”

Health Secretary Matt Hancock refused to rule out the introduction of stricter lockdown rules when asked about curfews, closing nurseries and ending support bubbles.

He said: “I don’t want to speculate because the most important message is not whether the Government will further strengthen the rules.

“The most important thing is that people stay at home and follow the rules that we have got.

“And that, in terms of the scale of the impact on the cases, that is the most important thing we can do collectively. as a society.”

The UK announced its highest Sunday death figure since April with a further 573 having died from the virus.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer believes lockdown rules “may not be tough enough”, while Prof Peter Horby, chairman of the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group, said existing measures might have to be tightened further.

He told the BBC: “Now we’re in a situation where everything that was risky in the past is now more risky so we are going to have to be very, very strict about the measures.

“Whether the current restrictions are enough, I think it remains to be seen. It will be a week or two before it becomes clear. They may be sufficient but we have to be very vigilant and if there’s any sign that they’re not, then we’re going to have to be even stricter I’m afraid.”

Among the new measures that could be introduced in the capital, a curfew could be used for the first time.

There was a 10pm curfew for pubs when it was still possible for them to open, but it has never extended to residents being inside by a certain time.

Curfews have been used in other countries such France and Spain.

Nurseries remaining open has been a bone of contention for early years workers as they are concerned about catching the virus.

Schools, colleges and universities have already been told to close down and there has been calls for nurseries to follow suit.

The Early Years Alliance, which represents nurseries and childminders, said some providers are closing despite what the Government has said.

This form of socialising, which has been vital for millions during the pandemic, may come to an end and would make this lockdown much more similar to the first one in March.

Support bubbles allows a singleadult household or a couple with a child under one to permanently meet up with another household of any size.

However, the government fears many have bent the rules of support bubbles to suit their needs.

According to the Office for National Statistics, four in 10 adults in Britain formed a bubble to celebrate Christmas Day.

Face coverings could become mandatory outside as well as inside.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan declared a major incident in the capital on Friday and called for face coverings to be worn outside.

Mr Khan has written to Boris Johnson asking for rules around wearing face masks outside of the home to be implemented.

“Londoners continue to make huge sacrifices and I am today imploring them to please stay at home unless it is absolutely necessary for you to leave. Stay at home to protect yourself, your family, friends and other Londoners and to protect our NHS,” the mayor said.

Exercise is currently allowed once a day but there is no limit on how long you can exercise for – some reports have said the government is considering reducing that time to one hour.

The rule around exercising was expanded in the summer as the public was allowed to exercise for as long as they wanted.