Prime Minister makes his comeback speech

Boris Johnson compares battle to fight with mugger

The public is being urged to continue to stay at home until the pandemic is under control

Prime Minister Boris Johnson made his coronavirus comeback speech in his own inimitable style this week, likening the disease to a mugger we need to ‘wrestle to the floor’. Standing outside No 10 on Monday for the first time in three weeks following his own touch and go battle with Covid19, the Conservative leader urged the public to maintain the lockdown amid fears that fatigue was starting to set in. He warned of the risk of a second peak if restrictions were relaxed too soon but that he believed the first phase of the fightback was coming to a close - though there was no hint of when lockdown would be lifted.

The Government has outlined five ‘tests’ that need to be safeguarded before any relaxation of social distancing measures could be considered. These include protecting the NHS so that it can cope with Covid-19 cases, something the Prime Minister said we were ‘on the brink of achieving’; note a ‘sustained and consistent’ drop in the death rate following early indications that the peak had passed; that the rate of infection falls to ‘manageable levels’; ensure enough Personal Protective Equipment is available to meet future demand and that any adjustments do not risk triggering a second peak.

The UK death toll currently stands at 21,678 at the time of going to press, with 542 of those recorded across Kent. After five weeks of lockdown, ministers are believed to be considering the early stages of a lift in restrictions, which could require shoppers and those returning to work on public transport to wear face masks. However, for the time being, it is insisting the public continues to stay at home until the pandemic is under control.

Stock pic One of the considerations is whether face masks should be worn on public transport when lockdown is lifted