Boris puts on the brakes
STICKING TO TIMETABLE FOR LEISURE VENUES ‘IS TOO RISKY’
PRIME Minister Boris Johnson scrapped plans to open venues such as ice rinks and bowling alleys as he warned that Covid-19 coronavirus cases were increasing.
Wedding receptions will have to be cancelled and plans to allow spectators to return to sports venues on a trial basis have been postponed.
People will also be required people to wear face coverings in museums, galleries, cinemas and places of worship from August 8.
Mr Johnson said: “The prevalence of the virus in the community in England is likely to be rising for the first time since May.”
And he warned: “With those numbers creeping up, our assessment is that we should now squeeze that brake pedal in order to keep the virus under control.”
It came as the Government’s official scientific advisory body, SAGE, said it does not have confidence that the Covid-19 virus is under control.
It has published its latest R-number estimates showing the rate of reproduction. If R is below 1 than the number of cases will fall, but if it is above 1 then the number of cases will rise exponentially.
A statement published by the Government at lunchtime yesterday said: “SAGE does not have confidence that R is currently below 1 in England.”
The Government has announced new restrictions to stop the spread of coronavirus across Greater Manchester and parts of east Lancashire and West Yorkshire.
But it came in for heavy criticism after the changes were announced late on Thursday night, just hours before they came into effect. They will affect Eid celebrations over the weekend.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Thursday that people from different households in Greater Manchester and in parts of east Lancashire and West Yorkshire will be banned from meeting each other indoors from midnight.
The new restrictions apply to Greater Manchester, including the City of Manchester, Trafford, Stockport, Oldham, Bury, Wigan, Bolton, Tameside, Rochdale and Salford. They also apply to Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle and Rossendale in Lancashire, and Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees in West
Yorkshire. Giving a press conference with Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty, the Prime Minister said: “I am afraid that in parts of Asia and Latin America the virus is now gathering pace. And our European friends are also struggling to keep the virus under control.
“As we see these rises around the world, we cannot fool ourselves that we are exempt. We must be willing to react to the first signs of trouble.”
He added: “On
August 1, you’ll remember, we had hoped to reopen in England a number of higher-risk settings that had remained closed. Today, I am afraid we are postponing these changes for at least a fortnight.”
It means that, until 15 August at the earliest:
■ Casinos, bowling alleys, skating rinks and remaining close contact services must remain closed;
■ Indoor performances will not resume;
■ Pilots of larger crowds in sports venues and conference centres will not take place;
■ Wedding receptions of up to 30 people will not be permitted, but ceremonies can continue to take place, in line with Covidsecure guidelines.
Mr Johnson said: “I know that the steps we are taking will be a heavy blow to many people – to everyone whose wedding plans have been disrupted, or who now cannot celebrate Eid in the way they would wish, I am really, really sorry about that. But we simply cannot take the risk.”
However, he said the Government was still encouraging employers to consider asking staff to return to workplaces rather than working from home.
Shortly before Mr Johnson spoke, the Office for National Statistics stated that cases appear to be rising slowly.
It said: “An estimated 35,700 people...within the community population in England had Covid-19 during the most recent week, from July 20 to 26, equating to around 1 in 1,500 individuals.
“There is now evidence to suggest a slight increase in the number of people in England testing positive on a nose and throat swab in recent weeks.
“There is not enough evidence to say with confidence whether Covid19 infection rates differ by region in England, nor whether infection rates have increased in different regions over the past six weeks.
“During the most recent week, we estimate there were around 0.78 new Covid-19 infections for every 10,000 people in the community population in England, equating to around 4,200 new cases per day.”
Responding, Jarrow MP Kate Osborne said: “No clarity, no clear guidance, no plan. The bluster continues in a time when the country needs proper leadership.”
As we see these rises around the world, we cannot fool ourselves that we are exempt
Boris Johnson, right