Lockdown looms over Christmas
England could remain shut beyond Dec 2 as effect on virus cases is not yet clear
LOCKDOWN could carry on beyond Dec 2, Matt Hancock has admitted, as he said it was “too early to know” if the current restrictions had been effective.
A senior health chief warned a “strengthened” tier system would be needed to replace the measures even if they ended on schedule, as the lowest tier had “very little effect”.
It raises the spectre of a traditional family Christmas effectively being cancelled as hospital admissions and average daily deaths continue to rise.
Tory MPS last night demanded a “clear route out of lockdown” during a virtual meeting with Boris Johnson, after he was warned of a revolt from dozens of backbenchers if he tried extending it.
No 10 had insisted yesterday that the
lockdown in England would end by law on Dec 2 and that there would be a return to a “localised” regime. But at a Downing Street press conference yesterday the Health Secretary left the door open for an extension, which would have to be approved by Parliament.
Mr Hancock said: “It is too early for us to know what the number of cases will be as we come to the end of the current lockdown.
“At the moment most of the tests that we’re getting back and most of the positive cases are from around the time when the lockdown came in. It’s too early to expect to see in the data the impact of the second lockdown, but we absolutely hope to be able to replace the national lockdown with a tiered system.”
The Prime Minister’s spokesman earlier took a more positive stance, saying: “Those measures will be coming to an end on Dec 2. They will expire in law. We are committed to setting out next week what the replacement regime will be.” Mr Hancock refused to say whether lockdown would simply be “rebadged”.
But Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser to NHS testing, said even if lockdown ended in England, a tougher tier system would be likely to replace it.
She said that while Tier 3 and “Tier 3-plus” in the North West had reduced cases, Tier 2 had done “not so well” and “we see very little effect from Tier 1”.
Another 21,363 people tested positive for the virus yesterday. There were 14,915 Covid patients in hospital, up nearly 2,000 in a week, and 213 deaths were reported, taking the daily average to 413, up from 322 a week ago.
Up to 70 Tory MPS have joined the newly formed Covid Research Group to pressure the Government into finding alternatives to lockdowns to safeguard the economy. Mark Harper, chairman of the group, said: “It’s time for a new way to live with the virus.”
Although the rebels are likely to vote against extending lockdown, Labour would almost certainly support it.
It came as Nicola Sturgeon confirmed she was “likely” to announce today a return to near- f ull l ockdown f or swathes of Scotland to pave the way for easing of rules over Christmas. The First Minister will this afternoon disclose which council areas will be placed “for a limited period” in Level 4, the highest tier of restrictions, with western Scotland expected to be targeted.
In Germany Angela Merkel was facing a coronavirus rebellion as regional leaders tore up her proposals for new lockdown restrictions. And Mr Johnson’s self-isolation meant he would be unable to hold face-to-face meetings with EU leaders as Brexit trade talks entered their most crucial phase, resorting instead to video conference calls.
21,363
DAILY CORONAVIRUS CASES
+11%
CHANGE IN 7-DAY AVERAGE
52,147
DEATHS + 213