Lockdown stays as virus deaths hit record high
‘Fighter’ Johnson’s second night in intensive care
NO END is in sight for the coronavirus lockdown as Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the country was not yet at the stage where a review of measures could be considered.
Speaking at yesterday’s daily briefing, Mr Raab said any decision when the “time was right” but refused to commit to the three-week review previously promised by the Prime Minister.
When he announced more serious restrictions on movement on March 23, Boris Johnson had pledged to hold a review after three weeks – even if that meant measures had to continue.
But with April 13 approaching Mr Raab, who is stepping in while the PM remains in intensive care, said: “In terms of the review, we are not at that stage yet.”
The number of coronavirus hospital deaths rose to 6,159 – a record daily increase of 786. There have now been at least 401 deaths in Yorkshire.
The Government’s chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said there were signs that the rates of new of infections and new hospital admissions for Covid-19 were “flattening off”. But in an indication that the current lockdown measures would have to continue beyond the three-week review due next week, he said it would be another “week or so” before they could be sure.
Mr Raab said: “We will take any decision when the time is right, based on the facts and the scientific and medical advice.
“Our number one and overriding focus right now is on conveying the key message which is that everyone needs to keep adhering to this guidance.
“There is a long Easter bank holiday weekend coming up, warm weather and we understand people are making big sacrifices to follow this guidance.
“It is helping, it is contributing to our ability to tackle the coronavirus. The worst thing now would be to take our foot off the pedal, to ease up on that and risk losing the gains that have been made. It is absolutely critical that people keep up that discipline and the vast majority will. We hope everyone will follow that example.”
England’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty added: “It’s really important that we get to the point that we’re all confident that we’re beyond the peak and then at that point start making it clear what combination of things and over what period of time seems a sensible combination to take us through.
The comments came as the Prime Minister prepared to spend another night in intensive care at St Thomas’s Hospital, in London.
He was moved to the unit on Monday evening after the symptoms of coronavirus worsened.
Mr Raab said Mr Johnson was a “fighter” who is “receiving the very best care” and remains in good spirits.
Earlier in the day his official spokesman had confirmed Mr Johnson had not been diagnosed with pneumonia and had not needed to use a ventilator to breathe.
Mr Raab said: “He is not just the Prime Minister. For all of us in Cabinet, he is not just our boss.
“He is also a colleague and he is also our friend. So all our thoughts and prayers are with the Prime Minister at this time, with Carrie (Symonds) and his whole family.
“And I’m confident he will pull through because if there is one thing that I know about this Prime Minister is he is a fighter and he will be back leading us through this crisis in short order.”
He said: “He remained stable overnight. He’s receiving standard oxygen treatment and breathing without any assistance, he’s not required any mechanical ventilation or non-invasive respiratory support.
“He remains in good spirits and in keeping with usual clinical practice his progress continues to be monitored closely in critical care.”
Mr Raab said the Government’s commitment to reach 100,000 coronavirus tests per day by the end of the month “still stands”.
With concerns that antibody tests will not be ready, meaning antigen tests would need to be significantly ramped up, he said: “Lots of these things are in very high demand but we are doing everything we can on every front to get all of the testing capabilities we need.”