Tougher Lockdown?
UK ‘in eye of storm’ but some flout rules Health Secretary Hancock warns ‘every flex could be fatal’
CROSBY
Fans of Marine gather near ground to support team
TOUGHER restrictions could be on the way as scientists warned the UK is in the “eye of the storm” of the coronavirus pandemic.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has failed to rule out tighter lockdown rules as the virus continues to rage out of control across the country.
And he warned the public to stick to the existing curbs because “every flex can be fatal” and lead to more deaths from the virus.
Ministers held an emergency meeting of the “Covid-O” committee yesterday to discuss how the new rules are working and whether tougher enforcement is needed.
Tighter restrictions could mean curfews, nurseries closing, support bubbles being banned, the public being told to wear masks outside and exercise limited to one hour.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a new national lockdown last week, which is expected to last at least until the end of February.
March 23, the anniversary of the first lockdown, has been touted as the first realistic date for restrictions to be lifted. But some members of the public have appeared to be ignoring advice to stay at home, with crowds flocking to parks, beaches and public spaces in some areas. Mr Hancock yesterday refused to be drawn on the possibility of even tougher restrictions being necessary to
WARNING Professor Horby drive down rates. He told the BBC: “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. That, in terms of the scale of the impact on the cases, is the most important thing we can do collectively as a society.”
But Professor Peter Horby, chairman of the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group, said that existing measures might have to be tightened further.
He warned the country was “now in the eye of a storm” with the pandemic, adding: “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.”
Prof Devi Sridhar, chair of public health at Edinburgh University, said that lockdown should continue for the next 12 weeks. She said: “With the numbers we’re at, there’s no other choice.”
Commenting on current lockdown rul e s, Labour leader Keir Starmer said: “They are tough and they’re necessary. They may not be tough enough.”
His deputy, Angela Rayner, blamed the Government for any lack of compliance.
She tweeted: “I don’t think the Prime Minister and the Health Secretary understand how damaging their disgraceful defence of Dominic Cummings breaking lockdown rules was for public trust.” Government scientists are concerned that, even with schools closed, they may struggle to drive down the R rate – the speed the infection is spreading – below one.
No 10 sources said ministers discussed how to boost compliance with the rules, which has been lower than during the first restrictions amid fears of lockdown fatigue.
And they underlined the importance of tough enforcement for the small number of people found to be breaking them.
The Covid- O meeting, led by Cabinet Minister Michael Gove, also discussed the latest data from hospitals showing that many are on the brink of being overwhelmed.
They are tough.. but may not be tough enough
KEIR STARMER ON LOCKDOWN RULES