Obey the rules or face new lockdown
HEALTH Secretary Matt Hancock has warned that Britain is at a “tipping point” as he refused to rule out a second national coronavirus lockdown if the public fails to follow social distancing rules.
With cases rising across the country, Mr Hancock said there was a danger the numbers could “shoot through the roof ” unless effective action was taken to halt the spread of the virus.
His warning came as the Government announced that anyone in England who refuses an order to selfisolate could face a fine of up to £10,000.
The Health Secretary said hospital admissions for the disease were doubling “every eight days” and would be followed by an increase in the number of deaths.
“This country faces a tipping point,” he told BBC1’s The Andrew Marr Show.
“If everybody follows the rules – and we will be increasingly stringent on the people who are not following the rules – then we can avoid further national lockdowns.
“But we of course have to be prepared to take action if that’s what’s necessary.”
Another 3,899 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK were announced on Sunday, bringing the total to 394,257, while a further 18 people had died within 28 days of testing positive, bringing the UK total to 41,777.
During a round of broadcast interviews, Mr Hancock said yesterday that the Government had taken the decision to impose a legal duty on people to self-isolate if instructed as the data showed some were failing to do so.
HEALTH Secretary Matt Hancock has warned Britain is at a “tipping point” as he refused to rule out a second national coronavirus lockdown if the public fails to follow social distancing rules.
With cases rising across the country, Mr Hancock said there was a danger the numbers could “shoot through the roof” unless effective action was taken to halt the spread of the virus.
His warning came as the Government announced anyone in England who refuses an order to self-isolate could face a fine of up to £10,000.
The Health Secretary said that hospital admissions for the disease were doubling “every eight days” and would be followed by an increase in the number of deaths.
“This country faces a tipping point,” he told BBC1’s The Andrew Marr Show.
“If everybody follows the rules and we will be increasingly stringent on the people who are not following the rules - then we can avoid further national lockdowns.
“But we of course have to be prepared to take action if that’s what’s necessary.”
During a round of broadcast interviews, Mr Hancock said the Government had taken the decision to impose a legal duty on people to selfisolate if instructed as the data showed some were failing to do so.
At the same time ministers have said people on benefits in England will be eligible for a one off support payment of £500 if they face a loss of earnings as a result of being required to self-isolate.
Mr Hancock told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme: “We will support people who do the right thing and we will come down hard on people who do the wrong thing.”
Boris Johnson has been desperate to avoid another nationwide lockdown amid concerns about the economic damage it will inflict just as activity was beginning to pick up again.
However, as of Tuesday, around 13.5 million people across the UK will be facing some form of local restrictions as the authorities grapple with the disease.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan is now pressing ministers to extend the controls to the capital, which he believes may be just “two or three days” behind the hotspots of the North West and North East of England.
Mr Hancock said he was “very worried” about the latest data which suggested Britain could be on the same path as Spain and France - where deaths and hospitalisations are increasing - without effective action.
“I am very worried about this second wave. We have seen in other countries around Europe how it can absolutely shoot through the roof,” he said.
“When the case rate shoots up, the next thing that happens is the numbers going into hospital shoot up.”