BORIS Johnson will hold a Downing Street press conference at 4pm today as a second national lockdown looms.
The PM has called an emergency cabinet meeting for crunch talks this afternoon ahead of the public address.
Ministers will be briefed by scientific advisers as the government attempts to combat a surge in cases.
The meeting will begin at 1.30pm, ahead of the press conference at 4pm.
The PM is expected to be joined by chief medical officer for England Professor Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance.
The curbs, which would see everything closed except essential shops and educational settings, could be introduced this week and remain in place until December.
It comes as:
- Four-week national lockdown set to be introduced next week
- Everything will close except essential shops and educational settings, includings schools and nurseries
- Britain faces ‘massive spike’ in Covid deaths on Christmas Eve, scientists warn
- Panic buyers hit the shops to stock up on loo roll and milk
- Brits rush to get a haircut and stock up on ’emergency wine’ to prepare for second lockdown
It comes after government scientists presented the PM with “grim” data on the second wave, despite the R-rate falling.
No 10 has been warned deaths from the virus could peak just before Christmas, with a “massive spike” on Christmas Eve.
Grim projections looking at all outcomes have left Downing Street fretting about the festive period, and the spread of the virus.
Mr Johnson has so far resisted pressure to introduce nationwide restrictions, opting instead for a localised tier system, but he is facing fresh calls for action after new data showed the extent of cases across England.
SECOND LOCKDOWN LOOMING…
The Office for National Statistics estimated that 568,100 people in households were infected with coronavirus in the week ending October 23, and Government scientific advisers believe it is now too late for a two-week national circuit-breaker to have enough of an effect.
Asked if a second national lockdown was worth damaging the economy and people’s mental health, Professor Christina Pagel of the Government’s Sage advisory group said: “I think it’s inevitable.
“And given that it’s inevitable I think the sooner you do it the quicker it’s over and the more lives you save.”
France and Germany announced national lockdown restrictions earlier this week, while in Northern Ireland pubs and restaurants were closed for four weeks starting on October 16 with the exception of takeaways and deliveries. Schools were closed for two weeks.
Wales is currently under a “firebreak” lockdown, with leisure, hospitality and tourism businesses closed, and in Scotland the majority of people will be under Level 3 of a new five-tier system from Monday.
Experts warned a circuit breaker style two-week lockdown would now not be long enough to curb infections.
They told No 10 it is too late for that option now, with a month-long national lockdown the only way to bring down cases, the Times reports.
Earlier yesterday, Sage scientists had left Brits in a Covid muddle by calling for tougher curbs as the R rate falls.
They said a four-week total national lockdown was the only way to save Christmas.
Sage says deaths are highly likely” to exceed the “reasonable worst case scenario” drawn up to help the Government with its planning.
It assumed there would be more than 500 Covid deaths a day for 90 days, with a peak of 800 a day in February and 85,000 in total in the second wave.
Politicians and scientists want to bring infection rates down far enough so loved ones can gather safely for Christmas.
Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.hellofaread.com/politics/keir-starmer-risks-tearing-labour-apart-after-threat-to-boot-out-jeremy-corbyn-for-good/
