Coronavirus is ‘getting out of control again’, minister admits as SAGE say new measures needed

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CORONAVIRUS is becoming “out of control” again in the UK and new measures are needed to tackle it, a minister admitted last night.

Skills minister Gillian Keegan told BBC Question Time that the huge rise in cases as “serious” and “we have to do something”.

Ministers have warned more lockdown measures are needed to control the virus

Infection rates are soaring in the North of England despite more measures

It came as scientists on the Government’s SAGE committee of experts called for more stringent measures to tackle the spread of the virus across Britain.

Ministers are now increasingly worried about the effect on hospitals as admissions rise along with deaths.

Ms Keegan said last night: “This is serious, it is getting out of control, and we have to do something to bring it back under control.”

Boris Johnson is mulling new measures for the North of England – with cities including Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle expected to see pubs shut from next week.

But there’s a huge divide across the country with areas in the South not seeing the same increases in cases like areas further North.

MPs have been shown data which claimed up to 30 per cent of coronavirus “exposure” is in hospitality.

But Public Health England data shows it’s only responsible for a handful of outbreaks across the country.

Experts have said, however, that even shutting hospitality venues and risking more jobs will might not be enough to curb the virus.

Sir Jeremy Farrar called for immediate action “to avoid spiralling out of control”.

He said this morning: “We are close to or at events & choices of 13-23 March.

“With the lag time between making a decision, its implementation & its effect measured in weeks the longer the decisions are delayed the harder & more draconian are the interventions needed to change trajectory of epidemic curve.

“Don’t act slower than the speed of the epidemic, don’t get behind an epidemic curve.”

Professor John Edmunds, another SAGE member, said coronavirus was “holding a gun” to Boris Johnson’s head.

Some are urging the PM to go for tougher measures to get a grip on cases again.

Gillian Keegan said the situation was getting serious

It came as:

  • 17,540 cases and 77 deaths were reported across the UK yesterday
  • Rishi Sunak is revealing new economic help for businesses that may be forced to close in lockdown areas – in a hint that measures are coming in days
  • The UK economy grew by 2.1% in August thanks to Eat Out to Help Out but the recovery was less than half predicted
  • Nottingham has the highest coronavirus rate in the country with more than 600 cases per 100,000, but still has no local restrictions in place
  • Vulnerable Brits face months inside under new plans to bring back shielding
  • Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, writing in the Daily Telegraph, said the Government had “lost control of the virus” and urged ministers to “get a grip”
  • Coronavirus infections doubled in a week, the latest ONS study showed
  • Face masks in offices were being “considered”, a minister said

No announcement has yet been made on more local lockdown measures, but leaders are furious they haven’t yet been told what’s going on.

The PM is expected to reveal a new tiers system next week which will separate the country into different lockdown measures depending on the infection rate.

The highest case numbers are expected to see venues shut down completely.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, who said he would challenge any closures without a full furlough scheme paying people’s wages in place.

He raged: “I will use whatever means I can to challenge it to get support for people because otherwise they are going to suffer real hardship this winter, we are going to see businesses failing.”

GRIM STATS

The latest ONS data looks grim for the nation – with the rate of infection doubling in the last week.

This is up from the previous week where 8,400 cases were recorded and the ONS stated that infections in teenagers and younger adults are also rising.

This is up from the previous week where 8,400 cases were recorded and the ONS stated that infections in teenagers and younger adults are also rising.

Rishi Sunak will reveal new economic help today for firms which may have to shut

A No10 spokesperson said this lunchtime: “We will continue to keep all that data under review and won’t hesitate to act in order to protect communities and save lives.”

Downing Street were unable to say if any new lockdown measures are being brought in, or when they might come.