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Boris Johnson warns UK population to avoid non-essential contact with others as coronavirus cases rise – politics live | Boris Johnson warns UK population to avoid non-essential contact with others as coronavirus cases rise – politics live |
(32 minutes later) | |
PM tells Britons to avoid pubs, restaurants and non-essential travel but school stay open for now as chief medical officer says ‘next few months are going to be extraordinarily difficult for NHS’ | PM tells Britons to avoid pubs, restaurants and non-essential travel but school stay open for now as chief medical officer says ‘next few months are going to be extraordinarily difficult for NHS’ |
Johnson is wrapping up now. | |
He says he does not remember government announcing a change like this in his lifetime. He does not think there has been one since wartime, he says. | |
He accepts it will be difficult. But he says he is confident that the UK can bounce back. | |
He thanks people for their patience, and says he will be back tomorrow. | |
That’s it. The news conference is over. | |
I will post a summary, reaction and a verdict shortly. | |
Q: Are you saying elderly MPs and peers must stay away from parliament? | |
Johnson says this is a universal announcement, intended for everybody. There are no exceptions, he says. | |
MPs and peers who are over 70 will have to stay away from parliament, Johnson says. | |
Q: What do you mean by saying you will stop unnecessary visits to care homes? | |
Whitty says this is very difficult. People in care homes are vulnerable. They need visits | |
Q: When will we know this is going to be over? | |
Whitty says this will run for some time. | |
Q: It is important that you take the public with you. Do you need to do more to stay in lockstep with Scotland? | |
Johnson says at the Cobra meeting there was a very good discussion between the four nations. | |
Q: Can Westminster stay open to July? | |
Johnson says he wants to ensure democracy carries on. But those who are vulnerable, and lots of members of parliament are in that category, should receive the protections they need. | |
He says there may be more to come on this from the Speaker. | |
Johnson suggests elderly MPs and peers could be asked to stay away from parliament. | |
Q: The Irish government has introduced more aggressive measures, but Northern Ireland is following UK rules. Are you confident the people of Northern Ireland are being protected. | Q: The Irish government has introduced more aggressive measures, but Northern Ireland is following UK rules. Are you confident the people of Northern Ireland are being protected. |
Johnson says he is confident about that. | Johnson says he is confident about that. |
Whitty repeats the point about how this virus seems to spare children. | Whitty repeats the point about how this virus seems to spare children. |
Q: Will you take more action to help low-income households. Statutory sick pay is less than £100 a week? | Q: Will you take more action to help low-income households. Statutory sick pay is less than £100 a week? |
Johnson claims he is doing a lot already. The living wage is being lifted by a huge amount. | Johnson claims he is doing a lot already. The living wage is being lifted by a huge amount. |
He says no one should be penalised for doing the right thing. | He says no one should be penalised for doing the right thing. |
Vallance says this is a brand new disease. The experts need to learn as they are going along. | Vallance says this is a brand new disease. The experts need to learn as they are going along. |
He says the seven-day advice stays. If someone lives alone and gets a fever or a persistent cough, they should stay at home for seven days. | He says the seven-day advice stays. If someone lives alone and gets a fever or a persistent cough, they should stay at home for seven days. |
But if they live with other people, the government is now advising the whole household to isolate for 14 days. | |
Q: How long might this go on? | Q: How long might this go on? |
Whitty says sustainability is critical. He goes on: | Whitty says sustainability is critical. He goes on: |
Q: Do you accept the economy won’t grow by 1.1% this year, as the chancellor said in the budget last week? | Q: Do you accept the economy won’t grow by 1.1% this year, as the chancellor said in the budget last week? |
Johnson says it is “perfectly obvious” that this is going to be a “severe blow” to the economy. | Johnson says it is “perfectly obvious” that this is going to be a “severe blow” to the economy. |
But if we get it right, we can ensure it is a short-term problem, he claims. | But if we get it right, we can ensure it is a short-term problem, he claims. |
He says if the peak can be flattened, then there is “no reason why economies worldwide should not come roaring back”. | He says if the peak can be flattened, then there is “no reason why economies worldwide should not come roaring back”. |
It is different from 2008, he claims. | It is different from 2008, he claims. |
Q: There has been a case today from Japan of someone getting coronavirus twice. Does that mean herd immunity is no longer achievable? | Q: There has been a case today from Japan of someone getting coronavirus twice. Does that mean herd immunity is no longer achievable? |
Vallance says the objective is to flatten the curve. | Vallance says the objective is to flatten the curve. |
In any infectious disease, there are cases of people catching it again. But that is rare. | In any infectious disease, there are cases of people catching it again. But that is rare. |
He says there is nothing to suggest that it would be common in this case. | He says there is nothing to suggest that it would be common in this case. |
In normal diseases, the body generates immunising antibodies, he says. | In normal diseases, the body generates immunising antibodies, he says. |
Whitty says in diseases, even if there is no long-term immunity, there is normally some short-term immunity. | Whitty says in diseases, even if there is no long-term immunity, there is normally some short-term immunity. |
Johnson says the government’s overriding objective has been to safe lives. | Johnson says the government’s overriding objective has been to safe lives. |
Vallance says research is very important. And the UK is outstanding at the biological science behind this, he says. | Vallance says research is very important. And the UK is outstanding at the biological science behind this, he says. |
Q: Is there case for a global fiscal stimulus? | Q: Is there case for a global fiscal stimulus? |
Johnson says there is widespread agreement in the G7 that people need access to liquidity. He says they should act jointly. There is a lot of work going on. | Johnson says there is widespread agreement in the G7 that people need access to liquidity. He says they should act jointly. There is a lot of work going on. |
Q: Do you think you should have started work on getting more ventilators more quickly? | Q: Do you think you should have started work on getting more ventilators more quickly? |
Johnson says “huge strides are being made right now’ in delivering on this. | Johnson says “huge strides are being made right now’ in delivering on this. |
Q: What are you going to do to support businesses that will collapse when these measures are introduced? | Q: What are you going to do to support businesses that will collapse when these measures are introduced? |
Johnson says this will be a very considerable challenge for businesses big and small. | Johnson says this will be a very considerable challenge for businesses big and small. |
He says the government will give them liquidity, so they have time to pay. He wants to give them the space to come back from this. | He says the government will give them liquidity, so they have time to pay. He wants to give them the space to come back from this. |
Q: Are we still four weeks behind Italy? | Q: Are we still four weeks behind Italy? |
Vallance says at the early stage the numbers are small, and so it is hard to say where you are with precision. Now he says he thinks we are three weeks behind Italy. | Vallance says at the early stage the numbers are small, and so it is hard to say where you are with precision. Now he says he thinks we are three weeks behind Italy. |