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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 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.
Q: Will you introduce criminal sanctions?
Johnson says the government has huge powers. Under 1980s legislation a secretary of state can ban hand shaking, he claims.
He says he thinks the public understand the need for these measures.
Q: Will you allow health service workers to be tested so they can return to work early if they do not have coronavirus?
Whitty says the next stage will involve testing health workers. If it turns out they do not have coronavirus, they will be able to go back to work earlier. This will be rolled out as quickly as possible.
Q: What do you say to people who say you should be taking even more drastic measures, as other countries are doing?
Johnson says other countries are “further up the curve”. He says the government only wants to introduce measures at the right time.
He says at the moment he thinks it is best to keep schools open. But that is being kept under review, he says.
Q: How many people do you think have coronavirus now?
Vallance says the numbers can double over five days. So you can work it out from last week, he says. (Last week he said there could be 5-10,000 cases in the UK.)
He says what would make a huge change would be being able to tell if people had had coronavirus without being aware of it.
Q: Are you forcing people not to go to theatres etc?
Johnson says the government is giving “very strong advice” that places like theatres should close. The government has the power to force closures, he says. But he says he does not think it will be necessary to use those powers.
Q: What are you going to do about care homes?
Johnson says he does not want to see people unnecessarily visiting care homes.
Q: Why are you not testing more, as the WHO recommends? (See 4.51pm.)
Whitty says the government agrees with the WHO on the basis of testing. He says the government is giving up testing based on geography. But it will be scaling up testing, he says.
He says what would be transformational would be the ability to test to see if people have had the disease. At the moment the test only identifies if they currently have it. But that may change, he says.
Whitty the social distancing measures announced today will protect the NHS.
He says people who are over 70 or who have a significant health condition are being asked to take even greater care. That is to reduce the risk of their having to go to hospital and to protect their health. He says these are people over 70 and people who would normally be asked to have flu injections.
Women who are pregnant are also being included, he says. He says that is because the government wants to minimise risk and does not know much at this stage about the impact of coronavirus on pregnant women.
(Previously the government has played down the prospect of pregnant women facing increased risk.)
Prof Chris Whitty, the government’s chief medical adviser, is speaking now.
He says older people are more likely to die.
But older people will not necessarily get it worse. He says Nadine Dorries, the health minister, wrote an article at the weekend saying her coronavirus was worse than her mother’s.
He says there are three groups of deaths and health impacts to be considered.
First, those who die directly.
Second, and this is important, he says, there are other deaths that could occur through the NHS being overwhelmed.
And the third factor relates to negative health consequences of the decisions taken by the government.
Vallance says the measures outlined already should have a big effect on reducing the peak and reducing the death rate.
But they will not be easy, he says.
He says in future other measures may be necessary, like school closures. But they would need to be introduced at the right time.
School closures have not been ruled out, Vallance says.
(I have corrected the previous post because it said Whitty was speaking, not Vallance.)
Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser, is speaking now.
He says the government is implementing measures it expected to implement. It is implementing them earlier, relative to the spread of the disease, than in some other countries, he says.
He says there are two reasons for these measures: to protect people, and to reduce the spread of the illness.
He says the government is recommending “whole household isolation”. This should last for 14 days. That is before individual isolation should last for seven days, and another seven days is added to allow for other people being affected.
Johnson is still giving advice.
Johnson says people over 70 are being asked to avoid unnecessary social contact with other people.
He says the situation is particularly serious in London, which is several weeks ahead of the rest of the country in terms of the spread of coronavirus.
He says the government will no longer support mass gatherings.
Boris Johnson is speaking now.
He says we need to go further.
Johnson says it looks as though we are approaching the “fast growth” phase of the curve. That means cases are expected to double every five days.
Families are being urged to stay at home for 14 days if any member of the household is ill, Johnson says.
He says it is time for everyone to stop non-essential contact with others. That means people should work from home where possible and avoid pubs, clubs and theatres.
Johnson says the advice on people avoiding non-essential contact is particularly important for people who are over-70, for people who are pregnant and for people with underlying health conditiions.
Boris Johnson is likely to be asked about what the head of the World Health Organizaion, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said at a press conference a few minutes ago. He urged governments to test more suspected cases, warning that they cannot fight the pandemic blindfolded.
There are more details on our coronavirus live blog.