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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2020/mar/16/boris-johnson-press-conference-coronavirus-live-firms-could-soon-be-allowed-to-run-reduced-services-because-of-coronavirus-shapps-suggests-politics-live
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| No 10 says '8m hospitalised' is planning assumption, not what government expects - UK politics live | No 10 says '8m hospitalised' is planning assumption, not what government expects - UK politics live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen | Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen |
| Q: Is the PM chairing this G7 call? | |
| The spokesman says the US is in the lead, as chair of the G7 this year. | |
| Q: Will oil prices come up in the G7 call? | |
| The spokesman says he can discuss this further after the call. | |
| And that’s it. The briefing is over. | |
| Q: Are there any plans to change the way cabinet meets to reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission? | |
| The spokesman says it is important for cabinet to continue to meet. | |
| Q: What will the PM be saying in his G7 call? | |
| The spokesman says the PM has already spoken to all G7 leaders individually in recent days. | |
| He says bringing together leaders in this way is supposed to bring leaders together. It will coordinate a global health response, and a global economic response. | |
| And it will look at measures to promote economic stability. | |
| And it will discuss coordination with the IMF, the World Bank and the World Health Organisation? | |
| Q: Isn’t there a contradiction between wanting to promote economic stability and closing borders? | |
| The spokesman says border policy is a matter for individual countries. | |
| Q: Why did we not have more ventilators in the first place? | |
| The spokesman says we are facing an unprecedented situation. | |
| Q: On ventilators, is there a national standard design? | |
| The spokesman says there has been a very strong response from industry. Further details will be discussed in the call this afternoon. | |
| Q: What does the PM think of the US banning travel from the UK? What will he say to Trump about it? | |
| The spokesman says the PM spoke to the president at the weekend. Ultimately this is a matter for the US, he says. | |
| Q: Will there be an inner war cabinet? | |
| The spokesman says he would not use that term. | |
| Q: What about the new business response committee mentioned by Grant Shapps this morning? (See 9.20am.) | |
| The PM has asked the chancellor [Rishi Sunak] to chair and economic and business response committee. The business secretary will be the deputy chair. It will consider the business impact of coronavirus. | |
| Q: Will it consider bail outs? | |
| The spokesman says more details of what it is looking out will be set out shorlty. | |
| Q: Is the government going to offer state support for airlines? | Q: Is the government going to offer state support for airlines? |
| The spokesman says the government recognises how difficult the situation is for airlines. It is working with the industry on measures to help airlines with temporary difficulties. | The spokesman says the government recognises how difficult the situation is for airlines. It is working with the industry on measures to help airlines with temporary difficulties. |
| And he says last week the UK government influenced the EU into relaxing its rules around flight slots. | And he says last week the UK government influenced the EU into relaxing its rules around flight slots. |
| Q: Has the government discussed the need for some legal form of rationing? | Q: Has the government discussed the need for some legal form of rationing? |
| The spokesman says that is not part of the legislation coming forward. | The spokesman says that is not part of the legislation coming forward. |
| Q: Is the government organising repatriation flights? | Q: Is the government organising repatriation flights? |
| The spokesman says flights to the UK are available from most countries. | The spokesman says flights to the UK are available from most countries. |
| Q: Are you doing anything to stop panic buying? | Q: Are you doing anything to stop panic buying? |
| The spokesman says the government wants people to shop reasonably. Retailers are doing what they can to ensure consumers have the supplies they need. | The spokesman says the government wants people to shop reasonably. Retailers are doing what they can to ensure consumers have the supplies they need. |
| Q: Does the PM think people are being selfish? | Q: Does the PM think people are being selfish? |
| The spokesman says the PM has said there is no need for people to buy more than they need. | The spokesman says the PM has said there is no need for people to buy more than they need. |
| Q: What do you say to people who say the UK is not doing enough testing? | Q: What do you say to people who say the UK is not doing enough testing? |
| The spokesman says the UK has carried out more tests than most countries in the world, and it plans to increase its testing capacity. | The spokesman says the UK has carried out more tests than most countries in the world, and it plans to increase its testing capacity. |
| Q: Yesterday Hancock said the elderly would be asked to self-isolate, implying they should not leave their homes. But Scottish officials are talking about social distancing. Which is it? | Q: Yesterday Hancock said the elderly would be asked to self-isolate, implying they should not leave their homes. But Scottish officials are talking about social distancing. Which is it? |
| The spokesman says people should wait until the guidance comes out, so they can see what it says. | The spokesman says people should wait until the guidance comes out, so they can see what it says. |
| He says it would be better for us to wait until the press conference later. | He says it would be better for us to wait until the press conference later. |
| Q: What does the PM feel about so many people working from home when the government is not advising that? | Q: What does the PM feel about so many people working from home when the government is not advising that? |
| The spokesman says the government will be setting out details of its response later. But firms are making their own contingency plan. That is understandable. | The spokesman says the government will be setting out details of its response later. But firms are making their own contingency plan. That is understandable. |
| Q: What has changed between Friday, when the chief scientific adviser said the government wanted to build up herd immunity, and Sunday, when Matt Hancock said that was not policy? | Q: What has changed between Friday, when the chief scientific adviser said the government wanted to build up herd immunity, and Sunday, when Matt Hancock said that was not policy? |
| The spokesman says he does not accept the premise of the question. He says going for herd immunity has not been government policy. He says he made that clear at a briefing on Friday. | The spokesman says he does not accept the premise of the question. He says going for herd immunity has not been government policy. He says he made that clear at a briefing on Friday. |
| Q: The document reported in the Guardian says the government does expect as many as 80% of the population to get coronavirus. But the chief medical officer and the chief scientific adviser say that is not what they expect. Who is right? | Q: The document reported in the Guardian says the government does expect as many as 80% of the population to get coronavirus. But the chief medical officer and the chief scientific adviser say that is not what they expect. Who is right? |
| The spokesman says the 80% figure is a reasonable worst case scenario. | The spokesman says the 80% figure is a reasonable worst case scenario. |
| Q: Is the PM concerned that people are giving different messages about what the over-70s will be advised in Scotland from in England? | Q: Is the PM concerned that people are giving different messages about what the over-70s will be advised in Scotland from in England? |
| The spokesman says the UK government will be clarifying what the advice is soon. | The spokesman says the UK government will be clarifying what the advice is soon. |