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| Coronavirus: Boris Johnson to launch Covid-19 alert system | Coronavirus: Boris Johnson to launch Covid-19 alert system |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A Covid-19 alert system is set to be launched by the government in England to track the virus, the prime minister is expected to announce on Sunday. | A Covid-19 alert system is set to be launched by the government in England to track the virus, the prime minister is expected to announce on Sunday. |
| The system will rank the threat level from coronavirus on a scale of one to five and be adjusted according to data. | The system will rank the threat level from coronavirus on a scale of one to five and be adjusted according to data. |
| Boris Johnson is due to update the UK on the progress of lockdown measures in a televised address at 19:00 BST. | Boris Johnson is due to update the UK on the progress of lockdown measures in a televised address at 19:00 BST. |
| The PM is expected to unveil a new slogan, telling the public to "stay alert, control the virus, save lives". | The PM is expected to unveil a new slogan, telling the public to "stay alert, control the virus, save lives". |
| He is not expected to provide exact dates for when the restrictions - first announced on 23 March - might change. | He is not expected to provide exact dates for when the restrictions - first announced on 23 March - might change. |
| The new system will apply to England only but the government is working with the devolved administrations as they develop their own. | The new system will apply to England only but the government is working with the devolved administrations as they develop their own. |
| It is understood the system - with alerts ranging from green (level one) to red (level five) - will be similar to the one used to keep the public informed about the terror threat level. | It is understood the system - with alerts ranging from green (level one) to red (level five) - will be similar to the one used to keep the public informed about the terror threat level. |
| Mr Johnson is expected to say England is currently at stage four but moving towards stage three. | Mr Johnson is expected to say England is currently at stage four but moving towards stage three. |
| New slogan 'needs clarity' | New slogan 'needs clarity' |
| Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show it was the right time to "update and broaden" the message to the public from "stay at home" to "stay alert". | Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show it was the right time to "update and broaden" the message to the public from "stay at home" to "stay alert". |
| "Stay alert will mean stay alert by staying home as much as possible, but stay alert when you do go out by maintaining social distancing, washing your hands, respecting others in the workplace and the other settings that you'll go to," he said. | "Stay alert will mean stay alert by staying home as much as possible, but stay alert when you do go out by maintaining social distancing, washing your hands, respecting others in the workplace and the other settings that you'll go to," he said. |
| But shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said the government must clarify what the new slogan means. | But shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said the government must clarify what the new slogan means. |
| "When you're dealing with a public health crisis of this nature you need absolute clarity from government about what the advice is. There is no room for nuance," he told Marr. | "When you're dealing with a public health crisis of this nature you need absolute clarity from government about what the advice is. There is no room for nuance," he told Marr. |
| "The problem with the new message is that many people will be puzzled by it," he added. | "The problem with the new message is that many people will be puzzled by it," he added. |
| The alert tool - to be administered by a new "joint biosecurity centre" - will reflect the virus threat in different parts of the country, meaning the threat level in one city could differ quite widely from another. | The alert tool - to be administered by a new "joint biosecurity centre" - will reflect the virus threat in different parts of the country, meaning the threat level in one city could differ quite widely from another. |
| This could inform the local alteration of restrictions in England. | This could inform the local alteration of restrictions in England. |
| A meeting of the government's Cobra emergency committee involving the cabinet, devolved nations and the mayor of London will be held before Mr Johnson's televised address on Sunday evening, with the plans to be put before Parliament on Monday. | A meeting of the government's Cobra emergency committee involving the cabinet, devolved nations and the mayor of London will be held before Mr Johnson's televised address on Sunday evening, with the plans to be put before Parliament on Monday. |
| Mr Jenrick said the UK government's "strong preference" was for the devolved nations "to move as one". | |
| The UK government's new slogan is part of moving into the next phase of the response to coronavirus. | The UK government's new slogan is part of moving into the next phase of the response to coronavirus. |
| Staying at home where possible will remain part of the strategy. But some are worried the new campaign is ambiguous and muddies the water. | Staying at home where possible will remain part of the strategy. But some are worried the new campaign is ambiguous and muddies the water. |
| The Scottish government has made it clear it won't be following suit and will keep the original slogan - stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives. | The Scottish government has made it clear it won't be following suit and will keep the original slogan - stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives. |
| So from tomorrow, the messaging could be different in different parts of the UK. | So from tomorrow, the messaging could be different in different parts of the UK. |
| The communities secretary also told Marr a contact tracing app being trialled on the Isle of Wight had been downloaded by about 50,000 people. | |
| Asked about reports a second app was being developed, Mr Jenrick said: "We are learning lessons from the other apps that exist elsewhere in the world and if we need to change our app, we will do. That's the point of piloting this before we take it national." | |
| The prime minister is set to warn the nation that the UK is entering the most "dangerous" phase of the battle against the virus, according to the Sun on Sunday. | The prime minister is set to warn the nation that the UK is entering the most "dangerous" phase of the battle against the virus, according to the Sun on Sunday. |
| He told the paper: "Mountaineers always say that coming down from the peak is the most dangerous bit. That's when you're liable to be over-confident and make mistakes... you have to make sure you don't run too fast, lose control and stumble." | He told the paper: "Mountaineers always say that coming down from the peak is the most dangerous bit. That's when you're liable to be over-confident and make mistakes... you have to make sure you don't run too fast, lose control and stumble." |
| 'Best protection is your front door' | 'Best protection is your front door' |
| Prof Jason Leitch, national clinical director for the Scottish government, told BBC Breakfast he "can't explain" what the prime minister's revised message of "stay alert" means. | Prof Jason Leitch, national clinical director for the Scottish government, told BBC Breakfast he "can't explain" what the prime minister's revised message of "stay alert" means. |
| Prof Leitch reiterated what First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said earlier this week - that the key message for Scotland "remains 'stay at home'" - and added: "I think the messaging is really important.... the best protection for this virus is your front door. There isn't any question about that." | Prof Leitch reiterated what First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said earlier this week - that the key message for Scotland "remains 'stay at home'" - and added: "I think the messaging is really important.... the best protection for this virus is your front door. There isn't any question about that." |
| On Saturday, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps warned the government would proceed with "extreme caution" when lifting lockdown measures. | On Saturday, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps warned the government would proceed with "extreme caution" when lifting lockdown measures. |
| Mr Ashworth said while the lockdown remains important, it is "fundamentally a blunt tool" with "huge societal problems" building the longer it continues. | Mr Ashworth said while the lockdown remains important, it is "fundamentally a blunt tool" with "huge societal problems" building the longer it continues. |
| Meanwhile, a model of protective goggles is being withdrawn from hospitals and care providers because they do not meet standards for coronavirus settings, the government has said. | Meanwhile, a model of protective goggles is being withdrawn from hospitals and care providers because they do not meet standards for coronavirus settings, the government has said. |
| A Department of Health and Social Care spokeswoman told the BBC it had issued an alert advising against the use of "Tiger Eye protectors" in clinical settings related to Covid-19. | A Department of Health and Social Care spokeswoman told the BBC it had issued an alert advising against the use of "Tiger Eye protectors" in clinical settings related to Covid-19. |
| The goggles were bought in 2009 and are now being removed from the supply chain, the spokeswoman added. | The goggles were bought in 2009 and are now being removed from the supply chain, the spokeswoman added. |
| "The safety of health, care and all frontline staff is our top priority... we are arranging replacement stock for trusts who need immediate supply," she said. | "The safety of health, care and all frontline staff is our top priority... we are arranging replacement stock for trusts who need immediate supply," she said. |
| Some 15 million goggles have been recalled, according to the Sunday Telegraph. | Some 15 million goggles have been recalled, according to the Sunday Telegraph. |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
| How have you been affected by the pandemic? Tell us about your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | How have you been affected by the pandemic? Tell us about your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
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