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Coronavirus: Boris Johnson to launch threat level alert system Coronavirus: Boris Johnson to launch threat level alert system
(about 1 hour later)
An alert system to rank the threat level of coronavirus in England is set to be launched by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in his lockdown speech later.An alert system to rank the threat level of coronavirus in England is set to be launched by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in his lockdown speech later.
The system, which will use a scale of one to five and be adjusted according to data, is to be a part of the PM's televised address at 19:00 BST. The system, which will use a scale of one to five, is to be a part of the PM's televised address at 19:00 BST.
Mr Johnson will also explain any changes to the lockdown measures.Mr Johnson will also explain any changes to the lockdown measures.
It comes after he introduced a new slogan, telling the public to "stay alert, control the virus, save lives". It comes after the "stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives" slogan was replaced with "stay alert, control the virus, save lives".
The threat level system will apply to England only but the government is working with the devolved administrations as they develop their own. The "stay at home" advice will remain in place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland after leaders in the three devolved nations said Mr Johnson had not consulted them on the new message.
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. Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the only change being made to lockdown in Scotland was that people would be allowed to exercise more than once a day, from Monday.
The threat level system to be introduced 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 adjusted according to data and will be similar to the one used to keep the public informed about the terror threat level.
In his address, Mr Johnson is expected to say England is currently at stage four but moving towards stage three.In his address, Mr Johnson is expected to say England is currently at stage four but moving towards stage three.
How can I follow the PM's speech?How can I follow the PM's speech?
Boris Johnson's national address will be broadcast across BBC News at 19:00 BST.Boris Johnson's national address will be broadcast across BBC News at 19:00 BST.
Ways to follow our coverage include:Ways to follow our coverage include:
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 take place before Mr Johnson's broadcast.A meeting of the government's Cobra emergency committee involving the cabinet, devolved nations and the mayor of London, will take place before Mr Johnson's broadcast.
The plans will then be put before Parliament on Monday.The plans will then be put before Parliament on Monday.
According to Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick, the UK government's "strong preference" is for the devolved nations "to move as one".According to Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick, the UK government's "strong preference" is for the devolved nations "to move as one".
In his broadcast, Mr Johnson is not expected to provide exact dates for when the strict curbs on daily life - which have been in place for seven weeks - might change.In his broadcast, Mr Johnson is not expected to provide exact dates for when the strict curbs on daily life - which have been in place for seven weeks - might change.
The prime minister tweeted a graphic setting out new guidance for England with the message: "Everyone has a role to play in helping to control the virus by staying alert and following the rules."The prime minister tweeted a graphic setting out new guidance for England with the message: "Everyone has a role to play in helping to control the virus by staying alert and following the rules."
Mr Jenrick defended the new slogan - saying now was the right moment to "update and broaden" the message.Mr Jenrick defended the new slogan - saying now was the right moment to "update and broaden" the message.
But shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said the government must clarify what "stay alert" meant. But shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said the government must clarify what "stay alert" meant, and Nicola Sturgeon said the message was "vague and imprecise".
The "stay at home" advice will remain in place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Part of Mr Johnson's pre-recorded statement was filmed on Saturday while the rest was being done on Sunday, a Downing Street source told BBC political correspondent Ben Wright.
Prof Jason Leitch, national clinical director for the Scottish government, told BBC Breakfast he "can't explain" what "stay alert" means. The source said no significance should be attached to the timing and that it was normal for a statement to be recorded in this way.
He reiterated First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's words - that Scotland's key message "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."
Lockdown 'problems'Lockdown 'problems'
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.
Labour MP Mr Ashworth said while the lockdown remained important, it was "fundamentally a blunt tool" with "huge societal problems" building the longer it continued. But Prof Mark Woolhouse, who is on the Scottish government's Covid-19 taskforce, said "something has got to change both in our approach to controlling the virus but also in the messaging that goes with that".
He told Radio 4's The World This Weekend that various measures could be taken with "very little impact" on the disease's ability to spread.
He said so long as people who need to self-isolate stay at home, outdoor activities "pose relatively low risk" of transmission - but only if people maintain social distancing.
"We can't stay at home forever… we've got to start having a grown-up discussion about balancing the harms [of the lockdown]," Prof Woolhouse added.
In other developments:In other developments:
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