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UK coronavirus live: Boris Johnson rejects claims people don't understand new 'stay alert' slogan UK coronavirus live: Boris Johnson answers questions from the public on lockdown exit plans
(32 minutes later)
Official death toll rises by 210; government publishes 50-page blueprint; Keir Starmer says Johnson’s strategy has caused ‘considerable confusion’Official death toll rises by 210; government publishes 50-page blueprint; Keir Starmer says Johnson’s strategy has caused ‘considerable confusion’
The Guardian’s political correspondent Kate Proctor tweeted what stay alert means.
First question asks if people can see friends and families in the park if they maintain social distancing.
Johnson said people can go to the park to exercise alone or with members of their own household, but if someone want to meet a person outside of your household, it must be them and another person - as a pair.
“If everyone stays alert and follows the rules, we can control the coronavirus by keeping the R down,” Johnson said.
The R, or the “effective reproduction number”, is a way of rating a disease’s ability to spread.
Johnson: “Yes, staying alert, for the vast majority of people still means staying at home as much as possible.”
Johnson reiterates: “Those who cannot work from home should now speak to their employer about going back to work.”
Throughout the period of the lockdown, the UK has been in level four of the government’s Covid alert levels, Johnson said.
The UK is now in the position to take careful steps to go to level three.
Johnson starts the press conference with the latest update on coronavirus cases and deaths. There have been been another 210 coronavirus deaths in the UK, taking the total to 32,065.
Boris Johnson’s evening presser is about to start. The prime minister will be taking four questions from journalists and eight from members of public.
Branches of Burger King and Starbucks will reopen this week, as the UK’s cafes and restaurants begin to emerge from the coronavirus lockdown, Hilary Osborne and Rebecca Smithers report.
The Guardian’s political correspondent Kate Proctor explains what the new lockdown rules areThe Guardian’s political correspondent Kate Proctor explains what the new lockdown rules are
The number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the prison estate continues to rise, the daily update from the Ministry of Justice shows.The number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the prison estate continues to rise, the daily update from the Ministry of Justice shows.
As at 5pm on Sunday, 397 prisoners had tested positive for the coronavirus across 74 prisons, a 2% rise since Wednesday, when the data last published, while the number of infected prison staff rose to 479 workers across 69 prisons, an increase of 7% in the same period.As at 5pm on Sunday, 397 prisoners had tested positive for the coronavirus across 74 prisons, a 2% rise since Wednesday, when the data last published, while the number of infected prison staff rose to 479 workers across 69 prisons, an increase of 7% in the same period.
The number of prisoners who have contracted Covid-19 and died stands at 21, while eight staff have died, including one prisoner escort and custody services worker.The number of prisoners who have contracted Covid-19 and died stands at 21, while eight staff have died, including one prisoner escort and custody services worker.
There are around 81,000 prisoners across 117 prisons in England and Wales, and around 33,000 staff working in public sector prisons.There are around 81,000 prisoners across 117 prisons in England and Wales, and around 33,000 staff working in public sector prisons.
The BBC has broadcast a short speech by Sir Keir Starmer responding to the prime minister’s address last night. It will be on BBC One later, but it has already been on Radio 4. Here are the main points.The BBC has broadcast a short speech by Sir Keir Starmer responding to the prime minister’s address last night. It will be on BBC One later, but it has already been on Radio 4. Here are the main points.
Starmer accused Johnson of failing to provide enough clarity about the way forward. “If we’re to complete the journey safely a roadmap needs clear directions,” he said. Here is the passage in full.Starmer accused Johnson of failing to provide enough clarity about the way forward. “If we’re to complete the journey safely a roadmap needs clear directions,” he said. Here is the passage in full.
He highlighted a series of questions that he said the government had failed to answer. He said:He highlighted a series of questions that he said the government had failed to answer. He said:
He said that he was committed to “working constructively with the government in the national interest”.He said that he was committed to “working constructively with the government in the national interest”.
He said that there should be no return to “business as usual” after the crisis was over. He said:He said that there should be no return to “business as usual” after the crisis was over. He said:
I’m finishing now. For the rest of the evening, including for the Boris Johnson press conference at 7pm (where most of the questions will come from members of the public, not from journalists), Aamna Mohdin is in charge.I’m finishing now. For the rest of the evening, including for the Boris Johnson press conference at 7pm (where most of the questions will come from members of the public, not from journalists), Aamna Mohdin is in charge.
Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, said the “risks are too great” to ease the lockdown and that too many people are still dying in her address to the nation.Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, said the “risks are too great” to ease the lockdown and that too many people are still dying in her address to the nation.
Sturgeon said the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care has fallen by almost two thirds in the last four weeks, while the number of deaths registered in a single week fell last week for the first time since the epidemic startedSturgeon said the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care has fallen by almost two thirds in the last four weeks, while the number of deaths registered in a single week fell last week for the first time since the epidemic started
The first minister welcomed this progress, but described it as fragile. She said:The first minister welcomed this progress, but described it as fragile. She said:
Sturgeon said too many people are still dying in Scotland and the situation in care homes remains a serious concern.Sturgeon said too many people are still dying in Scotland and the situation in care homes remains a serious concern.
The R number, the rate at which the virus reproduces, is still close to one, she added. If it exceeds one, the virus could rapidly take off again.The R number, the rate at which the virus reproduces, is still close to one, she added. If it exceeds one, the virus could rapidly take off again.
The Scottish government announced one change to the rules yesterday; allowing people to exercise outdoors more than once a day. But the rest of the lockdown remains in place, despite some easing announced in England.The Scottish government announced one change to the rules yesterday; allowing people to exercise outdoors more than once a day. But the rest of the lockdown remains in place, despite some easing announced in England.
Sturgeon said:Sturgeon said:
Sturgeon emphasised the important of people in Scotland remaining at home, describing the measure as key to protecting loved ones. She said:Sturgeon emphasised the important of people in Scotland remaining at home, describing the measure as key to protecting loved ones. She said:
At the Downing Street lobby briefing this afternoon the prime minister’s spokesman confirmed that, when Boris Johnson spoke about testing a town’s water supply for Covid earlier (see 4.28pm), he was talking about sewage. “Waste water” was a polite term for it, the spokesman said.At the Downing Street lobby briefing this afternoon the prime minister’s spokesman confirmed that, when Boris Johnson spoke about testing a town’s water supply for Covid earlier (see 4.28pm), he was talking about sewage. “Waste water” was a polite term for it, the spokesman said.
It sounds as if Sir Ed Davey, the acting Lib Dem leader, was not convinced by Boris Johnson’s denial of the Guardian report saying that Prof Chris Whitty, the government’s chief medical adviser, and Sir Patrick Vallance, its chief scientific adviser, did not sign off the new “Stay alert” slogan.
Davey has posted his question on Twitter.
In response, Johnson just said:
Boris Johnson’s statement to the Commons contained a few new insights, although nothing that substantially transforms the picture given by the government’s coronavirus recovery plan published earlier. He faced some robust criticism from the opposition, but what was missing was any evidence of a backlash from Conservatives. Some Tory backbenchers are reportedly concerned that the lockdown is being allowed to continue for too long. But we did not hear that this afternoon. Partly that might be a function of the new format (there is no “mood of the house” on Zoom, as James Forsyth pointed out recently), but maybe they’re just reserving judgment.
Here are the main points.
Johnson rejected claims that people did not understand his new “Stay alert” slogan. Yesterday Nicola Sturgeon, the SNP leader and Scottish first minister, said she did not know what this meant. But when the SNP’s Chris Law asked Johnson to explain this, he insisted it was clear. He said:
In response to another claim that his new guidance was not clear, Johnson said he trusted the British public to apply “good, solid British common sense”. (See 3.59pm.)
Johnson said the Health and Safety Executive would be enforcing the new “Covid secure” guidance for employers, using spot checks. He said:
He hinted that the government would use sewage testing to monitor for new coronavirus outbreaks. This is what he seemed to be referring to when he told the Conservative Robert Courts that there would be monitoring for local flare-ups. Johnson said:
He said the 18,000 new contract tracers being recruited by the government would be in place by 18 May.
He said people should not use the new guidance on outdoor exercise as an excuse to visit second homes. He said:
He said parents without childcare should not be expected to go to work. He said:
He said there would be “very substantial reductions in capacity” on public transport as a result of social distancing.
He rejected a claim that Prof Chris Whitty, the government’s chief medical adviser, and Sir Patrick Vallance, its chief scientific adviser, failed to sign off the new “Stay alert” slogan.
He rejected claims he had been reduced to acting as the prime minister of England, not of the UK. (See 4.07pm.)
Sir Richard Branson has agreed to sell shares worth around $500m (£405m) in his Virgin Galactic space business to raise funds for his struggling airline and leisure businesses, PA reports.
The businessman, who has previously suggested he would be willing to remortgage his private Caribbean island to raise funds, said the cash would be reinvested into firms including Virgin Atlantic.
Announcing the plans via the New York Stock Exchange, Virgin Group said it would sell 25m shares via Credit Suisse, with the process expected to cost the business $167,000.
The shares, sold via Branson’s British Virgin Islands-based shell company Vieco 10, account for around a fifth of the billionaire’s stake in the space tourism business.
The easing of some lockdown rules is a particularly tricky matter for the golfers of Llanymynech, on the border of England and Wales.
Boris Johnson’s exit plan means golfers in England have begun to dig out their gear in readiness for tee-off time on Wednesday, but clubs in Wales are expected to remain closed.
The problem for Llanymynech, a hilly course located between Welshpool and Shrewsbury, is that some of it lies in England and some in Wales.
Fifteen holes are wholly in Wales and two in England. On the fourth hole, the golfer hits his or her first shot in Wales and putts out on a green in England.
The course has been closed since the start of lockdown but members are beginning to wonder if there is any way they can argue that it ought to reopen.
The club secretary, Sian Whiteoak, said: “We’re trying to work it out. We have some holes in England and some holes in Wales, so we don’t know what we can do.”
The photographer Jill Mead has been documenting the quirky, unusual and downright strange occurrences in her local neighbourhoods and other parts of the capital.
Dan Sabbagh and Severin Carrell report on how the coronavirus biosecurity centre will monitor local outbreaks.
Schools and businesses in a local area could be forced to close if the new coronavirus biosecurity centre identifies a new disease outbreak, according to the government’s action plan for overcoming the pandemic.
The Whitehall centre is to have an “independent analytical function” to assess the rate of infection community by community – and recommend urgent lockdown measures if deemed necessary.
“It will identify specific actions to address local spikes in infections” according to the 60 page document and advise ministers “to close schools or workplaces where infection rates have spiked” to tackle unexpected outbreaks.
The Joint Biosecurity Centre will also have responsibility for measuring a five-tier coronavirus alert system announced by Boris Johnson last night for England, and will be based in the Cabinet Office, responsible for cross-government coordination.
But there was little other fresh detail about the centre in the plan, such as who would staff or run it. Its initial announcement on Sunday had already been criticised by the Scottish government for not briefing it in advance.
Far from the moment of clarity and reassurance many were hoping for, Boris Johnson’s Sunday evening address to the nation seemed to raise more questions than it answered. What day were people supposed to return to work? How many individuals were allowed to meet outdoors?
Metro’s front page on Monday invoked the prime minister’s passion for classics with the headline “It’s all Greek to us Boris”, and the Mirror described lockdown Britain as “chaos”. From a public communications perspective, it was not – it is fair to say – a success.
Chris Whitehouse, the managing director of the Whitehouse Consultancy communications agency, said:
Ahead of the prime minister’s speech on Sunday evening – an embargoed copy of which was shared with the media – government sources briefed political journalists with details of some additional measures that were included in the 50-page guidance to be published 24 hours later.
Whitehouse added:
Equality campaigners, including the former shadow home secretary Diane Abbott, have warned that the change in lockdown measures will hit black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people harder because they are less likely to be able to work from home and more likely to to be forced to use public transport to travel to their place of work.
Abbott said: “Low-paid workers across the board are going to be hit by this recklessly premature move to exit the lockdown. This will also disproportionately affect black and Asian workers. No one should be forced to risk death at work. Workers need to know they will be supported if they refuse to do so.”
BAME people have already been disproportionately affected by Covid-19. Figures published last week showed that black people in the UK are more than four times more likely to die from coronavirus than white people. After taking into account age, measures of self-reported health and disability and other socio-demographic characteristics, black people were still almost twice as likely as white people to die a Covid-19-related death. Bangladeshi and Pakistani men and women were more than 1.5 times likely to die than their white counterparts, when other factors were accounted for.
Recent research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies found that a third of all working-age black Africans are employed in key worker roles – 50% more than the white British population.
Sabby Dhalu, the Stand up to Racism co-convenor, said: “With the previous lockdown Britain already had one of the worst capita death rates in the world. The government’s easing of the lockdown is creeping herd immunity and will inevitably lead to more deaths and infections, with BAME communities disproportionately hit once again.”
The UK government has given permission for the Premier League and other professional sports to return behind closed doors from 1 June, providing its five tests on controlling the coronavirus are met, Paul MacInnes reports.