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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2020/sep/17/uk-coronavirus-news-latest-minister-dismisses-report-pm-preparing-for-new-two-week-national-lockdown
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| UK coronavirus live: minister dismisses claim PM preparing for new two-week national lockdown | UK coronavirus live: minister dismisses claim PM preparing for new two-week national lockdown |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Edward Argar says Boris Johnson does not want a new national lockdown; Matt Hancock due to announce restrictions in north-east of England | Edward Argar says Boris Johnson does not want a new national lockdown; Matt Hancock due to announce restrictions in north-east of England |
| During his interview on the Today programme this morning Edward Argar, the health minister, also confirmed that the government would shortly issue guidance on how it would prioritise access to testing. He said teachers would be among those getting priority. | |
| Care providers in England will receive more than £500m extra funding to help reduce transmission of Covid-19 during the winter, the government has announced. As PA Media reports, the infection control fund will help pay staff full wages when they are self-isolating and ensure carers work in only one care home, reducing the risk of spreading the infection. The fund was set up in May but has now been extended until March 2021 and will offer the sector an extra £546m ahead of an anticipated second wave of the virus over the winter months. | |
| Dr Adam Kucharski, an epidemiologist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, told the Today programme this morning that the shortage of coronavirus testing meant it was getting harder to track the spread of the disease. He explained: | Dr Adam Kucharski, an epidemiologist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, told the Today programme this morning that the shortage of coronavirus testing meant it was getting harder to track the spread of the disease. He explained: |
| On the Today programme this morning the Newcastle city council leader, Nick Forbes, said his team had sent proposals to the Department of Health for pubs and restaurants to close at 10pm and for people to be banned from socialising outside their bubble. He explained: | |
| He said one exemption to this rule would be for extended family members who provide childcare. | He said one exemption to this rule would be for extended family members who provide childcare. |
| Forbes said people needed to understand that “if we don’t get on top of this now, it’s going to get out of control”. Some 40,000 students were expected back in the city and there was now a need for extra testing capacity to keep them safe, he added. He went on: | Forbes said people needed to understand that “if we don’t get on top of this now, it’s going to get out of control”. Some 40,000 students were expected back in the city and there was now a need for extra testing capacity to keep them safe, he added. He went on: |
| Good morning. Later today Matt Hancock, the health secretary, is expected to announce details of new coronavirus restrictions being imposed in the north east of England, but it could be much worse. Late last night Anthony Costello, a former director of the WHO, a former head of the Institute for Global Health at University College London and a regular commentator on coronavirus, sent a jolt of alarm through Twitter with this. | Good morning. Later today Matt Hancock, the health secretary, is expected to announce details of new coronavirus restrictions being imposed in the north east of England, but it could be much worse. Late last night Anthony Costello, a former director of the WHO, a former head of the Institute for Global Health at University College London and a regular commentator on coronavirus, sent a jolt of alarm through Twitter with this. |
| This morning his claim has been knocked down, by two good sources. This is what Edward Argar, the health minister, told Sky News when asked about the claim. | This morning his claim has been knocked down, by two good sources. This is what Edward Argar, the health minister, told Sky News when asked about the claim. |
| Later, on the Today programme, Argar also said this was not something that he had heard from Whitty himself. | Later, on the Today programme, Argar also said this was not something that he had heard from Whitty himself. |
| And Costello himself has retracted his claim. He posted this on Twitter about half an hour ago. | And Costello himself has retracted his claim. He posted this on Twitter about half an hour ago. |
| Of course, the truth or otherwise of this speculation may depend on how you define “national lockdown”. The Telegraph is reporting this morning that “office staff will be given a “work from home” order within a fortnight if the “rule of six” fails to bring down coronavirus infection rates”. It attributes the story to unnamed senior government sources. | Of course, the truth or otherwise of this speculation may depend on how you define “national lockdown”. The Telegraph is reporting this morning that “office staff will be given a “work from home” order within a fortnight if the “rule of six” fails to bring down coronavirus infection rates”. It attributes the story to unnamed senior government sources. |
| Here is the agenda for the day. | Here is the agenda for the day. |
| 9.30am: The ONS publishes its regular update on the economic impact of coronavirus. | 9.30am: The ONS publishes its regular update on the economic impact of coronavirus. |
| 9.30am: Alister Jack, the Scottish secretary, gives evidence to the Commons Scottish affairs committee on coronavirus. | 9.30am: Alister Jack, the Scottish secretary, gives evidence to the Commons Scottish affairs committee on coronavirus. |
| Morning: NHS Test and Trace is due to publish its weekly performance indicators. | Morning: NHS Test and Trace is due to publish its weekly performance indicators. |
| Around 11.30am: Matt Hancock, the health secretary, gives a statement to MPs on coronavirus. He is expected to announce details of new restrictions for parts of north east England. | Around 11.30am: Matt Hancock, the health secretary, gives a statement to MPs on coronavirus. He is expected to announce details of new restrictions for parts of north east England. |
| 12pm: Downing Street is expected to hold its daily lobby briefing. | 12pm: Downing Street is expected to hold its daily lobby briefing. |
| 12.20pm: Nicola Sturgeon takes first minister’s questions in the Scottish parliament. | 12.20pm: Nicola Sturgeon takes first minister’s questions in the Scottish parliament. |
| Politics Live has been doubling up as the UK coronavirus live blog for some time and, given the way the Covid crisis eclipses everything, this will continue for the foreseeable future. But we will be covering non-Covid political stories too, like Brexit, and where they seem more important and interesting, they will take precedence. | Politics Live has been doubling up as the UK coronavirus live blog for some time and, given the way the Covid crisis eclipses everything, this will continue for the foreseeable future. But we will be covering non-Covid political stories too, like Brexit, and where they seem more important and interesting, they will take precedence. |
| Here is our global coronavirus live blog. | Here is our global coronavirus live blog. |
| I try to monitor the comments below the line (BTL) but it is impossible to read them all. If you have a direct question, do include “Andrew” in it somewhere and I’m more likely to find it. I do try to answer questions, and if they are of general interest, I will post the question and reply above the line (ATL), although I can’t promise to do this for everyone. | I try to monitor the comments below the line (BTL) but it is impossible to read them all. If you have a direct question, do include “Andrew” in it somewhere and I’m more likely to find it. I do try to answer questions, and if they are of general interest, I will post the question and reply above the line (ATL), although I can’t promise to do this for everyone. |
| If you want to attract my attention quickly, it is probably better to use Twitter. I’m on @AndrewSparrow. | If you want to attract my attention quickly, it is probably better to use Twitter. I’m on @AndrewSparrow. |