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Covid-19: Second wave now hitting the UK, says Boris Johnson Covid-19: Second wave now hitting the UK, says Boris Johnson
(32 minutes later)
The UK is "now seeing a second wave" of Covid-19, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said, adding, "It's been inevitable we'd see it in this country."The UK is "now seeing a second wave" of Covid-19, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said, adding, "It's been inevitable we'd see it in this country."
Mr Johnson said he did not "want to go into bigger lockdown measures" but that tighter social distancing restrictions might be necessary.Mr Johnson said he did not "want to go into bigger lockdown measures" but that tighter social distancing restrictions might be necessary.
Earlier, new rules were confirmed for Lancashire, Merseyside, parts of the Midlands and West Yorkshire. It is understood a new three-tiered set of restrictions is being considered.
It also comes as the UK recorded another 4,322 confirmed Covid-19 cases. The plan would aim to avoid a national lockdown but could stop household-to-household contact.
"Clearly when you look at what is happening, you've got wonder whether we need to go further than the rule of six that we brought in," the PM said, referring to new measures introduced on Monday. The first tier would be the level of measures currently in place in most parts of England now - with social distancing the key aspect.
The second tier would involve what is currently being imposed in the North East - curfews on hospitality venues and a ban on meetings between households.
The final third tier would involve stricter lockdown measures.
It is thought it is likely "tier two" may come in place across the UK - albeit framed on a region-by-region basis rather than as a "national curfew".
An account of a meeting at which the measures were discussed has been shared with the BBC. It explained the government's shielding policy was also "being actively reviewed" and a decision could come soon on further measures to protect the vulnerable.
Any further shielding decisions are expected to take a much more tailored approach than before.
With the virus expected to be more severe over the winter, officials are looking at bringing in measures that could last until the spring.
'Difficult to keep this up'
It comes as the UK has recorded another 4,322 confirmed Covid-19 cases.
"Clearly when you look at what is happening, you've got wonder whether we need to go further than the rule of six that we brought in," the PM said, referring to measures introduced on Monday.
He added that "the British people have done an amazing job - they've brought that peak down by discipline" but that "people find it difficult to keep this up, it's difficult to maintain that discipline for a long time".He added that "the British people have done an amazing job - they've brought that peak down by discipline" but that "people find it difficult to keep this up, it's difficult to maintain that discipline for a long time".
Speaking in Oxfordshire, Mr Johnson continued: "As we look at this particular curve and what is happening now, clearly we are going to keep everything under review. I don't want to get into a second national lockdown at all, it is the last thing anybody wants.Speaking in Oxfordshire, Mr Johnson continued: "As we look at this particular curve and what is happening now, clearly we are going to keep everything under review. I don't want to get into a second national lockdown at all, it is the last thing anybody wants.
"I don't want to go into bigger lockdown measures at all, we want to keep schools open and it is fantastic the schools have gone back in the way they have. We want to keep the economy open as far as we possibly can, we want to keep businesses going."I don't want to go into bigger lockdown measures at all, we want to keep schools open and it is fantastic the schools have gone back in the way they have. We want to keep the economy open as far as we possibly can, we want to keep businesses going.
"The only way we can do that is, obviously, if people follow the guidance.""The only way we can do that is, obviously, if people follow the guidance."
Earlier, BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said the government was considering a short period of tighter rules that could be announced in the next week.Earlier, BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said the government was considering a short period of tighter rules that could be announced in the next week.
Described by the government as a "circuit-break", the measures being considered could involve re-introducing restrictions in public spaces for a period of a few weeks. Schools and workplaces would stay open. Described by the government as a "circuit-break", those measures could involve re-introducing restrictions in public spaces for a period of a few weeks while keeping schools and workplaces open.
Ideas suggested by the government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) include closing some parts of the hospitality sector. Ideas suggested by the government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) included closing some parts of the hospitality sector.
Basic maths shows us how quickly coronavirus cases can, theoretically, soar.
Around 4,000 infections a day, doubling every eight days, would be 128,000 new daily cases by the end of October.
That is not guaranteed to happen, and a change in our behaviour, the "rule of six" or restrictions like those in north-east England could improve the situation.
The point of a national "circuit-break" would be to achieve a controlled drop in the levels of coronavirus without needing a full lockdown.
This does two things, obviously it helps avoid having very high levels of the virus that could overwhelm hospitals.
But it also gives us more options. Any contact-tracing programme or system of local lockdowns is far easier to implement when levels of the virus are low. The higher the number of cases, the fewer targeted measures the government has to use.
The problem is once the circuit-break is over, cases would begin to rise again and it may take multiple circuit breaks to get us through winter.
Meanwhile, new measures to curb the spread of the virus have been introduced across parts of the North West, Midlands and West Yorkshire.Meanwhile, new measures to curb the spread of the virus have been introduced across parts of the North West, Midlands and West Yorkshire.
This includes Lancashire (excluding Blackpool), Merseyside and the Cheshire boroughs of Warrington and Halton.This includes Lancashire (excluding Blackpool), Merseyside and the Cheshire boroughs of Warrington and Halton.
New restrictions are also being put in place in Wolverhampton, Oadby and Wigston in Leicestershire, and all parts of Bradford, Kirklees and Calderdale.New restrictions are also being put in place in Wolverhampton, Oadby and Wigston in Leicestershire, and all parts of Bradford, Kirklees and Calderdale.
Some areas of West Yorkshire had already been subject to restrictions implemented at the start of August but they were eased. They are now subject to these new rules.Some areas of West Yorkshire had already been subject to restrictions implemented at the start of August but they were eased. They are now subject to these new rules.
In total, nearly 4.7 million people will be affected by the new restrictions, which ban separate households from meeting each other at home or in private gardens.In total, nearly 4.7 million people will be affected by the new restrictions, which ban separate households from meeting each other at home or in private gardens.