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Covid: PM considering new restrictions amid second coronavirus wave | Covid: PM considering new restrictions amid second coronavirus wave |
(32 minutes later) | |
Boris Johnson will spend the weekend considering whether to tighten Covid-19 measures further, after saying the UK was "now seeing a second wave". | Boris Johnson will spend the weekend considering whether to tighten Covid-19 measures further, after saying the UK was "now seeing a second wave". |
The government is understood to be looking at a ban on households in England mixing, and reducing opening hours for pubs and restaurants. | The government is understood to be looking at a ban on households in England mixing, and reducing opening hours for pubs and restaurants. |
At least 13.5 million people, roughly one-in-five of the UK population, are already facing local restrictions. | At least 13.5 million people, roughly one-in-five of the UK population, are already facing local restrictions. |
In London, additional measures were "increasingly likely", its mayor said. | In London, additional measures were "increasingly likely", its mayor said. |
Mr Johnson only has direct power over restrictions in England. The devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can set their own rules. | Mr Johnson only has direct power over restrictions in England. The devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can set their own rules. |
Widespread growth of the virus has been recorded across the country, with cases doubling every seven to eight days. | Widespread growth of the virus has been recorded across the country, with cases doubling every seven to eight days. |
There were a further 4,322 confirmed cases on Friday - the first time the daily total of positive tests has exceeded 4,000 since 8 May. | There were a further 4,322 confirmed cases on Friday - the first time the daily total of positive tests has exceeded 4,000 since 8 May. |
Meanwhile, governments across Europe have announced new restrictions to tackle the surge in infections. | Meanwhile, governments across Europe have announced new restrictions to tackle the surge in infections. |
Speaking on Friday, Mr Johnson said he did not "want to go into bigger lockdown measures" but that tighter social distancing rules might be necessary. | Speaking on Friday, Mr Johnson said he did not "want to go into bigger lockdown measures" but that tighter social distancing rules might be necessary. |
He added: "Clearly when you look at what is happening, you have got to wonder whether we need to go further than the rule of six that we brought in on Monday." | He added: "Clearly when you look at what is happening, you have got to wonder whether we need to go further than the rule of six that we brought in on Monday." |
The government is understood to be considering a short period of tighter rules across England - "a circuit break" - which could involve closing hospitality venues. | The government is understood to be considering a short period of tighter rules across England - "a circuit break" - which could involve closing hospitality venues. |
However, schools and workplaces would stay open. | However, schools and workplaces would stay open. |
No 10 is also looking at limiting the opening hours of pubs and restaurants across the country, as has already happened in many areas of north-east England, where pubs had to close at 22:00 BST on Friday. | No 10 is also looking at limiting the opening hours of pubs and restaurants across the country, as has already happened in many areas of north-east England, where pubs had to close at 22:00 BST on Friday. |
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford, and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer have all called on the prime minister to hold an emergency Cobra meeting. | Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford, and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer have all called on the prime minister to hold an emergency Cobra meeting. |
Ms Sturgeon said the next few days would be "critical" to avoid another full-scale lockdown in Scotland. | Ms Sturgeon said the next few days would be "critical" to avoid another full-scale lockdown in Scotland. |
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was extremely concerned by evidence of the accelerating speed with which coronavirus was spreading in the capital. | London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was extremely concerned by evidence of the accelerating speed with which coronavirus was spreading in the capital. |
"We will be considering some of the measures which have already been imposed in other parts of the UK," he said. | "We will be considering some of the measures which have already been imposed in other parts of the UK," he said. |
"I am of the firm view that we should not wait, as happened six months ago, for this virus to again spiral out of control before taking action." | "I am of the firm view that we should not wait, as happened six months ago, for this virus to again spiral out of control before taking action." |
The government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) said the R number - representing the number of people an infected person will pass the virus on to - had risen to between 1.1 and 1.4. | The government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) said the R number - representing the number of people an infected person will pass the virus on to - had risen to between 1.1 and 1.4. |
Although deaths remain at a very low level, Sage said the rise in the R number "shows that we are moving to wider spread growth in transmission at a faster rate". | |
Public Health England's medical director Yvonne Doyle warned of "far worse things to come". | Public Health England's medical director Yvonne Doyle warned of "far worse things to come". |
The sharp rise in UK cases over the last two weeks comes amid ongoing problems with the government's test and trace programme, leading to people struggling to access tests. | The sharp rise in UK cases over the last two weeks comes amid ongoing problems with the government's test and trace programme, leading to people struggling to access tests. |
'UK's trajectory is not written in stone' | 'UK's trajectory is not written in stone' |
The question is no longer where we are, but where we are heading. | The question is no longer where we are, but where we are heading. |
Yes, the number of people infected, in hospital with Covid or dying from the disease are all at far lower levels than at the peak. | Yes, the number of people infected, in hospital with Covid or dying from the disease are all at far lower levels than at the peak. |
Scientists will quibble about the exact definition of a "second wave", but all data points to rising numbers of infections. | Scientists will quibble about the exact definition of a "second wave", but all data points to rising numbers of infections. |
The government's science advisers say the number is now doubling every week. | The government's science advisers say the number is now doubling every week. |
If those trends continue then infections could go from the estimated 6,000-a-day to more than 100,000 by mid-October. | If those trends continue then infections could go from the estimated 6,000-a-day to more than 100,000 by mid-October. |
It is that trajectory, which is not written in stone, the government is trying to change. | It is that trajectory, which is not written in stone, the government is trying to change. |
There are questions for politicians, from whether it should do a "circuit-break" to improving Test and Trace. | There are questions for politicians, from whether it should do a "circuit-break" to improving Test and Trace. |
But, with evidence suggesting only one in five people are following the self-isolation rules when they get sick, there are also questions for all of us. | But, with evidence suggesting only one in five people are following the self-isolation rules when they get sick, there are also questions for all of us. |
New restrictions for large parts of England's North West, West Yorkshire and the Midlands come into force on Tuesday. | New restrictions for large parts of England's North West, West Yorkshire and the Midlands come into force on Tuesday. |
The latest areas to see extra measures put in place include Lancashire (excluding Blackpool), Merseyside and the Cheshire boroughs of Warrington and Halton. | The latest areas to see extra measures put in place include Lancashire (excluding Blackpool), Merseyside and the Cheshire boroughs of Warrington and Halton. |
Additional restrictions are also being put in place in Wolverhampton, Oadby and Wigston in Leicestershire, and all parts of Bradford, Kirklees and Calderdale. | Additional restrictions are also being put in place in Wolverhampton, Oadby and Wigston in Leicestershire, and all parts of Bradford, Kirklees and Calderdale. |
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. |