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| UK coronavirus live news: four more areas of Wales to go into lockdown; Whitty calls for reduced social contacts | UK coronavirus live news: four more areas of Wales to go into lockdown; Whitty calls for reduced social contacts |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Restrictions for Newport, Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and Blaenau Gwent; Whitty calls for ‘break in unnecessary links between households’ | Restrictions for Newport, Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and Blaenau Gwent; Whitty calls for ‘break in unnecessary links between households’ |
| The Department for Health and Social Care has been forced this morning to deny claims from the prime minister’s official spokesperson that the contact tracing features of the forthcoming NHS Covid-19 app had been delayed yet again. | |
| Confusion reigned in Westminster after No 10 appeared to confirm yet another missed target for the contact tracing app, which is currently planned for release this Thursday.“It will be there to check and report symptoms, book a test, find out if you have tested positive or not and if you need to self-isolate,” the PM’s spokesman said. But when asked twice if the app would also have the headline contact tracing feature, the spokesman demurred, saying only that he had “set out to you the functions which it will have when it has launched.”Even as the spokesman was talking, the official account for the app shared a video with the exact opposite message, confirming that it would indeed have the bluetooth contact tracing feature, which uses mobile phones to track who may have been exposed to the virus. | |
| DHSC said later in a statement: | |
| Earlier I mentioned a letter signed by 22 experts questioning whether ongoing coronvirus restrictions need to be as strict as they are. (See 2pm.) A rival letter has been published in the British Medical Journal, signed by 22 academics (mostly professors in medicine or health). It is addressed to the UK’s four chief medical officers and it says the authors “support your continuing efforts to suppress the virus across the entire population, rather than adopt a policy of segmentation or shielding the vulnerable until ‘herd immunity’ has developed.”. | |
| It says there will be no return to normal for some time to come. | |
| And it questions the argument (made in the other letter) that there is no firm evidence that particular restrictions are reducing deaths. It says: | |
| Anneliese Dodds’ first speech as shadow chancellor to a Labour conference this morning did not take place in the best of circumstances. The conference is online, which means that even if Barack Obama were speaking, it would still feel more like a YouTube video than an event. And Dodds was on shortly before the Whitty/Vallance briefing that is dominating today’s news. | |
| Still, we promised coverage, and here are the main points. The full text is here. | |
| Dodds accused the government of wasting billions on some coronavirus measures. She said: | |
| But she also made a wider point, which was interesting because it was counter-intuitive, and a rebuttal to the normal Tory charge that it is Labour that is inclined to waste public money ... | |
| She suggested the Tories were inherently “cavalier with public money”. She said: | |
| She set out a three-point coronavirus recovery programme, involving a job retention programme, a training stragegy and a business rebuilding programme. On job retention she said: | |
| On training she said: | |
| And on business rebuilding she said: | |
| She stressed that her father was a small businessman, “an accountant who worked a six-day week for decades”. | |
| The Sun’s Harry Cole says the government is planning strict measures to enforce the rule of six. | The Sun’s Harry Cole says the government is planning strict measures to enforce the rule of six. |
| Twenty two experts - almost all academics, largely specialising in medicine or health - have signed an open letter to the prime minister arguing that coronavirus restriction measures are going too far. | Twenty two experts - almost all academics, largely specialising in medicine or health - have signed an open letter to the prime minister arguing that coronavirus restriction measures are going too far. |
| They say the government’s aim seems to be suppression of the virus. This objective is “increasingly unfeasible”, they say, and “inconsistent with the known risk profile of Covid-19”. | They say the government’s aim seems to be suppression of the virus. This objective is “increasingly unfeasible”, they say, and “inconsistent with the known risk profile of Covid-19”. |
| They question how successful current restrictions measures have been. They say: | They question how successful current restrictions measures have been. They say: |
| They suggest that it would be better for the government to focus on protecting those at most risk from coronavirus, while minimising the impact of restrictions on the economy and other aspects of life. | They suggest that it would be better for the government to focus on protecting those at most risk from coronavirus, while minimising the impact of restrictions on the economy and other aspects of life. |
| This is from Prof Karol Sikora, a cancer specialist and one of the authors of the letter. | This is from Prof Karol Sikora, a cancer specialist and one of the authors of the letter. |
| Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, said it was “good” Johnson is hosting a Cobra emergency planning meeting tomorrow morning. “That’s very positive,” she said, during her briefing on Monday, soon after Downing Street confirmed Cobra would take place. (See 1.33pm.) | Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, said it was “good” Johnson is hosting a Cobra emergency planning meeting tomorrow morning. “That’s very positive,” she said, during her briefing on Monday, soon after Downing Street confirmed Cobra would take place. (See 1.33pm.) |
| Earlier in the briefing she had expressed frustration no clear date or time for that Cobra meeting had been confirmed. | Earlier in the briefing she had expressed frustration no clear date or time for that Cobra meeting had been confirmed. |
| She said it was essential that fresh action was taken “quickly, urgently and decisively” to suppress the pandemic and get the R number, the rate of transmission, below 1. She said the current R rate estimate for Scotland was between 0.9 and 1.4. | She said it was essential that fresh action was taken “quickly, urgently and decisively” to suppress the pandemic and get the R number, the rate of transmission, below 1. She said the current R rate estimate for Scotland was between 0.9 and 1.4. |
| Commenting on the news that Boris Johnson will speak to the Welsh first minister, Mark Drakeford, this afternoon (see 12.26pm), the Welsh health minister, Vaughan Gething, said this was a “helpful step forward” and such direct communication was necessary if UK-wide measures were to be taken. | Commenting on the news that Boris Johnson will speak to the Welsh first minister, Mark Drakeford, this afternoon (see 12.26pm), the Welsh health minister, Vaughan Gething, said this was a “helpful step forward” and such direct communication was necessary if UK-wide measures were to be taken. |
| Boris Johnson is going to make a statement to MPs tomorrow, Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the Commons, has announced. | Boris Johnson is going to make a statement to MPs tomorrow, Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the Commons, has announced. |
| Ministerial statements like this normally take place at 12.30pm on a Tuesday. That would allow Johnson to announce new coronavirus restrictions to MPs after rubber-stamping them earlier at cabinet and at Cobra - although to make the Commons for 12.30pm, he would have to ensure both meetings were quite brisk. | Ministerial statements like this normally take place at 12.30pm on a Tuesday. That would allow Johnson to announce new coronavirus restrictions to MPs after rubber-stamping them earlier at cabinet and at Cobra - although to make the Commons for 12.30pm, he would have to ensure both meetings were quite brisk. |
| At the weekend there were suggestions that Johnson might make his announcement in the form of a TV address to the nation. This is what he did when he announced the original hard lockdown in March, and when he announced the first lockdown easing in May. But recently the government faced fierce criticism for not announcing the rule of six in the Commons first, and No 10 now seems to be ensuring that MPs won’t be able to complain about being sidelined. | At the weekend there were suggestions that Johnson might make his announcement in the form of a TV address to the nation. This is what he did when he announced the original hard lockdown in March, and when he announced the first lockdown easing in May. But recently the government faced fierce criticism for not announcing the rule of six in the Commons first, and No 10 now seems to be ensuring that MPs won’t be able to complain about being sidelined. |
| From the Times’s Steven Swinford | From the Times’s Steven Swinford |
| The Science Media Centre has published on its website reaction to the Whitty/Vallance briefing from five leading scientists. They are all supportive. One of them, Prof Jackie Cassell, deputy dean at Brighton and Sussex Medical School, says one feature of the briefing that was particular welcome was the fact that “there was none of the bombast about future world-leading technical solutions that have undermined trust and distracted from the basics in recent weeks and months.” | The Science Media Centre has published on its website reaction to the Whitty/Vallance briefing from five leading scientists. They are all supportive. One of them, Prof Jackie Cassell, deputy dean at Brighton and Sussex Medical School, says one feature of the briefing that was particular welcome was the fact that “there was none of the bombast about future world-leading technical solutions that have undermined trust and distracted from the basics in recent weeks and months.” |
| The Downing Street lobby briefing has just ended, and No 10 has confirmed that Boris Johnson will chair a meeting of Cobra, the government’s emergency committee, tomorrow morning. | The Downing Street lobby briefing has just ended, and No 10 has confirmed that Boris Johnson will chair a meeting of Cobra, the government’s emergency committee, tomorrow morning. |
| Cobra, which includes the leaders of the devolved administrations, used to meet regularly at the start of the crisis, normally to agree lockdown measures being imposed in sync by the four nations of the UK. It has not met recently (ministers have claimed that other government committees are doing the job it used to perform) but in recent days Keir Starmer, Nicola Sturgeon and Mark Drakeford have been saying it should be convened to address what must be done about the rise in Covid cases. | Cobra, which includes the leaders of the devolved administrations, used to meet regularly at the start of the crisis, normally to agree lockdown measures being imposed in sync by the four nations of the UK. It has not met recently (ministers have claimed that other government committees are doing the job it used to perform) but in recent days Keir Starmer, Nicola Sturgeon and Mark Drakeford have been saying it should be convened to address what must be done about the rise in Covid cases. |
| The fact that a meeting has now been scheduled suggests that Johnson will be announcing new restrictions at some point after it’s over tomorrow. | The fact that a meeting has now been scheduled suggests that Johnson will be announcing new restrictions at some point after it’s over tomorrow. |
| The Welsh health minister, Vaughan Gething, said the fresh restrictions in four new areas in south Wales (see 12.43pm) would come into force at 6pm tomorrow. | The Welsh health minister, Vaughan Gething, said the fresh restrictions in four new areas in south Wales (see 12.43pm) would come into force at 6pm tomorrow. |
| The new restrictions will apply to everyone living in Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and Newport. The restrictions are: | The new restrictions will apply to everyone living in Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and Newport. The restrictions are: |
| People will not be allowed to enter or leave these areas without a reasonable excuse, such as travel for work or education; | People will not be allowed to enter or leave these areas without a reasonable excuse, such as travel for work or education; |
| People will only be able to meet people they don’t live with outdoors for the time being. They will not be able to form, or be in, extended households; | People will only be able to meet people they don’t live with outdoors for the time being. They will not be able to form, or be in, extended households; |
| All licensed premises will have to close at 11pm. | All licensed premises will have to close at 11pm. |
| Gething said: | Gething said: |
| New local lockdown restrictions are to be imposed on four more areas of south Wales affecting more than 400,000 people. | New local lockdown restrictions are to be imposed on four more areas of south Wales affecting more than 400,000 people. |
| The restrictions are being introduced in Newport, Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and Blaenau Gwent, the Welsh government has announced. | The restrictions are being introduced in Newport, Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and Blaenau Gwent, the Welsh government has announced. |
| Local lockdowns are already in place in Caerphilly and Rhondda Cynon Taf. | Local lockdowns are already in place in Caerphilly and Rhondda Cynon Taf. |
| In all, it means more than 800,000 people in Wales will be subject to local lockdown restrictions, out of a population across the country of 3 million. | In all, it means more than 800,000 people in Wales will be subject to local lockdown restrictions, out of a population across the country of 3 million. |
| Nicola Sturgeon has said the Scottish government endorses the alarming warnings this morning about the potential for a substantial increase in Covid-19 deaths and cases from Patrick Valance and Chris Whitty. | Nicola Sturgeon has said the Scottish government endorses the alarming warnings this morning about the potential for a substantial increase in Covid-19 deaths and cases from Patrick Valance and Chris Whitty. |
| She said: “Doing nothing in the face of this quite rapid spread now isn’t an option.” | She said: “Doing nothing in the face of this quite rapid spread now isn’t an option.” |
| Speaking during today’s routine coronavirus briefing, Sturgeon said she is due to speak to Boris Johnson on Monday afternoon where she would urge him to agree to a joint “four nations” strategy on imposing a much tougher lockdown. | Speaking during today’s routine coronavirus briefing, Sturgeon said she is due to speak to Boris Johnson on Monday afternoon where she would urge him to agree to a joint “four nations” strategy on imposing a much tougher lockdown. |
| She said Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, promised her and other devolved government leaders on Saturday that there would be a Cobra emergency meeting on Monday or Tuesday, but the exact timing of that had not yet been confirmed. | She said Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, promised her and other devolved government leaders on Saturday that there would be a Cobra emergency meeting on Monday or Tuesday, but the exact timing of that had not yet been confirmed. |
| She said the Scottish government would be willing to delay a Scottish government decision on exactly what new measures would be required but said the prime minister had to act urgently and decisively. “Because of the urgency of the situation we cannot, must not and will not wait,” she said. | She said the Scottish government would be willing to delay a Scottish government decision on exactly what new measures would be required but said the prime minister had to act urgently and decisively. “Because of the urgency of the situation we cannot, must not and will not wait,” she said. |
| Sturgeon added that she expected to address the Scottish parliament on the new emergency measures in the next two days. | Sturgeon added that she expected to address the Scottish parliament on the new emergency measures in the next two days. |
| She said there had been 255 new positive cases over the last 24 hours, with 103 new cases in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board, 47 in Lanarkshire and 30 in the Lothians. There had been no further deaths recorded overnight, but another 10 people were now in hospital, with the total number of confirmed cases at 73. | She said there had been 255 new positive cases over the last 24 hours, with 103 new cases in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board, 47 in Lanarkshire and 30 in the Lothians. There had been no further deaths recorded overnight, but another 10 people were now in hospital, with the total number of confirmed cases at 73. |
| Here is some reaction to the Whitty/Vallance briefing from MPs. | Here is some reaction to the Whitty/Vallance briefing from MPs. |
| From the Labour MP Geraint Davies | From the Labour MP Geraint Davies |
| From the Green MP Caroline Lucas | From the Green MP Caroline Lucas |
| From Richard Burgon, the Labour MP and secretary of the leftwing campaign group of Labour MPs | From Richard Burgon, the Labour MP and secretary of the leftwing campaign group of Labour MPs |
| From the Lib Dem MP Wera Hobhouse | From the Lib Dem MP Wera Hobhouse |
| Downing Street has announced that Boris Johnson will be speaking by phone to Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister of Scotland, Mark Drakeford, the first minister of Wales, and Arlene Foster and Michelle O’Neill, first minister and deputy first minister of Northern Ireland respectively, later today. | Downing Street has announced that Boris Johnson will be speaking by phone to Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister of Scotland, Mark Drakeford, the first minister of Wales, and Arlene Foster and Michelle O’Neill, first minister and deputy first minister of Northern Ireland respectively, later today. |
| Sturgeon and Drakeford have been particularly critical of Johnson for not communicating with them regularly. Last week Drakeford said that he had only spoken to Johnson once since May and that this was “simply unacceptable to anyone who believes that we ought to be facing the coronavirus crisis together”. | Sturgeon and Drakeford have been particularly critical of Johnson for not communicating with them regularly. Last week Drakeford said that he had only spoken to Johnson once since May and that this was “simply unacceptable to anyone who believes that we ought to be facing the coronavirus crisis together”. |
| There was “a vacancy at the heart of the United Kingdom”, Drakeford said last week. | There was “a vacancy at the heart of the United Kingdom”, Drakeford said last week. |
| You can find all the slides from the Whitty/Vallance coronavirus briefing here. | You can find all the slides from the Whitty/Vallance coronavirus briefing here. |
| From the Welsh first minister Mark Drakeford | From the Welsh first minister Mark Drakeford |