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UK coronavirus live news: Hancock unveils childcare exemption in local lockdowns; daily cases rise by 4,368 UK coronavirus live news: alert level to be raised from 3 to 4; Northern Ireland banned from mixing indoors
(32 minutes later)
Health secretary announces childcare exemption in England; rise in infections is second highest daily total since early May Matt Hancock announces childcare exemption to local lockdowns in England; UK cases rise by 4,368, second highest daily total since early May
PA Media has snapped this.
That is the first time the alert level has been raised, not lowered, since the system was set up in May.
Eight more emergency, ‘Nightingale’ courts have been announced to tackle the backlog of cases, including one that will operate in a Salford theatre.
Two of the new courts will be housed in hotels in Middlesbrough and York, the justice secretary, Robert Buckland, has confirmed. The other five will be in Chester, Liverpool, Bristol, Winchester and Cirencester; their precise locations have yet to be revealed.
When fully operational, there will be 17 extra court buildings holding socially distanced hearings in an effort to ensure that the justice system can continue to operate during the pandemic. Buckland said:
Earlier this summer the Ministry of Justice announced an £80m funding boost for HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) to deal with problems caused by the pandemic.
The MoJ says magistrates’ courts are now seeing the number of outstanding cases falling. Plexiglass screens are being fitted in 300 courtrooms and jury deliberation rooms to enable them to operate jury trials safely.
Labour’s shadow justice secretary, David Lammy, has called for faster delivery of emergency courtroom capacity. Some lawyers point out that an austerity programme, which closed hundreds of courts after 2010, deprived the justice system of the necessary flexibility to respond to the crisis.
Here is more on the press conference in Belfast where new restrictions were announced. These are from the BBC’s Darran Marshall.
In Northern Ireland Arlene Foster, the first minister, and Michelle O’Neill, the deputy first minster, have just announced that people in the whole of the region will be banned from visiting other people’s homes. This is from the BBC’s Emma Vardy.
In his statement MPs, as well as announcing a childcare exemption from local lockdown restrictions (see 3.46pm), Matt Hancock also announced that he is publishing details of who will get priority for testing. He said he would start prioritising access to testing because demand recently has far exceeded supply.In his statement MPs, as well as announcing a childcare exemption from local lockdown restrictions (see 3.46pm), Matt Hancock also announced that he is publishing details of who will get priority for testing. He said he would start prioritising access to testing because demand recently has far exceeded supply.
Hancock told MPs that tests would be allocated where they were needed most. He went on:Hancock told MPs that tests would be allocated where they were needed most. He went on:
Hancock did not give further details of how the prioritisation system would operate, and the short document he has published about the new rules does not explain this eitherHancock did not give further details of how the prioritisation system would operate, and the short document he has published about the new rules does not explain this either
Back in the Commons Matt Hancock says he has been told that test and trace website should no longer be telling people that they must travel hundreds of miles for a test. He says he has been told that problem has been resolved.Back in the Commons Matt Hancock says he has been told that test and trace website should no longer be telling people that they must travel hundreds of miles for a test. He says he has been told that problem has been resolved.
Arlene Foster, Northern Ireland’s first minister, has confirmed that she has spoken to Boris Johnson today.Arlene Foster, Northern Ireland’s first minister, has confirmed that she has spoken to Boris Johnson today.
The government has just updated its daily coronavirus dashboard. Here are the main figures.The government has just updated its daily coronavirus dashboard. Here are the main figures.
The UK has recorded a further 4,368 coronavirus cases. This is the second highest daily total since early May (the highest was on Saturday) and only the third time this autumn the figures have topped 4,000.The UK has recorded a further 4,368 coronavirus cases. This is the second highest daily total since early May (the highest was on Saturday) and only the third time this autumn the figures have topped 4,000.
The UK has recorded 11 new coronavirus deaths. This takes the official headline total to 41,788. But this figure only covers people who died within 28 days of testing positive for coronavirus. The total number of deaths attributed to coronavirus in the UK is over 57,000.The UK has recorded 11 new coronavirus deaths. This takes the official headline total to 41,788. But this figure only covers people who died within 28 days of testing positive for coronavirus. The total number of deaths attributed to coronavirus in the UK is over 57,000.
The total number of patients in hospital in England with coronavirus is 1,261. Yesterday it was 1,141. Before this weekend the total had not been above 1,000 since late July.The total number of patients in hospital in England with coronavirus is 1,261. Yesterday it was 1,141. Before this weekend the total had not been above 1,000 since late July.
The number of hospital patients in England on mechanical ventilation (ie, the most seriously ill) is now 154. That is more than double what it was just over a week ago (74 on Sunday 13 September).The number of hospital patients in England on mechanical ventilation (ie, the most seriously ill) is now 154. That is more than double what it was just over a week ago (74 on Sunday 13 September).
In the Commons Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the Conservative backbench 1922 Committee, says decisions about how to balance the need to protect lives against other considerations, like the economy, are political judgments. Does Hancock agree that political judgments will be improved if they are subject to scrutiny?In the Commons Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the Conservative backbench 1922 Committee, says decisions about how to balance the need to protect lives against other considerations, like the economy, are political judgments. Does Hancock agree that political judgments will be improved if they are subject to scrutiny?
Brady is campaigning for MPs to get more say on coronavirus restrictions.Brady is campaigning for MPs to get more say on coronavirus restrictions.
Hancock says he does agree with this. But he says sometimes restrictions have had to be announced when parliament was not sitting.Hancock says he does agree with this. But he says sometimes restrictions have had to be announced when parliament was not sitting.
In response to a question about a school in Leeds saying any pupil who falls ill must go home and get tested for coronavirus, Hancock says that is not correct. Pupils should only get tests if they have coronavirus symptoms; if they have another illness, they don’t, he says.
In the Commons another Conservative MP expressed concern about further possible coronavirus restrictions being introduced. Simon Clarke urged Matt Hancock to consider the importance of “proportionality”. He said people needed some social contact.
Hancock said he agreed.
Boris Johnson has spoken to Mark Drakeford, the first minister of Wales. After the call a spokesperson for Drakeford said
In the Commons Chris Grayling, the Tory former transport secretary, praises Hancock for the measures announced today. But he says there is considerable regional variation in the spread of coronavirus. In the light of that, Grayling says, he does not believes there is a case for tightening national restrictions.
Scottish ministers are considering far-reaching restrictions to combat the surge in Covid cases including local lockdowns linked to school holidays next month, travel restrictions, closing playparks and shutting down hairdressers.
The measures were revealed in a leaked document marked “official sensitive”, which also reveals the Scottish government could issue a “general message” that people should again stay at home accept for essential shopping and exercise and also avoid public transport.
Written by Scottish government officials last Saturday, it also suggests a “rolling lockdown” for different parts of Scotland linked to October’s half term holidays, so that once schools are closed, the entire area goes into a lockdown.
Schools in a large majority of Scotland’s local authorities close for two weeks on 9 October, while a handful, including Edinburgh, close on 16 October.
Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister, confirmed she knew about the document, a computer screen image circulated on Twitter, and did not deny it was authentic. She said her government was considering a range of measures, some of which would go live this week and others at a later date.
“Yes, we are looking at a wide range of options and any government that isn’t doing that right now wouldn’t be doing its job properly,” she said during her daily coronavirus briefing.
She is due to hold emergency talks with Boris Johnson this afternoon before all four UK governments announce a new batch of tougher national restrictions on Tuesday. The details in that document are likely to be very similar to the restrictions being considered across the UK.
“I’ve heard about the screengrab,” she said. She went on:
Hancock is responding to Ashworth.
He thanks him for his constructive approach. They both agree that the strategy of suppressing the virus, while protecting the economy, is the right one.
Hancock says most people have followed the rules. But they have to be made mandatory because some people are not following them.
He says testing capacity is at record 230,000. It will continue to grow.
There will be no admission to care homes without a test, he says.
Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, is speaking now.
He claims the tone of Hancock’s remarks yesterday (in TV interviews) implied he was blaming the public.
He asks the government to publish figures showing how many asymptomatic people have been tested.
There have been reports of asymptomatic people being offered tests at test centres. Was that policy?
Hancock says an exemption from local lockdown measures is going to be introduced for childcare arrangements. It will cover formal and informal arrangements, for children under 14 and for vulnerable children.
But it will not cover parties, he says.
He says MPs from all parties have been pushing for this.
He says this should give people more certainty.
UPDATE: Here is the full quote from Hancock.
Hancock says, from next Monday, new payments worth £500 will be offered to those on low incomes who have to self-isolate.
He says this scheme will apply to England, but the devolved administrations will get Barnett funding to pay for their own versions.
He says the obligation to self-isolate will be made statutory.
Fines will apply to people who do not obey, he says.
(These measures were briefed to the Sunday papers at the weekend.)
Matt Hancock, the health secretary, is making a statement to MPs about coronavirus.
He says ONS figures suggest there are 6,000 new infections per day.
He says the PM spoke to first ministers today. He says the four nations of the UK are seeking to coordinate what they do.
If it continues to spread at the rate it is doing, there could be 50,000 new cases by October, he says.