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UK coronavirus live news: Whitty calls for 'break in unnecessary links between households', including at work UK coronavirus live news: Whitty calls for 'break in unnecessary links between households', including at work
(32 minutes later)
England’s chief medical officer cites four key steps including reducing risk, self-isolating, and breaking links in workplaces and social environmentsEngland’s chief medical officer cites four key steps including reducing risk, self-isolating, and breaking links in workplaces and social environments
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.
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.
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.”
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 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.
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.
From the Labour MP Geraint Davies
From the Green MP Caroline Lucas
From Richard Burgon, the Labour MP and secretary of the leftwing campaign group of Labour MPs
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.
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.
You can find all the slides from the Whitty/Vallance coronavirus briefing here.
From the Welsh first minister Mark DrakefordFrom the Welsh first minister Mark Drakeford
Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, has issued this statement about the Whitty/Vallance briefing.Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, has issued this statement about the Whitty/Vallance briefing.
Here are the main points from the briefing by Prof Chris Whitty, the government’s chief medical adviser, and Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser. The words were strong, but the visuals were even more compelling - in particular the “graph of doom” (my phrase, not theirs) - which Vallance insisted was not a forecast, but which was clearly intended to jolt the public into recognising the case for fresh restrictions.Here are the main points from the briefing by Prof Chris Whitty, the government’s chief medical adviser, and Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser. The words were strong, but the visuals were even more compelling - in particular the “graph of doom” (my phrase, not theirs) - which Vallance insisted was not a forecast, but which was clearly intended to jolt the public into recognising the case for fresh restrictions.
The UK will face more than 200 Covid deaths per day by mid November if the virus continues to spread as now, Vallance said. He said:The UK will face more than 200 Covid deaths per day by mid November if the virus continues to spread as now, Vallance said. He said:
Vallance said the experience of what was happening in countries like Spain and France showed that increasing case numbers were leading to increasing deaths. (See 11.05am.) It was a simple message, he said:Vallance said the experience of what was happening in countries like Spain and France showed that increasing case numbers were leading to increasing deaths. (See 11.05am.) It was a simple message, he said:
Whitty said the recent increase in hospital Covid admissions in England showed the potential for an exponential increase in deaths if the virus was allowed to carry on spreading as now. (See 11.05am.) He said:Whitty said the recent increase in hospital Covid admissions in England showed the potential for an exponential increase in deaths if the virus was allowed to carry on spreading as now. (See 11.05am.) He said:
Whitty said the almost all parts of the country were at risk from rising rates of coronavirus. He said:Whitty said the almost all parts of the country were at risk from rising rates of coronavirus. He said:
Whitty hinted that people might be encouraged again to work from home. Describing what could be done to combat the virus (see 11.19am), he said:Whitty hinted that people might be encouraged again to work from home. Describing what could be done to combat the virus (see 11.19am), he said:
Whitty hinted that any new restrictions might last all winter. He said:
Vallance is talking now about vaccines.Vallance is talking now about vaccines.
He says several are in clinical tests.He says several are in clinical tests.
He says the UK has put itself in a good position for vaccine supply.He says the UK has put itself in a good position for vaccine supply.
It is possible that some vaccine could be available in small amounts later this year.It is possible that some vaccine could be available in small amounts later this year.
But it is more likely that a vaccine will be available early next year - although that is not guaranteed, he says.But it is more likely that a vaccine will be available early next year - although that is not guaranteed, he says.
And that’s it. The briefing is over. Whitty and Vallance did not take questions.And that’s it. The briefing is over. Whitty and Vallance did not take questions.
Whitty says a lot of people argue that individuals should be allowed to choose how much risk they take.Whitty says a lot of people argue that individuals should be allowed to choose how much risk they take.
But if you take a risk, you are also exposing others to risk, he says.But if you take a risk, you are also exposing others to risk, he says.
He says there are four things we can do.He says there are four things we can do.
First, as individuals, we can reduce our risk: hands, face, space, he says.First, as individuals, we can reduce our risk: hands, face, space, he says.
Second, we can isolate the virus. If people have symptoms, they must self-isolate. People who do this are helping to keep the virus out of circulation.Second, we can isolate the virus. If people have symptoms, they must self-isolate. People who do this are helping to keep the virus out of circulation.
Third, we must “break unnecessary links between households”. That means cutting contacts at work, and in social environments. But we cannot do this without significant downsides, he says.Third, we must “break unnecessary links between households”. That means cutting contacts at work, and in social environments. But we cannot do this without significant downsides, he says.
He says, if we do not change course, we will find ourselves in a very difficult situation.He says, if we do not change course, we will find ourselves in a very difficult situation.
Fourth, we can address the virus through science.Fourth, we can address the virus through science.
Whitty says Covid poses four sorts of risk.Whitty says Covid poses four sorts of risk.
The virus can kill people. And if it led to the NHS being overwhelmed, people would die, he says. But he says this did not happen in the spring.The virus can kill people. And if it led to the NHS being overwhelmed, people would die, he says. But he says this did not happen in the spring.
He says the virus can also have an indirect impact on health, because operations get postponed etc.He says the virus can also have an indirect impact on health, because operations get postponed etc.
And if it generated an economic downturn, that would have health impacts too, he says.And if it generated an economic downturn, that would have health impacts too, he says.
Whitty presents a chart showing how hospital admissions for Covid are increasing.Whitty presents a chart showing how hospital admissions for Covid are increasing.
This has only started in England, he says. But it means we have turned a corner. And the increase could be exponential. That means the numbers could eventually get very high.This has only started in England, he says. But it means we have turned a corner. And the increase could be exponential. That means the numbers could eventually get very high.
He says there is no evidence that the virus has become weaker.He says there is no evidence that the virus has become weaker.
Infections are not just remaining amongst the young. They are going up the age groups.Infections are not just remaining amongst the young. They are going up the age groups.
Seasonal flu normally kills round 7,000 people a year. But this virus is more virulent, he says.Seasonal flu normally kills round 7,000 people a year. But this virus is more virulent, he says.
He says treatments have got better. But that will not be enough to keep deaths at a minimal level, he says.He says treatments have got better. But that will not be enough to keep deaths at a minimal level, he says.
Whitty is speaking now.Whitty is speaking now.
He presents a graph showing the rate of spread of Covid (on the left) and the rate of increase (on the right). It is a threat everywhere, he says.He presents a graph showing the rate of spread of Covid (on the left) and the rate of increase (on the right). It is a threat everywhere, he says.
Vallance says around 8% of the population have had the virus, judging by antibody tests.Vallance says around 8% of the population have had the virus, judging by antibody tests.
But that means most people are not protected.But that means most people are not protected.
In London the figure could be a high as 17%. That would slow the spread, he says, but not stop it.In London the figure could be a high as 17%. That would slow the spread, he says, but not stop it.
Vallance presents the next slide.Vallance presents the next slide.
It shows new cases in England, by age group.It shows new cases in England, by age group.
In every age group cases are going up.In every age group cases are going up.
He says that is not just due to more testing. In every age group the proportion of people testing positive is going up.He says that is not just due to more testing. In every age group the proportion of people testing positive is going up.
And the ONS study suggests cases are going up. It suggests about 6,000 people a day are getting infected.And the ONS study suggests cases are going up. It suggests about 6,000 people a day are getting infected.
This is translating into an increase in hospitalisation, he says.This is translating into an increase in hospitalisation, he says.
Vallance says he wants to remind people how quickly things can change.Vallance says he wants to remind people how quickly things can change.
This slide is not a prediction, he says.This slide is not a prediction, he says.
But it shows what could happen.But it shows what could happen.
The epidemic is doubling rouhly every seven days.The epidemic is doubling rouhly every seven days.
If that continues unabated, by mid October you would have 50,000 new cases per day.If that continues unabated, by mid October you would have 50,000 new cases per day.
That would lead a month later to 200-plus death per day.That would lead a month later to 200-plus death per day.
Vallance presents the first slide.Vallance presents the first slide.
It shows cases in Spain and France.It shows cases in Spain and France.
Increases in case numbers have led to an increase in hospitalisations. And deaths are increasing too, he says.Increases in case numbers have led to an increase in hospitalisations. And deaths are increasing too, he says.
He says there is a simple message from the slide: as the disease spreads, there will be more hospitalisations and more deaths, he says.He says there is a simple message from the slide: as the disease spreads, there will be more hospitalisations and more deaths, he says.