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Coronavirus: 'We've reached a perilous turning point', says Boris Johnson Coronavirus: 'We've reached a perilous turning point', says Boris Johnson
(32 minutes later)
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK had reached "a perilous turning point" as he set out new coronavirus restrictions for England which could last for up to six months. The UK has reached "a perilous turning point", Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, as he set out a raft of new coronavirus restrictions for England which could last for up to six months.
He told MPs that hospitality businesses would close at 22:00 and weddings would be limited to a maximum of 15 people. Shop staff will have to wear face masks and weddings will be limited to a maximum of 15 people, under new rules.
Face masks will be compulsory for retail staff and fines for breaking the rules will increase, he said. Penalties for breaking laws on gatherings, wearing masks and for businesses will increase.
Office workers are also being told to stay at home if they can. He also warned "significantly greater restrictions" could come if necessary.
Following a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee this morning with the leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, Mr Johnson said "similar steps" would be taken across the UK.
"We always knew that while we might have driven the virus into retreat, the prospect of a second wave was real. I'm sorry to say that, as in Spain and France and many other countries, we've reached a perilous turning point," he said."We always knew that while we might have driven the virus into retreat, the prospect of a second wave was real. I'm sorry to say that, as in Spain and France and many other countries, we've reached a perilous turning point," he said.
After a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee this morning, Mr Johnson told the House of Commons he would provide police and local authorities with extra funding to enforce the regulations and the option to draw on military support. Mr Johnson told the House of Commons he would provide police and local authorities with extra funding to enforce the regulations and the option to draw on military support.
He said the new rules were "carefully judged" to achieve the maximum reduction in the R number - which measures how quickly the virus is spreading - while causing "the minimum damage to lives and livelihoods".He said the new rules were "carefully judged" to achieve the maximum reduction in the R number - which measures how quickly the virus is spreading - while causing "the minimum damage to lives and livelihoods".
He said this was "by no means a return to the full lockdown of March", with no general instructions to stay at home. Businesses, schools, colleges and universities will remain open.He said this was "by no means a return to the full lockdown of March", with no general instructions to stay at home. Businesses, schools, colleges and universities will remain open.
In the last fortnight, hospital admissions have doubled and Covid-19 is likely to spread faster in winter, Mr Johnson said, adding: "So this is the moment when we must act."In the last fortnight, hospital admissions have doubled and Covid-19 is likely to spread faster in winter, Mr Johnson said, adding: "So this is the moment when we must act."
If these restrictions fail to bring the R number below one - the point where the epidemic is no longer growing - "then we reserve the right to deploy greater fire power with significantly greater restrictions" he said.If these restrictions fail to bring the R number below one - the point where the epidemic is no longer growing - "then we reserve the right to deploy greater fire power with significantly greater restrictions" he said.
Under the new measures:
'Tough calls are still to come'
With hospital admissions and deaths still low, there is a window of opportunity before more difficult decisions have to be taken.
That's why the restrictions taken by ministers, which may be in place for as long as six months, are somewhat more limited than the warning by scientists on Monday that cases could reach 50,000 cases a day suggested was needed.
But even if the public does take more care and these steps have an impact, it remains doubtful the rise in cases will actually be stopped.
This is a virus which can be transmitted silently - people are infectious before symptoms develop, while some do not even develop any - and we are entering the time of year when respiratory illnesses circulate more and deaths start to increase.
Most experts doubt the 50,000-cases-a-day figure will be reached by October, but it would be a big surprise if the infection rate does not continue to gradually climb.
The government will then have a big decision to take - not necessarily about whether to introduce a full lockdown - but if more significant steps such as stopping households mixing and closing hospitality and leisure facilities are needed.
How far is it prepared to go to contain the virus? How much economic pain and disruption to people's live and to wider wellbeing is worth the lives that are at risk?
The really tough calls are still to come.
Are the new restrictions going to affect you? Will your wedding be affected? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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