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Covid: Raab defends 'targeted' new coronavirus measures Covid: Raab defends 'targeted' new coronavirus measures
(about 1 hour later)
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has defended the "balanced, targeted and proportionate" new coronavirus measures amid criticism from some scientists.Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has defended the "balanced, targeted and proportionate" new coronavirus measures amid criticism from some scientists.
In England, people are being told to work from home if they can and rules on face coverings have been expanded.In England, people are being told to work from home if they can and rules on face coverings have been expanded.
The measures have exposed a split among scientists. Prof John Edmunds, who advises the government, said they did not go "anywhere near far enough".The measures have exposed a split among scientists. Prof John Edmunds, who advises the government, said they did not go "anywhere near far enough".
But other scientists say they hope they are a shift towards a coherent policy.But other scientists say they hope they are a shift towards a coherent policy.
On Tuesday, tighter restrictions were announced in all four UK nations.On Tuesday, tighter restrictions were announced in all four UK nations.
Other measures introduced in England include a 10pm closing time for pubs and restaurants and the number of people allowed at weddings has been halved. The fines for breaking the rules are set to increase to £200 on the first offence.Other measures introduced in England include a 10pm closing time for pubs and restaurants and the number of people allowed at weddings has been halved. The fines for breaking the rules are set to increase to £200 on the first offence.
Hospitality venues will also have to close early in Scotland and Wales - but Scotland has gone further, banning people from visiting other people's homes from Wednesday. Northern Ireland has also already banned households mixing indoors.Hospitality venues will also have to close early in Scotland and Wales - but Scotland has gone further, banning people from visiting other people's homes from Wednesday. Northern Ireland has also already banned households mixing indoors.
In a television broadcast on Tuesday night, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said "we must reserve the right to go further" if cases continue to rise.In a television broadcast on Tuesday night, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said "we must reserve the right to go further" if cases continue to rise.
He said he was "spiritually reluctant" to infringe on people's freedoms, "but unless we take action, the risk is that we will have to go for tougher measures later, when the deaths have already mounted".He said he was "spiritually reluctant" to infringe on people's freedoms, "but unless we take action, the risk is that we will have to go for tougher measures later, when the deaths have already mounted".
In an interview on the Today programme, Prof Edmunds said the lockdown in March which closed schools, the hospitality sector and businesses, had involved a combination of many different measures which brought the R number - which measures how quickly the virus is spreading - down from 2.7 to 0.7.In an interview on the Today programme, Prof Edmunds said the lockdown in March which closed schools, the hospitality sector and businesses, had involved a combination of many different measures which brought the R number - which measures how quickly the virus is spreading - down from 2.7 to 0.7.
To stop the epidemic from growing any further, a large range of measures was needed, he said, and cast doubt on the R number being below 1 by Christmas. "I suspect not. There's a chance, of course there's a chance," he said.To stop the epidemic from growing any further, a large range of measures was needed, he said, and cast doubt on the R number being below 1 by Christmas. "I suspect not. There's a chance, of course there's a chance," he said.
"To slow the epidemic down will mean putting the brakes on very hard. I suspect we will see very stringent measures coming in through the UK but it will be too late," he warned."To slow the epidemic down will mean putting the brakes on very hard. I suspect we will see very stringent measures coming in through the UK but it will be too late," he warned.
The British Medical Association, a medical trade union, echoed Prof Edmunds' warning that the measures did not go far enough and criticised ministers for hurrying workers back to offices as infection rates were rising.
It said the PM had missed an opportunity to revise the rule of six in England - which allows for gatherings of no more than six people - in light of data suggesting the spread between households was the biggest driver of infection.
Another scientist, Prof Carl Heneghan, from Oxford University, wrote to the government on Monday saying there should be targeted measures to protect the vulnerable because suppression of the virus was increasingly unfeasible.Another scientist, Prof Carl Heneghan, from Oxford University, wrote to the government on Monday saying there should be targeted measures to protect the vulnerable because suppression of the virus was increasingly unfeasible.
Speaking to the BBC's Today, he said the measures seemed to show the emphasis of public policy was moving towards personal responsibility, similar to Sweden.Speaking to the BBC's Today, he said the measures seemed to show the emphasis of public policy was moving towards personal responsibility, similar to Sweden.
"There's a clearer aim that's happening," he said. "We're starting to understand that we're trying to control the spread of infection as opposed to suppress it.""There's a clearer aim that's happening," he said. "We're starting to understand that we're trying to control the spread of infection as opposed to suppress it."
He added it was important to give these new measures time to work, maintain a clear and consistent public message and not to panic.He added it was important to give these new measures time to work, maintain a clear and consistent public message and not to panic.
The government's chief medical adviser, Prof Chris Whitty, is understood to believe it is inevitable England will to have to follow Scotland's latest move, according to the Times.The government's chief medical adviser, Prof Chris Whitty, is understood to believe it is inevitable England will to have to follow Scotland's latest move, according to the Times.
Debate is only going to get more heated
The debate about what is the right thing to do is just going to get more heated in the coming days and weeks.
Cases are rising - and most experts agree the steps taken by the government, certainly in England, are only going to having a minimum effect on curbing an increase in infection rates.
What no one knows is how quickly cases will go up - and what impact that will have on hospital admissions and deaths.
If the government is determined to suppress the virus - to get the R below one as the prime minister said - more draconian measures will surely follow.
But if it was definitely going for this approach, it would surely have gone further with the restrictions it announced on Tuesday. Lockdown-style measures have a greater impact when they are taken earlier.
That is what has prompted suggestions it may be moving towards adopting the "Swedish model" of accepting some spread. This is being done in the knowledge the UK is now in a better position to protect the vulnerable and treat those who get really sick - enabling ministers to balance the risk of the virus versus the risk to the economy, society and wider health and wellbeing.
But it means the big decision is yet to come - and crucial to that will be what happens to hospital cases and deaths.
Mr Raab defended the government's strategy, saying there would always be the "Goldilocks criticism - too much or too little".Mr Raab defended the government's strategy, saying there would always be the "Goldilocks criticism - too much or too little".
He struck a more optimistic tone, saying if people followed all the measures - and no one thinks they are immune - "we will get through this and we will get to Christmas not in a national lockdown".He struck a more optimistic tone, saying if people followed all the measures - and no one thinks they are immune - "we will get through this and we will get to Christmas not in a national lockdown".
"Overwhelmingly the public have responded every time but increasingly there's been a small minority where compliance has frayed," he added."Overwhelmingly the public have responded every time but increasingly there's been a small minority where compliance has frayed," he added.
"We know that in bars and restaurants, particularly after people have had a few drinks, as you go into the later hours of the evening, that there's a risk that the compliance with the guidance ebbs a little bit," he added, defending the move to close pubs at 10pm."We know that in bars and restaurants, particularly after people have had a few drinks, as you go into the later hours of the evening, that there's a risk that the compliance with the guidance ebbs a little bit," he added, defending the move to close pubs at 10pm.
He added that the effectiveness of the measures would be monitored but there was no fixed time to them. In his address, the prime minister warned they could last up to six months.He added that the effectiveness of the measures would be monitored but there was no fixed time to them. In his address, the prime minister warned they could last up to six months.
Mr Johnson will face further scrutiny from MPs in the House of Commons later during Prime Minister's Questions.Mr Johnson will face further scrutiny from MPs in the House of Commons later during Prime Minister's Questions.
The devolved nations have their own powers over coronavirus restrictions.The devolved nations have their own powers over coronavirus restrictions.
Scotland's Deputy First Minister John Swinney acknowledged the new rules banning people from visiting other people's homes were "difficult and disruptive" and said they would be reviewed every three weeks.Scotland's Deputy First Minister John Swinney acknowledged the new rules banning people from visiting other people's homes were "difficult and disruptive" and said they would be reviewed every three weeks.
"No one wants to have this in place a moment longer. The more public compliance, the more successful we will be," he told BBC's Breakfast."No one wants to have this in place a moment longer. The more public compliance, the more successful we will be," he told BBC's Breakfast.
Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford urged people not to let the virus "take a hold of our lives again", and Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster said tougher restrictions should act as a "wake-up call" that "we are not out of the woods".Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford urged people not to let the virus "take a hold of our lives again", and Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster said tougher restrictions should act as a "wake-up call" that "we are not out of the woods".
The latest R estimate for the whole of the UK is between 1.1 and 1.4.The latest R estimate for the whole of the UK is between 1.1 and 1.4.
And the number of UK cases rose by 4,926 on Tuesday, government figures showed, with deaths increasing by 37.And the number of UK cases rose by 4,926 on Tuesday, government figures showed, with deaths increasing by 37.
What are the new rules?What are the new rules?
In England:In England:
In Scotland:In Scotland:
In Wales:In Wales:
In Northern Ireland:In Northern Ireland:
How will the new rules affect you? Tell us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.How will the new rules affect you? Tell us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways: