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UK coronavirus live: Boris Johnson sets out three-tier system for England, with Liverpool region under strictest tier 3 UK coronavirus live: 'Not to act would be unforgivable' - PM suggests more areas should go into strictest tier 3
(32 minutes later)
North-east England, south Yorkshire and Greater Manchester to be in tier 2, local leaders reveal ahead of Commons announcement North-east England, south Yorkshire and Greater Manchester to be in tier 2, local leaders reveal, as PM unveils new system
In the Commons, asked what needs to happen for these local restrictions to be lifted, Boris Johnson says the R number would have to fall below one.
In the Commons Andrea Leadsom, a Conservative, asks Boris Johnson to publish details of why the specific measures are needed in each case. Johnson says the government will do this.
Andy Street, the Conservative mayor for the West Midlands (and arguably the most prominent Tory in local government) has said he is “very disappointed” to see his region go into tier 2, the high risk alert level.
He says that regional leaders were led to believe that this would not happen, that it will mean households now being banned from mixing in places like pubs, that the evidence does not support this and that the hospitality industry will suffer as a result.
He also says that the West Midlands, with an average infection rate of 123 people per 100,000, is being treated the same as Manchester, with 550 infections were 100,000 people.
He says the decision should be reviewed “as soon as possible”.
In the Commons Labour’s Yvette Cooper called on Boris Johnson to “come back from the moon and get back to what’s happening on planet Earth” as she raised concerns over testing. She said:In the Commons Labour’s Yvette Cooper called on Boris Johnson to “come back from the moon and get back to what’s happening on planet Earth” as she raised concerns over testing. She said:
Johnson said that testing capacity had gone up 28% in the last month, and that by the end of the month the system would be able to process 500,000 tests a day.Johnson said that testing capacity had gone up 28% in the last month, and that by the end of the month the system would be able to process 500,000 tests a day.
Nine thousand students in England currently have Covid and 68 universities are dealing with outbreaks, the universities minister has said.Nine thousand students in England currently have Covid and 68 universities are dealing with outbreaks, the universities minister has said.
Michelle Donelan said the figure of 9,000 came from data supplied by universities and was a cumulative figure over seven days, against a total student population of around 2 million.Michelle Donelan said the figure of 9,000 came from data supplied by universities and was a cumulative figure over seven days, against a total student population of around 2 million.
From next week, she said, the Department for Education would be working with the Office for Students on a new, more transparent data regime to provide figures.From next week, she said, the Department for Education would be working with the Office for Students on a new, more transparent data regime to provide figures.
Speaking during education questions in the Commons, Donelan also warned higher education institutions against trying to make a profit by charging self-isolating students £18 a day for food parcels. Donelan said she had already spoken to “many” universities on this issue, and warned she would be writing to follow up.Speaking during education questions in the Commons, Donelan also warned higher education institutions against trying to make a profit by charging self-isolating students £18 a day for food parcels. Donelan said she had already spoken to “many” universities on this issue, and warned she would be writing to follow up.
Students who are trapped in their halls of residence have complained about the cost and quality of the food provided by their universities, with some charged hundreds of pounds for meal packages including baked beans and instant noodles.Students who are trapped in their halls of residence have complained about the cost and quality of the food provided by their universities, with some charged hundreds of pounds for meal packages including baked beans and instant noodles.
More than 2,500 students at Lancaster University have signed a petition urging the university to stop “profiting from self-isolating students” who are paying £17.95 a day for meals the students estimate cost £4.More than 2,500 students at Lancaster University have signed a petition urging the university to stop “profiting from self-isolating students” who are paying £17.95 a day for meals the students estimate cost £4.
Donelan told MPs:Donelan told MPs:
Figures posted on the University of Nottingham’s website showed 1,510 of its students had been diagnosed with active cases of Covid-19 during the week ending last Friday, PA Media reports. The figures included 667 students in private accommodation, 523 others living in halls of residence and 310 in purpose-built student accommodation.Figures posted on the University of Nottingham’s website showed 1,510 of its students had been diagnosed with active cases of Covid-19 during the week ending last Friday, PA Media reports. The figures included 667 students in private accommodation, 523 others living in halls of residence and 310 in purpose-built student accommodation.
The figures on the UK government’s dashboard also show that there are now 3,665 patients in hospital in England with coronavirus.The figures on the UK government’s dashboard also show that there are now 3,665 patients in hospital in England with coronavirus.
That is 1,072 more than this time last week (2,593) - a 40% increase.That is 1,072 more than this time last week (2,593) - a 40% increase.
The UK government has updated its coronavirus dashboard. Here are the key headline figures.The UK government has updated its coronavirus dashboard. Here are the key headline figures.
The UK has recorded 13,972 new cases. That is higher than yesterday (12,872) and higher than the figure for this time last week (12,594), but lower than some days last week.The UK has recorded 13,972 new cases. That is higher than yesterday (12,872) and higher than the figure for this time last week (12,594), but lower than some days last week.
The UK has recorded 50 further deaths. That is 15 fewer than yesterday.The UK has recorded 50 further deaths. That is 15 fewer than yesterday.
The Liverpool Chamber of Commerce chief executive, Paul Cherpeau, said businesses across the city were “bewildered, frustrated and angry” by the new restrictions. He said:The Liverpool Chamber of Commerce chief executive, Paul Cherpeau, said businesses across the city were “bewildered, frustrated and angry” by the new restrictions. He said:
In response to a question from the Tory MP Steve Baker, Johnson said that the development of a vaccine “cannot be taken for granted”. He says after 20 years there is still no vaccine for Sars.In response to a question from the Tory MP Steve Baker, Johnson said that the development of a vaccine “cannot be taken for granted”. He says after 20 years there is still no vaccine for Sars.
UPDATE: Here is Johnson’s quote.UPDATE: Here is Johnson’s quote.
Here is the extract from Boris Johnson’s opening statement where he set out the new system.
On the new three-tier system
On financial support for local authorities
On the tier 3 plans for Merseyside
On how other areas might enter tier 3
On when the rules take effect
Philip Davies, a Conservative, says Johnson has been popular because of his faith in the common sense of the British people. He should give people health advice and do the same again, he says. He says that is what being a Conservative is all about.
Johnson agrees. He says people should follow the health advice.
(He is - wilfully, it seems - ignoring the point of Davies’s question. Davies was arguing against local lockdowns.)
Jeremy Hunt, the chair of the Commons health committee, says the evidence from China suggests early, localised interventions work best.
Johnson welcomes the comment. He says he hopes local authorities will agree to go into tier 3 when necessary.
In his statement Boris Johnson said “new financial support” worth around £1bn would be made available to local authorities in England. He said:
Johnson is responding to Starmer.
He says Labour used to support the government. Now Starmer has changed tack. But Starmer won’t say what he would do, Johnson says. And he says Starmer is not supporting the local leaders who support these measures.
Sir Keir Starmer is responding for Labour.
He says he is not convinced that the PM has a strategy to deal with the disease.
Public confidence has been eroded, he says.
Why does he think these measures will get the virus under control?
Will local leaders get control of test and trace?
And does he accept local businesses need more support?
He says he hopes the measures will work. But MPs will be “deeply sceptical” whether they can.
Johnson says R is between 1.2 and 1.5. But its natural level is between 2.7 and 3. So it is already being suppressed.
But we need to go further, he says.
He says local rules are now hard to follow, and hard to enforce.
So they will be simplified, he says.
There will be three levels.
The medium level [tier 1] will cover most of England. It will feature the current rules - the rule of six and 10pm closing for pubs.
The high alert level [tier 2] will cover most areas under current restrictions. He says people here will not be able to mix with other households indoors. Nottinghamshire, east and west Cheshire and a small area of High Peak will be included.
The very high alert level [tier 3] will have a baseline of measures. In these places household mixing will be banned, and all pubs and bars will be closed.
Johnson says the government has agreed with the Liverpool city region that it will go into tier 3. As well as the baseline, gyms, leisure centres, betting shops, adult gaming centres and casinos will be closed.
Johnson says just letting the virus spread amongst the young is not an option either.
It would spread with such velocity it would affect older people.
And some young people would be badly affected, he says.
Boris Johnson is speaking now.
There are more people in hospital than when we went into lockdown on 23 March, and deaths are rising, he says.
But he says he does not accept that we should have another full lockdown.
On the other hand, some argue that the patience of the public is exhausted, and that we should abandon restrictions and let the disease take its course.
But, he says, the “bleak mathematics” of that would lead to many deaths, and the NHS being overwhelmed.
And Birmingham will be in tier 2 too, says the Birmingham Edgbaston MP Preet Kaur Gill.