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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2020/oct/22/uk-coronavirus-rishi-sunak-business-tiers-covid-boris-johnson
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| UK coronavirus live: PM 'shares frustrations' about test and trace after figures show service getting worse | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Latest updates: Boris Johnson backs service despite figures for close contacts reached hitting new low; further areas added to tier 2 restrictions | |
| Q: If we get a vaccine in the spring, when will we be able to stop social distancing and wearing masks? | Q: If we get a vaccine in the spring, when will we be able to stop social distancing and wearing masks? |
| Vallance says he does not want to speculate on how effective the vaccines will be. | Vallance says he does not want to speculate on how effective the vaccines will be. |
| He says results will come in during the next two months or so. Once you see how effective they are, with different groups, you can work out what impact they will have. | He says results will come in during the next two months or so. Once you see how effective they are, with different groups, you can work out what impact they will have. |
| But the aim is to ensure that people can relax restrictions, he says. | But the aim is to ensure that people can relax restrictions, he says. |
| Johnson says he really hopes we make progress with vaccines. | Johnson says he really hopes we make progress with vaccines. |
| But we cannot just count on that, he says. | But we cannot just count on that, he says. |
| Q: If the Welsh and Scottish lockdowns are more effective, would you copy them? | Q: If the Welsh and Scottish lockdowns are more effective, would you copy them? |
| Johnson says he thinks having successive lockdowns would be really damaging, particularly to children. So he is not going for that approach. | Johnson says he thinks having successive lockdowns would be really damaging, particularly to children. So he is not going for that approach. |
| He says there has been plenty of great local leadership. | He says there has been plenty of great local leadership. |
| He ends up by summarising the hands, face, space guidance. | He ends up by summarising the hands, face, space guidance. |
| And that’s it. The press conference is over. | And that’s it. The press conference is over. |
| I’ll post a summary soon. | I’ll post a summary soon. |
| Q: Why was the government willing to go to the wall with Andy Burnham over £5m, when today you announced spending worth billions. The chancellor today met business leaders in London. Does that mean they’re more important? | Q: Why was the government willing to go to the wall with Andy Burnham over £5m, when today you announced spending worth billions. The chancellor today met business leaders in London. Does that mean they’re more important? |
| Johnson says the negotiation between metro mayors was about fairness. | Johnson says the negotiation between metro mayors was about fairness. |
| What he is doing now is address a national issue. | What he is doing now is address a national issue. |
| Sunak says a plan was drawn up over the summer. But over the past few weeks it has become clear that other measures are needed. | Sunak says a plan was drawn up over the summer. But over the past few weeks it has become clear that other measures are needed. |
| He says he did have a meeting with businesses and unions this morning. But there were people from Zoom in on the meeting from Merseyside and North Yorkshire and from other places too. | He says he did have a meeting with businesses and unions this morning. But there were people from Zoom in on the meeting from Merseyside and North Yorkshire and from other places too. |
| They were there to highlight the concerns of the hospitality sector. | They were there to highlight the concerns of the hospitality sector. |
| Q: Can you guarantee this level of support will be maintained until a vaccine is available? | Q: Can you guarantee this level of support will be maintained until a vaccine is available? |
| Sunak says this support will last at least six months. It will be reviewed at the mid point. But this will take us through to the spring. | Sunak says this support will last at least six months. It will be reviewed at the mid point. But this will take us through to the spring. |
| Johnson says it is far better to keep the economy going. We are going to have to pay this money back. So we need an economy that can bounce back, he says. | Johnson says it is far better to keep the economy going. We are going to have to pay this money back. So we need an economy that can bounce back, he says. |
| He says if you look at the way the science is evolving, the improvements in treatments and drugs, and in mortality rates, he is confident we will get through this. | He says if you look at the way the science is evolving, the improvements in treatments and drugs, and in mortality rates, he is confident we will get through this. |
| If we can do this together, we will drive the R number down, he says. | If we can do this together, we will drive the R number down, he says. |
| Vallance says he thinks the wider use of vaccines will not be until spring next year. There may be some doses this year. But spring is more realistic. | Vallance says he thinks the wider use of vaccines will not be until spring next year. There may be some doses this year. But spring is more realistic. |
| Q: Is test and trace salvageable, given case numbers are so high? | Q: Is test and trace salvageable, given case numbers are so high? |
| Vallance says it will work effectively in places where cases are lower. | Vallance says it will work effectively in places where cases are lower. |
| It is much less effective in places with high levels, he says. | It is much less effective in places with high levels, he says. |
| That is why you need other measures. You can only stop the virus by stopping contacts. | That is why you need other measures. You can only stop the virus by stopping contacts. |
| What test and trace will do is remove people who are infectious, he says. | What test and trace will do is remove people who are infectious, he says. |
| Sunak says it is clearly not sustainable to carry on borrowing at this rate. | Sunak says it is clearly not sustainable to carry on borrowing at this rate. |
| It is important to have one eye on the public finances, he says. | It is important to have one eye on the public finances, he says. |
| Johnson says he “shares people’s frustrations” about test and trace. | Johnson says he “shares people’s frustrations” about test and trace. |
| But the achievements have been “colossal”, he says. | But the achievements have been “colossal”, he says. |
| It has done more tests than any other country in Europe. | It has done more tests than any other country in Europe. |
| It is on course to reach 500,000 tests per day. | It is on course to reach 500,000 tests per day. |
| And the technology is improving. | And the technology is improving. |
| But it is crucial that people self-isolate when they do test positive, he says. | But it is crucial that people self-isolate when they do test positive, he says. |
| He says it is helping “a bit” to stop the virus spreading. He quotes the figures for the number of people already told to self-isolate. | He says it is helping “a bit” to stop the virus spreading. He quotes the figures for the number of people already told to self-isolate. |
| Q: Isn’t today’s announcement an acknowledgment that you have neglected the north for months? | Q: Isn’t today’s announcement an acknowledgment that you have neglected the north for months? |
| Johnson says the issue is one of fairness. That is what he sought to achieve in the last few days. | Johnson says the issue is one of fairness. That is what he sought to achieve in the last few days. |
| Now he is trying to help businesses that cannot trade as normal. The measures are backdated. | Now he is trying to help businesses that cannot trade as normal. The measures are backdated. |
| Sunak says this is about fairness, about treating places the same. | Sunak says this is about fairness, about treating places the same. |
| He says he wants people to have equal support. | He says he wants people to have equal support. |
| Q: Sage said test and trace would have to reach 80% of contacts. How disappointed are you by today’s numbers? | Q: Sage said test and trace would have to reach 80% of contacts. How disappointed are you by today’s numbers? |
| Vallance says test and trace works best with a small number of cases. | Vallance says test and trace works best with a small number of cases. |
| He says the system has done well to ramp up the number of tests being carried out. But he says that the system will not be effective if people are not being reached on time. Ideally the whole process should be complete within 48 hours. | |
| Q: The problems with the first version of your jobs scheme were obvious to industry. Why weren’t they obvious to you? | Q: The problems with the first version of your jobs scheme were obvious to industry. Why weren’t they obvious to you? |
| Sunak says that is a fair question to ask. | Sunak says that is a fair question to ask. |
| But when he designed the jobs support scheme in the summer, they were looking forward to the country reopening. | |
| Since then the impact of the new restrictions has been heavier than envisaged. | Since then the impact of the new restrictions has been heavier than envisaged. |
| He has adapted his policies as the situation has changed, responding flexibly to circumstances. | He has adapted his policies as the situation has changed, responding flexibly to circumstances. |
| Q: Do you agree with your Scottish counterpart that families won’t have a normal Christmas? | Q: Do you agree with your Scottish counterpart that families won’t have a normal Christmas? |
| Vallance says a lot depends on what happens. At the moment the numbers are heading in the wrong direction. But there are some signs of things flattening off. | Vallance says a lot depends on what happens. At the moment the numbers are heading in the wrong direction. But there are some signs of things flattening off. |
| Q: Why are you at war with local leaders? | Q: Why are you at war with local leaders? |
| Johnson says he does not accept that. He says he has had great conversations with local leaders. And he says he is grateful to Andy Burnham in Manchester. | Johnson says he does not accept that. He says he has had great conversations with local leaders. And he says he is grateful to Andy Burnham in Manchester. |
| There are signs the measures are starting to work, he says. | There are signs the measures are starting to work, he says. |
| He says he is adopting a balanced approach. | He says he is adopting a balanced approach. |
| Q: What can you do to encourage innovative business? | Q: What can you do to encourage innovative business? |
| Johnson says the UK is one of the most competitive and dynamic environments in which to set up a business. | Johnson says the UK is one of the most competitive and dynamic environments in which to set up a business. |
| We now have very low business taxes, he says. | We now have very low business taxes, he says. |
| Sunak says we have fabulous, entrepreneurial start-ups. | Sunak says we have fabulous, entrepreneurial start-ups. |
| He says early this year he set up a Future Fund to help fund start-ups. | He says early this year he set up a Future Fund to help fund start-ups. |
| Johnson is now taking questions from members of the public. | Johnson is now taking questions from members of the public. |
| The first is from a woman who wants to know what help is available for businesses that are not told to close, but that are getting less income. | The first is from a woman who wants to know what help is available for businesses that are not told to close, but that are getting less income. |
| (These questions are submitted in advance, and it was a good question at 9am this morning, but sounds a bit redundant now given that we had a lengthy statement from the chancellor a few hours ago on exactly this.) | (These questions are submitted in advance, and it was a good question at 9am this morning, but sounds a bit redundant now given that we had a lengthy statement from the chancellor a few hours ago on exactly this.) |
| Sunak is now summing up what he told MPs earlier. | Sunak is now summing up what he told MPs earlier. |
| These are the hospital figures. Vallance says there are some indications of a decrease in the rate of increase. | These are the hospital figures. Vallance says there are some indications of a decrease in the rate of increase. |
| Vallance says there indications that amongst young people rates of infection are flattening off. (See 1.46pm and 3.49pm.) | Vallance says there indications that amongst young people rates of infection are flattening off. (See 1.46pm and 3.49pm.) |
| Here are the hospital admission figures. Vallance says the more people there are in hospital with Covid, the less able they are to treat non-Covid patients. | Here are the hospital admission figures. Vallance says the more people there are in hospital with Covid, the less able they are to treat non-Covid patients. |
| Sir Patrick Vallance is now showing slides. | Sir Patrick Vallance is now showing slides. |
| He starts with a reminder from last week - the latest estimate for new cases. | He starts with a reminder from last week - the latest estimate for new cases. |
| And here are estimates for the number of new cases per day. | And here are estimates for the number of new cases per day. |