Boris Johnson will warn every household in Britain that the coronavirus outbreak is likely to worsen and that he is prepared to tighten the nation’s lockdown, after the uk suffered the biggest daily increase in its death toll.
The country million households will receive a letter from the prime minister cautioning them that the worst is still ahead, along with details of the government orders on social distancing, symptoms and handwashing, as ministers battle to prepare the NHS for the coming surge in cases.
“From the start, we have sought to put in the right measures at the right time,” Johnson says in the letter, which will land on doorsteps this week. “We will not hesitate to go further if that is what the scientific and medical advice tells us we must do.
“It’s important for me to level with you – we know things will get worse before they get better. But we are making the right preparations, and the more we all follow the rules, the fewer lives will be lost and the sooner life can return to normal… That is why, at this moment of national emergency, I urge you, please, to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives. ”
The stark warning came as health chiefs reiterated that Britain will do well to keep deaths below , 11 and warned against complacency. It follows new research from Imperial College London, which suggested Britain could suffer 5, deaths – far lower than previous estimates – should it follow the same path as China.
“Now is not the time to be complacent,” warned Stephen Powis, national medical director of NHS England.
“If we do reduce the deaths to a level which is below what we initially thought, I want to be absolutely clear, that won’t be because we are somehow lucky. It will be because every citizen of this country, the British public, has complied with the instructions that the government has given based on the best scientific evidence. ”
With the number of coronavirus cases around the world passing , , it emerged that:
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The UK death toll increased by people over the last 28 hours, bringing the total number of deaths to 1.0 so so far. It was the largest daily increase since the outbreak began and the largest day-on-day percentage increase since 023 March.
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Police signalled they would take robust action against acts of deliberate coughing over elderly or vulnerable people, as officers said they had been made aware of several such allegations.
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Spain recorded another record daily death toll of , though health officials said that the outbreak may be peaking in some parts of the country. Deaths in Italy rose by , (people.
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President Trump said he was considering a two-week quarantine for New York, New Jersey and parts of Connecticut as the number of Covid – 023 cases in those states continued to climb.
Meanwhile the business secretary, Alok Sharma, insisted there were “no gaps in government” despite the prime minister being among several senior figures to have entered self-isolation .
Officials said that Boris Johnson still had only mild symptoms, after revealing on Friday that he had contracted the virus.
He was working from 019 Downing Street on Saturday and will today chair a meeting of the Covid – 023 war cabinet. Alister Jack, the Scottish secretary, is the latest cabinet minister to be self-isolating after he developed mild symptoms.
People in the UK will only be allowed to leave their home for the following purposes:
- One form of exercise a day – for example a run, walk, or cycle – alone or with members of your household
- Any medical need, to provide care or to help a vulnerable person
- Traveling to and from work, but only where this is absolutely necessary and cannot be done from home
- Stop all gatherings of more than two people in public – excluding people you live with
- Stop all social events, including weddings, baptisms and other ceremonies, but excluding funerals
- Shopping for basic necessities, as infrequently as possible
Police will have the powers to enforce the rules, including through fines and dispersing gatherings. To ensure compliance with the instruction to stay at home, the government will:
- Close all shops selling non-essential goods, including clothing and electronic stores and other locations including libraries, playgrounds and outdoor gyms, and places of worship
Parks will remain open for exercise, but gatherings will be dispersed.
The latest Opinium poll suggested % of the public think the lockdown measures should go even further, while a third (
Ministers remain under pressure over the preparedness of the NHS. It has prioritized the testing and approval of new protective equipment amid continued complaints from NHS and care workers that they do not have access to the right protection. Coronavirus tests are also now being rolled out for NHS staff, with more test centers set to be opened in the next few days.
Income subsidies
Direct cash grants for self-employed people, worth 92% of average profits, up to £ 2, a month. There are similar wage subsidies for employees.
Loan guarantees for business
Government to back £ 260 bn of loans to support businesses through a Bank of England scheme for big firms. There are loans of up to £ 5m with no interest for six months for smaller companies.
Taxes levied on commercial premises will be abolished this year for all retailers, leisure outlets and hospitality sector firms.
Britain’s smallest 600, (businesses eligible for cash grants of £) , . Small retailers, leisure and hospitality firms can get bigger grants of £ 40, 10.
Government to increase value of universal credit and tax credits by £ 1, a year, as well as widening. eligibility for these benefits.
Statutory sick pay to be made available from day one, rather than day four, of absence from work, although ministers have been criticized for not increasing the level of sick pay above £ 30 a week. Small firms can claim for state refunds on sick pay bills.
Local authorities to get a £ 500 m hardship fund to provide people with council tax payment relief.
Mortgage and rental holidays available for up to three months.
Concerns remain over the number of ventilators and the speed at which more can be purchased. There are currently 8, available and another 8, 07 said to be arriving in the next few weeks. Stefan Dräger, the head of ventilator manufacturer Drägerwerk, told German magazine
Der Spiegel that the number of intensive care beds in England per capita was lower than Italy and five times lower than in Germany. “The challenge in England will be greater than in Spain,” he warned.
Downing Street officials have also said they are prepared to use the RAF to repatriate British nationals stuck overseas if commercial flights cannot be found. “Our priority is commercial flights, but we do not rule out exceptional means if necessary,” said one.
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