Politics

Coronavirus deaths will be ‘twice as high as first wave’ without lockdown 2, Boris Johnson to warn MPs


The Prime Minister will tell MPs: “Models of our scientists suggest that unless we act now, we could see deaths over the winter that are twice as bad or more compared with the first wave.

“Faced with these latest figures, there is no alternative but to take further action at a national level.

“I know some in the House believe we should have reached this decision earlier, but I believe it was right to try every possible option to get this virus under control at a local level, with strong local action and strong local leadership.”

He is set to say: “At the end of four weeks, on Wednesday 2nd December, we will seek to ease restrictions, going back into the tiered system on a local and regional basis according to the latest data and trends.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces month-long lockdown for England

Number 10 has launched an inquiry to find the “culprit” of the leak, whose actions forced the PM to make the public announcement before first putting it before Parliament as intended.

MPs will debate the new restrictions on Wednesday before voting on their implementation.

Former Tory minister Sir Desmond Swayne said it would take a “huge amount of persuasion for me to vote for this disastrous course of action”.

While Cabinet minister Esther McVey said she would vote against the Government because the “‘lockdown cure’ is causing more harm than Covid”.

What do the new lockdown rules mean for me?

Under the new restrictions set out by the Prime Minister:

– Millions of people classed as clinically vulnerable to coronavirus will be told to take “extra precautions” but will not be formally asked to shield.

– Travel and overnight stays in the UK and abroad will be restricted as people are advised not to travel unless for essential reasons.

– “Rapid turnaround tests” for coronavirus will be rolled out in “a matter of days”, and the Army will be brought in to help distribute the swabs, which could help partners attend labour wards.

– Churches will remain open for private prayer, funerals will be limited to 30 people – although it is advised that only close family members attend – and weddings are only allowed in “exceptional circumstances”.

– Single-adult households will continue to be allowed to form a “support bubble” with one other household, and children can move between homes if their parents are separated.

– Job centres, courts and civil registration offices will remain open, and elite sport will be allowed to continue behind closed doors.

A snap poll by YouGov suggested 72 per cent of people in England back the plan to return to lockdown, with just one in four (23 per cent) opposing it.

However, it compares to 93 per cent who supported the first lockdown in March, with the drop in support highest among young people.

The poll of 2,258 English adults was carried out between October 31 and November 1, following the PM’s address on Saturday evening.



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