Politics

Coronavirus: Things will get worse, PM warns in letter to Britons


Boris Johnson chairing Saturday's morning Covid-19 meeting via video linkImage copyright
PA Media

Image caption

The prime minister chaired Saturday morning’s Covid-19 meeting via video-link

The prime minister has warned the coronavirus crisis “will get worse before it gets better”, in a letter being sent to every UK household.

Boris Johnson, who is self-isolating after testing positive for Covid-19, says stricter restrictions could be put in place if necessary.

Britons will also get a leaflet detailing government rules on leaving the house and health information.

It follows criticism over the clarity of government advice to date.

The number of people who have died with coronavirus in the UK has now reached 1,019, with a further 260 deaths announced on Saturday.

In the letter being sent to 30 million households at an anticipated cost of £5.8m, Mr Johnson writes: “From the start, we have sought to put in the right measures at the right time.

“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,” the letter reads.

“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.”

Experts have said they expect the number of coronavirus cases and deaths to continue to rise for the next two to three weeks, before the effects of social distancing measures and restrictions on everyday life begin to have an impact.

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Media captionHow staying at home can stop coronavirus

In his letter, Mr Johnson describes the pandemic as a “moment of national emergency”, urging the public to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives.

He also praises the work of doctors, nurses and other carers as well as well as the hundreds of thousands of people who have volunteered to help the most vulnerable.

The leaflet sent alongside the letter includes guidance on handwashing, an explanation of coronavirus symptoms, the government rules on leaving the house and advice on shielding vulnerable people.

Meanwhile, new powers, including fines of up to £5,000, to enforce guidelines on people staying at home and businesses staying closed came into force in Northern Ireland on Saturday evening.

The maximum fine will be reserved for businesses but individuals could face a fine of up to £960 if they do not comply.

The prime minister’s letter follows comments by the medical director of NHS England, who said on Saturday “now is not the time to be complacent” over the virus.

Speaking at the government’s daily coronavirus briefing, Prof Stephen Powis said “every one of us” had a part to play if the UK was to keep the death toll under 20,000.

Business Secretary Alok Sharma also announced insolvency rules would be changed to allow firms greater flexibility as they faced the coronavirus crisis.

He said a range of measures to boost the supply of personal protective equipment, such as face masks, to protect frontline NHS staff, were also being introduced.

It comes as testing begins to be rolled out for frontline hospital staff in England to see whether they have coronavirus.

In Wales and Scotland, health workers are already being tested. Northern Ireland’s testing begins on Monday.

In other developments:

  • Secretary of State for Scotland, Alister Jack, is self-isolating after he developed coronavirus symptoms. He is said to be experiencing mild symptoms but has not been tested for Covid-19
  • The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have lent their support to a Public Health England initiative giving people tips on how to look after their mental health during the pandemic
  • More than 750 St John Ambulance volunteers have offered to help at the temporary hospital set up in London’s Excel centre to meet demand for intensive care beds
  • Two other temporary hospitals will be set up in Birmingham and Manchester
  • Food parcels have begun to be delivered to the most vulnerable people who are being told to stay at home for the next three months to protect them from coronavirus
  • The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said he had received about 300 complaints from employees and the public about businesses not following social distancing guidelines



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