Politics

Government 'won't hesitate' to tighten lockdown if people ignore the rules


Downing Street has refused to rule out tightening the lockdown even further if people start flouting restrictions.

Data shows that the majority of Brits are complying with the demand to stay at home unless strictly necessary with public transport usage right down and the streets largely empty.

But car traffic rose for the first time in two weeks in yesterday’s figures, leading health figures to voice their “concern”.

Police have been accused of being too heavy handed in some interventions and have been told to take a “consistent” approach.

Public Health England’s Medical Director Professor Paul Cosford warned that the lockdown is “nowhere near” ending yet with cases expected to keep rising for up to two to three weeks.

Police are enforcing the lockdown where needed

He told BBC Breakfast: “Our expectation is to see ongoing increases [in cases] for two to three weeks yet.”warned Brits to hunker down for the long haul – despite hoping restrictions are bringing Covid-19 under control.

The number of deaths soared by 563 in one day yesterday – to a total of 2,352 as of 4pm on March 31.

The police-enforced lockdown – banning gatherings of more than two, limiting people leaving their homes and closing all but essential shops – began in full on March 24 and is due to be reviewed in 11 days’ time.

Today Boris Johnson ’s spokesman said: “The Prime Minister has said we will at all times follow the scientific and medical advice and if we need to take further steps we won’t hesitate to do so.

There was a slight uptick in car journeys

No10 also refused to confirm or deny whether it used mobile phone location data to decide on a lockdown last week.

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The PM’s spokesman said: “What I’ve said is more broadly we’ve received data from a wide variety of sources in relation to protecting people’s health, but at all times we follow data protection rules.”

Asked why he couldn’t confirm whether or not phone data was being used, he said: “I have no more for you on this. “We have been over it a number of times. I’ve said what I’m in a position to say.”





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