Western Morning News (Saturday)
Lockdown easing is postponed as ‘brake is squeezed’
APLANNED easing of England’s lockdown has been postponed a day before it was due to come into effect, as the Prime Minister warned the country “cannot be complacent” amid a rise in the prevalence of coronavirus in the community.
Measures due to be lifted on Saturday, including allowing small wedding receptions and reopening bowling alleys and casinos, have been delayed for at least two weeks.
And in a strengthening of precautions, Boris Johnson announced that face coverings will become mandatory in indoor settings such as museums, galleries, cinemas and places of worship from August 8.
In a Downing Street press conference on Friday, the Prime Minister revealed what he described as a “pretty punchy” new slogan - “Hands, face, space” - for people to be mindful of in their efforts to control the spread of Covid-19.
Standing alongside Mr Johnson, England’s chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, warned that it might not be possible to ease lockdown further, saying the UK has “probably reached near the limit or the limits” of what can be done to reopen society.
Friday’s news came after local lockdown measures were announced in parts of the North West of England and areas of West Yorkshire, banning people from different households meeting indoors or in gardens following a spike in virus cases.
Mr Johnson told the briefing: “As we see these rises around the world, we can’t fool ourselves that we are exempt. We must be willing to react to the first signs of trouble.”
He added: “We cannot be complacent and I won’t stand by and allow this virus to threaten to cause more pain and more heartache in our country. He said that, with numbers rising, “our assessment is that we should squeeze that brake pedal in order to keep the virus under control”.
The Office for National Statistics said there has been an increase in the number of people testing positive for coronavirus in England, with Mr Johnson saying the prevalence of the virus in the community is likely to be rising for the first time since May.
According to the ONS, between July 20 and 26 there were around 0.78 new
Covid-19 infections for every 10,000 people in the community population in England - equal to around 4,200 new cases per day. This is up from an estimated 2,800 new cases a day in the previous week.
Data released on Friday also showed the R value for the UK is between 0.8 to 0.9, a slight change from 0.7 to 0.9.
On Thursday evening it was announced that people from different households in Greater Manchester, parts of east Lancashire and West Yorkshire would no longer be allowed to meet each other inside their homes or in gardens.
The new rules, which came into effect from midnight, also ban members of two different households from mixing in pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues, but these businesses will remain open for those visiting individually or from the same household.
Prof Whitty told the briefing: “I think what we’re seeing from the data from ONS and other data is that we have probably reached near the limit or the limits of what we can do in terms of opening up society.
“So what that means potentially is that, if we wish to do more things in the future, we may have to do less of some other things. And these will be difficult trade-offs, some of which will be decisions for Government and some of which are for all of us as citizens to do.
“But we have to be realistic about this. The idea that we can open up everything and keep the virus under control is clearly wrong.”
Other reopenings which will not take place as planned across England on Saturday include indoor performances, pilots of larger gatherings in sports venues and conference centres, and close-contact services such as facials and make-up application.
Mr Johnson said that, while most people are following the rules, there will be a “greater police presence” to ensure the public is adhering to the requirements around face coverings and stressed that local authorities can close down premises and cancel events which are not following the guidance.