| COVID alert levels on 20:51 - Oct 12 with 194 views | BringBackTheRedRoom |
Helen Pidd from the Guardian asks the PM if he accepts that decisions made on the national lockdown were made to suit London and the rest of the South - and asks if that's why the North is seeing such a surge in cases.
The PM says he doesn't accept this, and that the main difference between this "bout" of Covid-19 and the one in April is that it's much more localised this time around.
Pitt also asks Prof Whitty about evidence that curbs on pubs and restaurants work.
Prof Whitty says all the evidence points towards increased transmission of the virus in indoor settings, particularly those where people mix with other households, and without wearing masks.
This situation crops up in hospitality as well as in other sectors, he says - "and that is why the hospitality sector has been involved in restrictions".
England's chief medical officer says there are "two poles" of a response to this virus - a full lockdown to suppress the virus, and no lockdown at all.
"What we're trying to do... is find the right balance between the various things - all of which cause harm, all of which we would not want to do - but which can, collectively, if we do them all together, pull the numbers down," he says.
Must have forgot Matt Hancock's answer on 17th April
A London-specific lockdown was considered before strict measures were introduced to tackle coronavirus nationwide, the health secretary said.
Matt Hancock told the Health Committee on Friday that limits on daily life may have been introduced in London first.
London has seen 25% of the UK's total coronavirus deaths, but accounts for only 13% of the population.
The government eventually decided separating off London would affect "national unity," Mr Hancock said.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-52325933 [Post edited 12 Oct 2020 20:52]
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| ‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’ |
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| COVID alert levels on 21:33 - Oct 12 with 180 views | spell_chekker |
A principle objective of the original lockdown in March and April was to spread out / slow down the virus.
The number of new infections are now the highest ever levels but the good news is that the number of deaths is relatively small.
Does this mean that the spring lockdown worked? Spreading out / delaying the virus in order to enable hospitals to get their house in order? | |
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| COVID alert levels on 14:35 - Oct 16 with 168 views | BringBackTheRedRoom |
Covid: Lancashire to move to highest alert level
Lancashire has agreed to move into tier three - the top level of England Covid restrictions - from Saturday.
The "very high" alert level measures include pub closures and bans on household mixing indoors, in private gardens and most outdoor venues.
However, gyms and leisure centres would not close, unlike in Liverpool City Region - the other area in tier three.
Some local council leaders said they had been "bullied" into accepting the deal by Downing Street.
However, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the government had "worked intensively with local leaders" to agree the move.
He added that an "unrelenting rise in cases" in the north-west England county had meant "we must act now".
Around 1.5 million people, including those living in Blackburn, Blackpool, Burnley, Lancaster and Preston, will be affected by the new rules.
The Labour leaders of Preston, Pendle and South Ribble councils released statements saying they had been forced to accept a deal that would not be enough to stop the virus.
Paul Foster, of South Ribble said: "We have been bullied, harassed, threatened and blackmailed into moving into tier three."
He added: "The discussions with government were a complete shambles and we were basically told if we didn't accept the restrictions we would have even more draconian measures imposed on us."
However, Geoff Driver, the Conservative leader of Lancashire County Council, told the BBC: "It's been a long drawn out process but I think we've got a good deal."
He said it involved a support package worth £42m, the area having initially been promised £12m, with £30m to help the businesses affected.
Mr Driver said Lancashire had also been promised more support for local test and trace and a specific ministerial team to deal with the outbreak in the county.
"What we've been able to do is to convince government that the measures we have in place to monitor such things as the gyms and the leisure centres are sufficient to ensure that they're not a source of infection," he added.
The new measures, which will be reviewed every two weeks, cover all parts of Lancashire:
People must not socialise with anybody they do not live with, or have formed a support bubble with, in any indoor setting or in any private garden or at most outdoor hospitality venues and ticketed events
People from different households can still meet in an outdoor public space such as a park or beach, the countryside, a public garden or a sports venue, in groups of six or less
All pubs and bars must close, unless they are serving substantial meals
Residents should avoid staying overnight in another part of the UK, and others should avoid staying overnight in the area
People should try to avoid travelling outside the very high alert level area or entering the very high alert level area, other than for essential journeys or to travel through as part of a longer journey
From Monday 19 October, casinos, bingo halls, bookmakers and betting shops and soft play areas must close and car boot sale will not be permitted
Further restrictions may be agreed for particular regions in the top tier and in the Liverpool City Region, gyms and leisure centres have also been forced to close.
Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson tweeted: "Liverpool City Region has demanded immediate clarification on why Lancashire gyms are allowed to stay open and Liverpool's close.
"Inconsistent mess - we now have tier three A and tier three B."
It comes as talks between Greater Manchester leaders and central government over putting the region into tier three of England's three-tier system have stalled.
Greater Manchester's mayor Andy Burnham wants more financial support for people affected before bringing in tougher rules.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab accused Mr Burnham of "effectively trying to hold the government over a barrel over money and politics".
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54568657 | |
| ‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’ |
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