Boris Johnson faces massive pressure to impose a European-style lockdown to avert coronavirus disaster today as people continue to flout government guidance.
Demands are growing for the PM to ramp up controls after extraordinary images emerged this morning of still-packed Tube trains in London – regarded as the engine of the UK outbreak.
Mail Online reports today, a lockdown could see Britons having to show ID to leave their homes, non-essential shops could shutdown with police on patrol for anyone found in a group.
“After a weekend in which crowds flocked to parks and landmarks to take advantage of sunshine, Mr Johnson effectively put the nation on its final warning last night, saying there should be ‘no doubt’ he would take draconian action.”
According to the report: “”Health Secretary Matt Hancock underlined this morning that a decision is expected ‘very soon’, hitting out at ‘selfish’ behaviour and saying ‘nothing is off the table’.
“But Mr Hancock was embroiled in a furious spat with Piers Morgan after accusing the ITV Good Morning Britain host of spreading ‘tittle tattle’ over infighting within the government. Morgan retorted: ‘How dare you!’
Tube trains still rammed this morning“The backlash was mounting against Mr Johnson’s ‘relaxed’ style today, with warnings of a ‘full-scale mutiny’ among Cabinet if the lockdown is not extended, and Labour MPs claiming his ‘mixed messages will cost lives’.
“Downing Street today dodged questions about the prospect of a mutiny, and said it was looking at evidence to decide whether social distancing must be enforced. ‘If our analysis is that people haven’t stopped their interaction then we will take further measures,’ the PM’s spokesman said.
“Labour’s official position has shifted to insist it is time to introduce harsher ‘compliance measures’.
“Traffic monitoring has suggested the capital is still running at a third of its normal rate, far higher than other European capitals.
“Brutal restrictions appear to be looming as the UK death toll rose by 48 in just 24 hours to 281 people, with more than 5,600 confirmed cases. These who died in England were aged between 18 and 102, authorities said.
In a tough message to the public from Downing Street this afternoon, Mr Johnson said: “Even if you think you are personally invulnerable, there are plenty of people you can infect.”
Ticket sales are down by two-thirds. Pictured is Euston station in LondonManchester Mayor Andy Burnham said: “We are entering a new phase of this outbreak and the Government urgently needs to move to a new policy. We have had too many mixed and confusing messages. Absolute clarity is now needed.”
The MP told BBC: “If we look at the fact that we are two weeks behind Italy, we are headed for a disaster if people do not heed the social distancing measures.
“The Prime Minister simply said yesterday he wants people to enjoy themselves outside while also saying that people should stay two metres apart outdoors.
“This relaxed style, mixed messaging will cost lives and I believe people are struggling to follow guidelines because they are just not clear.”
“The emergency department doctor confirmed she would support a ‘full lockdown’ if that was proven to be the way to save lives.
“London has begun to shut its public parks after thousands of people flaunted coronavirus social distancing rules at the weekend.
“The government has advised against all non-essential travel and social contact with those who do go outside for exercise told to stay at least two metres away from other people.
“Ministers have put in place the guidance in a desperate bid to slow the spread of the deadly disease.
“But there are growing fears some people are failing to take the outbreak seriously enough as they continue to meet up in groups and stand too close to each other.”
The UK Government has announced “it will add a six-month renewal clause as part of its emergency powers designed to tackle the spread of coronavirus”.
“But a former Cabinet minister is calling for Boris Johnson to go further by introducing a rewritten Bill in 12 months’ time if the powers are still deemed necessary.
“David Davis, the ex-Brexit secretary, said six-monthly reviews were not sufficient to keep such wide-reaching legislation in check and predicted there were likely to be ‘mistakes’ in the 300-plus pages of emergency legislation.
“Downing Street has confirmed the Government will introduce an amendment to the Coronavirus Bill on Monday to ensure the fresh powers within it had to be renewed every six months.”
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The measures in the Bill are temporary, proportionate to the threat we face, and will only be used when strictly necessary.
“However we recognise the importance of parliamentary scrutiny and have heard concerns about the need for periodic reviews of the powers in the Bill,” he added.
“The total deaths in England rose by 56 yesterday, as a 41-year-old is thought to be the youngest victim in Britain since the outbreak began.
“All new victims in England had underlying health conditions, which is understood to include those suffering from cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases, hypertension, diabetes, as well as cancer patients. The eldest victim was a 94-year-old.
“Eight of the new deaths in England were at Northwick Park Hospital, in North West London, which declared a ‘critical incident’ on Friday.”
