The UK has now officially announced that its current lockdown measures to tackle Coronavirus, WILL be extended for another 3 weeks.
The news was delivered by Dominic Raab at 5.05pm and was widely expected. This means that another review will be due on Thursday 7th May 2020. Lockdown conditions remain the same with no lifting of restrictions. Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said he believes the government has been clear “we think it’s too early to make a change“.
There are however, flickering signs that lockdown is working.
While the UK is seeing fluctuations in figures, there are not “significant or sustained increases” in hospital admissions or intensive care patients, an indicator that we may have arrived at the peak. The curve has also been flattened, a term showing that measures taken to reduce pressure on the NHS, seems also to be working.
Scotland’s lockdown will not be lifted until the Government is convinced coronavirus is suppressed and has a containment plan in place. Nicola Sturgeon, in a separate conference earlier today added she believes current measures are having a “positive effect” but we are “by no means through this”.
All fo the UK went into ‘lockdown’ on Monday 23rd March 2020, meaning today Thursday 16th April 2020 is Day 24 of 45, with further reviews a certainty.
With some way to go yet, the message is still Stay at Home – Protect the NHS – Save Lives
TEN other Covid19 related news headlines today:
- Scotland’s First Minister has announced a further 80 people have died in the last 24 hours in Scotland, bringing the total number of deaths in this country up to 779.
- 10,000 tests of UK care home residents have now been undertaken.
- European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen has admitted European countries did not do enough to help Italy, letting Italians down at the start.
- Imperial College modeller warns UK must keep “significant level” of social distancing until vaccine is found, even if restrictions get lifted in summer.
- Despite the world’s highest death toll and rising figures, US President Donald Trump says new reopening guidelines for states will be announced today.
- Global infections passed the 2 million mark on Wednesday
- WW2 veteran, 99, has walked his 100th lap after raising £13m for the NHS.
- IMF warns the impact of the coronavirus on Asia will be “severe, across the board, and unprecedented”
- Germany has said smaller shops can start opening next week, as it eases its restrictions
- British low-cost airline EasyJet plans to keep the middle seat on its planes empty to allow for social distancing once the Covid-19 lockdown has been lifted.
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