Michael Gove warned yesterday hospitals could be overwhelmed with coronavirus cases if new tier restrictions are not introduced in England as he sought to quell a Tory backbench rebellion.
The Cabinet Office Minister urged MPs to “take responsibility for difficult decisions” to curb the spread of Covid, amid anger from some Conservatives that much of England will face stringent restrictions.
In total, 99% of England will enter Tier 2 or 3, with tight restrictions on bars and restaurants and a ban on households mixing indoors when the four-week national lockdown lifts on Wednesday. Mr Gove said: “The hardships we are facing now are unfortunately necessary to protect every single one of us, no matter where we live. In any analysis of this government’s, or any government’s approach, the cost of lockdown and restrictions cannot be reckoned against the status quo ante, but only against the cost of inaction, or inadequate action, and the overwhelming of the NHS.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces a Commons showdown with his own MPs when they vote on the measures next week, which could leave him dependent on Labour support to get them approved but leader Keir Starmer has refused to offer support so far.
Meanwhile, a further 44 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in Scotland in the last 24 hours, according to yesterday’s figures.
Scottish Government statistics published yesterday also recorded 788 new cases of Covid-19, with the daily test positivity rate at 4.4%, up from 4% on Friday. There were 1,077 people in hospital on Friday, down from 1,099 the previous day. Of these 77 were in intensive care, down from 80.
A purpose-built testing centre also opened at St Andrews University yesterday as students across the country prepare to go home for the Christmas holidays.
Students will be asked to take two tests, between three and five days apart, before travelling home to minimise the risk of bringing the virus to friends and family in different parts of the country.
It comes as the scientist whose modelling led to the first UK lockdown has said household mixing at Christmas will increase virus transmission.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, professor Neil Ferguson said seeing elderly relatives comes down to “individual judgment”.
He said: “I think the measures at Christmas … do pose some risks and I think individual judgment is important in deciding whether to see elderly relatives.”
Professor Ferguson previously said “there will be consequences … some people will die.”
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