By Ben Kerrigan-
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has no idea when the UK lockdown will end.In response to a question asking if the lockdown was likely to be over by spring, the prime minister responded: ”Once the four priority groups have been vaccinated, by mid-February, “we’ll look then at how we’re doing,” Boris Johnson said.
Downing Street announced the UK’s third lockdown on January 4, after the completion of the month’s long lockdown which concluded on December 2. The prime minister at the time said the lockdown was expected to last until February 15. Barely 24 hours later, Michael Gove suggested some of the restrictions could be lifted in March, but stated that ”nobody can predict with accuracy what will be relaxed when what would be relaxed when”.
Ms Patel backed Mr Johnson’s comments that it was too early to judge when the lockdown could be lifted, saying it was “right” to have “stringent measures” in place, given the number of people who were in hospital.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has said he “certainly hopes” schools in England can fully reopen before Easter, while Downing Street refused to be drawn on whether this would happen by then.
The prime minister said a few days after he announced the lockdown that the restrictions will not happen with a “big bang” but will instead be a “gradual unwrapping”, Boris Johnson has told MPs.
Warnings from the government for people to stay at home and save lives were today made by Boris Johnson in the face of new fines of £800 by Home Secretary Priti Patel for anyone attending a house party of more than 15 people will be introduced in England from next week.
These can be doubled up to a maximum of £6,400 for repeat offences.
Ms Patel told Thursday’s Downing Street briefing that a “small minority” refused to “do the right thing”, saying: “To them my message is clear, if you don’t follow rules then the police will enforce them.”
Mr Johnson said it was “absolutely crucial” that people observed the restrictions.
Referring to figures from the Imperial College London survey, he said they showed the new variant of the virus was “not more deadly but it is much more contagious and the numbers are very great”.
Figures published by Public Health England show cases – meaning people who come forward shows cases have fallen across England since early January.
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