By Tony O’Riley-
Health Secretary Matt Hancock told today’s Downing Street press conference that the British public has a “personal responsibility” for the public and them minimising contact.
Mr. Hancock added that the Uk government’s actions in its plans to put a lot of the Uk under strict tier measures is “proportionate” , adding that everyone has “got to take responsibility for our own actions as well”.
Speaking at today’s Downing Street press conference briefing, Mr Hancock confirmed that more of the east and south east of England will enter the toughest Tier 4 lockdown on Boxing Day.
The announcement means an additional 6 million people will be under the Government’s strictest Covid restrictions meaning a total of 24 million people will be in Tier 4 – 43% of the population of England.
Mr Hancock said that Tier 3 measures were not enough to control the new variant of the virus as cases around England surge. Plan to intensify restriction measures follows a new variant believed to eb from South Africa
There were objections raised from businesses about the plans for stricter measures.
Josh Hardie, CBI Deputy Director-General, said: “Tighter COVID restrictions have already been a huge setback for firms and this will be felt even more by those who have now spent much of the year under them.
“The extension of Government-backed business loans and the furlough scheme will provide some certainty and respite for those under new tiers.
“But the Government should revisit support in January to ensure businesses across the UK make it through beyond Spring. Efforts to speed up mass rapid testing and vaccine rollout will help reopen the economy safely, but it is clear challenges will continue well into next year.”
TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Without more support from the government, jobs will be lost and businesses will close.
“Ministers must act quickly and provide the financial help hard-hit industries badly need. They can’t watch from the side lines as companies go the wall and redundancies mount.
“And they must help families too, by boosting sick pay to a real Living Wage so that people can afford to self-isolate and increasing universal credit.”
The health secretary said the British government is rolling out testing for schools to ensure teachers and students are safe. On the vaccine, Mr.Hancock said ministers are following strict clinical advice on the order in which people should be vaccinated.
Deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries says the evidence suggests that teachers are not at an increased risk from COVID-19