Boris Johnson says UK is at 'critical moment' and warns stricter rules may be needed to fight coronavirus outbreak
Boris Johnson has warned that further measures may be needed in the fight against coronavirus as he said the UK has reached a "critical moment".
Addressing the nation at a Downing Street press conference, the Prime Minister called for “collective forbearance, common sense and willingness to make sacrifices”.
He said the latest increase in coronavirus cases, with more than 7,000 recorded on Wednesday , showed why the Government had been forced to bring in new restrictions.
Explaining that the country was at a “critical moment”, Mr Johnson said he would not hesitate to bring in new measures if required.
“If we put in the work together now then we give ourselves the best possible chance of avoiding that outcome and avoiding further measures,” he said.
“I know some people will think we should give up and let the virus take its course despite the huge loss of life that would potentially entail.
“I have to say I profoundly disagree. I don’t think that is what the British people want. I don’t think they want to throw in the sponge. They want to fight and defeat this virus and that is what we are going to do.”
The Prime Minister said he wanted to avoid another national lockdown, adding: “What we are not doing at the moment is going back to the situation we were in in March.
“And, I really don’t want to do this. I don’t want to go back to a national lockdown where the overall guidance is stay at home, that is not what we are saying.
“We want to keep the economy moving. We want to keep young people, pupils in education.
“But the only way we can do that is if we all follow the guidance and depress the virus.”
The Prime Minister spoke alongside chief medical officer for England Professor Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance.
Professor Whitty warned that the UK was experiencing a rise in the number of Covid patients entering hospitals and intensive care.
He said hospitalisation is rising, particularly in hotspots, though the figures remain “at a much lower level than at the beginning of April”.
Professor Whitty added: “We are pointing out that the direction of travel for both hospitals and intensive care is going in the wrong direction, particularly in these areas that have seen rapid increases in cases.”
He told the Downing Street press conference there was a “significant rise” in test positivity in the north-east and north-west of England, and Yorkshire and Humber.
The Prime Minister said the country was “entirely dependent” on the public’s collective action in “driving down the virus”, when asked by the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg for his “honest assessment” on whether further, nationwide, restrictions were on the way.
Mr Johnson, citing a package of recent measures, restrictions and enforcements – including the so-called rule-of-six limit on socialising – said: “The answer is, I’m afraid, entirely dependent on how effective we are now in collectively driving down the virus. We know we can do it because we did it before, in March and April.
“What we hope is that if people obey the guidance – fulfil the guidance – in the way they can and the way they have in the past, we will get the spread (of the virus) down again.
“The strategy is to do that while keeping the economy open – the vast bulk of the economy open – and keeping young people in education. Those have to be absolutely crucial priorities.
“I’m confident we can do it together if we follow the guidance. But our success will have to be judged in the days and week ahead.
“It is still too early to tell whether that package of measures will be successful.”
The UK’s chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance added: “Things are definitely heading in the wrong direction.”
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