PM Expected To Announce New Coronavirus Measures For South East

Saturday, 19 December 2020 14:52

By Sky News

The Prime Minister is expected to announce a new set of measures for London and the South East in an announcement later this afternoon (Saturday), including further restrictions for Christmas, according to Sky News.

Ahead of a news briefing expected at 4pm, Boris Johnson is holding emergency talks with cabinet ministers on the new variant coronavirus and rising case numbers.

It is the second meeting in less than 24 hours that the prime minister has held on the issue, highlighting the strength of concern felt in Downing Street.

Chief medical officer for England, Professor Chris Whitty, said:

“As announced on Monday, the UK has identified a new variant of Covid-19 through Public Health England’s genomic surveillance.

“As a result of the rapid spread of the new variant, preliminary modelling data, and rapidly rising incidence rates in the South East, the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG) now consider that the new strain can spread more quickly.

“We have alerted the World Health Organisation and are continuing to analyse the available data to improve our understanding.

“There is no current evidence to suggest the new strain causes a higher mortality rate or that it affects vaccines and treatments although urgent work is underway to confirm this.

“Given this latest development it is now more vital than ever that the public continue to take action in their area to reduce transmission.”

Sky News' chief political correspondent, Jon Craig, said that regions could face even tougher restrictions in what he argued would be a "huge U-turn" for the prime minister, who had talked about saving Christmas.

He said:

"Now there are suggestions there may be a new tier 4 set up and a 'stay at home' message for London and the South East.

"For example, Christmas bubbles might only be allowed in tiers 1 to 3.

"All sorts of very tough restrictions which would absolutely dismay if not infuriate many people who have already made Christmas plans."

More follows.