Babak Belurs

Minggu, 04 Oktober 2020

Covid: Things 'bumpy through to Christmas' - Johnson - BBC News

Boris Johnson has warned it may be "bumpy through to Christmas" and beyond as the UK deals with coronavirus.

Speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr, the PM said there was "hope" in beating Covid, but called on the public to "act fearlessly but with common sense".

He said the government was taking a "balanced" approach between saving lives and protecting the economy.

Mr Johnson's comments come as the UK has hit 10,000 new cases for the first time since mass testing began.

The prime minister said: "The best thing we can do now for all those who have suffered in the course of this pandemic is bring it to an end in the speediest possible way."

Labour's shadow health minister, Alex Norris, criticised the interview as a "wasted opportunity" to set out a "serious strategy to improve public confidence in the government's handling of this crisis".

He said: "Instead [the PM] waffled and ducked every question. His serial incompetence is holding Britain back."

Mr Johnson said he believed over the "next few weeks and months" the "scientific equation will change whether that is vaccines or testing" and there will be "progress" in beating the virus.

As a result, he said there was "hope" and "things can be significantly different by Christmas", as well as being "radically different" by spring.

But, the prime minister warned there could be "a very tough winter for all of us", adding: "I tell you in all candour, it will continue to be bumpy through to Christmas and may even be bumpy beyond."

Labour has been a long-standing critic of the performance of the Test and Trace system, with its leader, Sir Keir Starmer, accusing the government of having "lost control" of the virus.

Mr Johnson said the system was "not perfect" and that he was "frustrated with it".

But he defended its "massive increase in capacity", saying it had "made a huge difference" in tackling Covid-19.

Mr Johnson also stood by the Eat Out to Help Out restaurant discount introduced in August, which some critics have said added to the rise in coronavirus cases in September.

"In so far as that scheme may have helped to spread the virus then obviously we need to counteract that and we need to counteract that with the discipline and the measures that we're proposing," he said.

But he insisted it was "right to reopen the economy" as the government tries to "strike the right balance".

Mr Johnson said he took "full responsibility for everything that has happened since the pandemic began".

'Suspicion'

Asked about how effective the latest local lockdowns were in tackling the growing number of cases, the prime minister said it was "too early to say".

Mr Johnson said he understood the "frustrations" of people living in the affected areas - as well as a number of his own backbench MPs - but defended the action, saying: "I'm a freedom-loving Tory. I don't want to have to impose measures like this, are you crazy?

"This is the last thing we want to do. But I also have to save life. And that's our priority."

"And I also think, by the way, that's the priority of the British people and I think they will want to see their government continue to work, continuing to fight the virus and that's what we're doing."

Labour's shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth earlier called for the government to publish guidelines on what criteria they used to impose local lockdowns, and to involve local council leaders and health officials.

He said there were questions as to why current areas have extra restrictions, while the constituencies of cabinet ministers with higher case numbers remained unchanged.

"Because there are no clear guidelines as to why an area goes into restrictions, and how an area comes out of restrictions, then there is a suspicion that there is political interference," he told Andrew Marr.

"I hope there isn't. But until the government publish clear guidelines, that suspicion will always linger."

'Too fat'

Mr Johnson was also asked about his health following his own experience of fighting coronavirus in March and April - and in light of US President Donald Trump testing positive.

The prime minister said when he had the virus he was "too fat" and it was a "teachable moment for our great country" to get on top of the issue of obesity.

But he claimed it was "balderdash" that he was still suffering from the effects of coronavirus, known as "long Covid".

He said the claim was "drivel", adding: "It is balderdash and nonsense. I can tell you I'm fitter than several butchers' dogs."

The Conservatives are currently holding their first virtual party conference due to coronavirus restrictions on mass gatherings.

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2020-10-04 10:18:45Z
52781099987172

Nigel Farage throws gauntlet down as he warns 'more battles to be fought' to secure Brexit - Daily Express

Nigel Farage forecast the United Kingdom will ultimately succeed in securing a Brexit trade deal with the European Union after months of uncertainty about the future relationship with the bloc. The Brexit Party leader however warned Boris Johnson could be in for "more battles" should his deal fail to meet the expectations of Brexiteers across the UK. Speaking to Sky News' Sophy Ridge, Mr Farage said: "Some of the comments from Ursula von der Leyen yesterday, reminding Boris Johnson and the Government that we did sign a new European treaty last year called the Withdrawal Agreement...I sense there will be a compromise.

"I sense there will be a deal before the end of the year and it's one that will not fully satisfy many Brexiteers."

Asked whether an unsatisfactory deal could propel him back into the political scene, Mr Farage said: "Let's see where we go with this.

"But if they completely drop the ball on Brexit, if we finish up stuck with the level playing field, unable to be competitive, then there are more battles to be fought."

The comments come after the Prime Minister and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen assessed the state of the negotiations, agreeing "it's important to find an agreement as a strong basis for a strategic relationship".

JUST IN: Raise YOUR standards EU! UK issues BLOCK warning in brutal slap down for Brussels

The Prime Minister and Commission President ordered their negotiations to work "intensively" over the next two weeks to work out the remaining differences preventing agreement on a trade deal.

Lord Frost, the UK Government's negotiator, confirmed in a tweet following their statement that he and Michel Barnier will "begin as soon as we can next week."

The positive outlook comes days after Mrs von der Leyen confirmed the Commission had launched legal proceedings against the UK over a perceived breach of the Withdrawal Agreement.

Brussels claims the Internal Market Bill the Government tabled last month would override the Northern Ireland clause contained in the Brexit deal in the event of trade negotiations concluding in a no deal scenario.

"I spoke to one official from a fairly large member-state who said member-states were not alerted that this legal action was coming on Thursday. They weren't consulted.

"They were wondering if Michel Barnier was even in the loop on this. It seems to have been fairly tightly controlled between President von der Leyen and Maroš Šefčovič.

"It was kept under very tight wraps until 10am on Thursday morning."

Sources close to the negotiations suggested the latest conversation between Mr Johnson and Mrs von der Leyen is "not a game changer" but had helped show both sides are committed to finding a "landing zone" on the most contentious areas.

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2020-10-04 07:58:00Z
52781097914479

Coronavirus: Pandemic 'will be bumpy through to Christmas and maybe beyond', Boris Johnson warns - Sky News

The coronavirus pandemic "will be bumpy through to Christmas" and potentially beyond that, Boris Johnson has warned, as he said it is "too early to say" whether local lockdowns are working.

The prime minister acknowledged there will be some members of the public who are "furious at me" and "furious at the government" amid the continuing COVID-19 restrictions.

"I've got to tell you in all candour it's going to continue to be bumpy through to Christmas, it may even be bumpy beyond," he said in an interview with the BBC's Andrew Marr Show.

"But this is the only way to do it."

Mr Johnson said the government was "working flat out" to allow for an easing of coronavirus restrictions in time for the festive period, but he again cautioned: "Be in no doubt that it is still very possible that there are bumpy, bumpy months ahead.

"This could be a very tough winter for all of us - we've got to face that fact."

He also rejected suggestions he was still feeling the effects of coronavirus - which left him in intensive care back in April - or suffering from "long" COVID, saying: "This is total tittle tattle, it is drivel. It is not tittle tattle, it is balderdash and nonsense.

"I can tell you I'm fitter than several butchers' dogs."

In a bid to offer some optimism, the PM said he believed "very strongly" that the "scientific equation" surrounding the virus will change in the coming weeks and months and "we will start to see progress, whether it is on vaccines or on testing, that will enable us to take a different approach".

He said it is a "possibility" that there will be "significant progress" on a vaccine this year, but he does not "want to get people's hopes up on the vaccine unnecessarily".

On local lockdowns, Mr Johnson was asked specifically about Oldham, which has seen its infection rate double despite being under tighter restrictions for the past six weeks.

The PM told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "The advice that we're getting is that in these areas where we've got stringent local lockdowns, we've got to wait and see if the R number starts to come down."

His interview came after government figures showed there were a further 12,872 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the UK as of 9am on Saturday.

A technical glitch may mean that the actual daily figure is somewhat smaller.

Mr Johnson said he understood people's "frustration" at differing rules and restrictions for different parts of the country.

But he said one the alternatives he had heard suggested was to "let it rip", something Mr Johnson said he "just can't accept".

"And as prime minister I couldn't take a course that could expose us to tens of thousands more deaths in very short order," he said.

One aspect of the latest COVID-19 restrictions that has come in for criticism is the 10pm curfew for pubs, bars and restaurants.

Asked about this in his Marr interview, the PM defended the rule and blamed people who chose to "hobnob" outside establishments after hours for the scenes of crowds in city centres around closing time.

"Obviously it makes no sense if, having followed the guidance for all the time in the pub they then pour out into the street and hobnob in such a way as to spread the virus," Mr Johnson said.

The PM said it had been "put to us" that bringing in a 10pm curfew could help reduce the transmission of the virus, but he did not elaborate on who had suggested it to ministers.

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2020-10-04 09:45:00Z
52781099987172

Covid: UK announces more than 10,000 new cases for first time - BBC News

The UK has announced more than 10,000 new coronavirus cases for the first time since mass testing began.

There were 12,872 new cases, while a further 49 people have died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19.

However, the government said a technical issue meant some cases this week were not recorded at the time so these were included in Saturday's data.

It comes after data earlier this week had suggested infections may be rising more slowly than in previous weeks.

That data was based on weekly testing among a sample of people in the community to get an idea of how many people in England have the virus at any time.

The government also closely watches the daily number of positive cases, as it provides the most up-to-date snapshot.

However, it published a cautionary message on its "data dashboard", explaining that the totals reported over the coming days would include some cases from the previous week, "increasing the number of cases reported".

A Department of Health spokesman said the issue did not affect people receiving test results, and all those who tested positive have been informed in the normal way.

The announcement of the apparent glitch in the daily count comes "at an awkward moment", according to BBC health editor Hugh Pym, "when there is intense scrutiny of daily Covid-19 data as ministers and health chiefs try to assess the rate of spread of the virus".

He added: "After criticism in recent months over the way total tests are counted, ministers and officials will now face more questions over the compilation of daily case data."

The daily total saw a significant rise from 4,044 on Monday to a then-high of 7,143 on Tuesday. However, over the next four days the daily total remained stable - varying between 6,914 and 7,108 - at a time when continued increases might have been expected.

And then came the big leap in numbers announced on Saturday, a far bigger day-on-day increase than at any time in the entire pandemic, which were announced five hours later than the usual time and were accompanied by the government explanation.

The figures announced on Saturday would also have been partially inflated by the fact that 264,979 tests were processed the previous day, the third highest there has been so far in a single 24-hour period.

Saturday's figure brings the total number of recorded cases in the UK to 480,017.

The increase in the UK is largely reflected across Europe.

On the same day, France recorded 16,972 new cases - a new daily high for the country
The Netherlands and Belgium respectively announced 3,967 and 3,175 new positive results, also new highs in both countries
Meanwhile, Russia, which has the biggest population in Europe, recorded 9,859 cases - its highest level since May

On Saturday tighter restrictions came into force in parts of northern England after a spike in coronavirus cases.

It is now illegal to meet people indoors from other households in the Liverpool City Region, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough and Warrington.

It means than a third of the UK is now under heightened restrictions.

They were also tightened up this week in Newcastle, Northumberland, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland and County Durham, as well as four areas of north Wales.

The new rules come as hundreds of Northumbria University students are self-isolating after testing positive for Covid.

Elsewhere, people arriving in the UK from Turkey and Poland now have to quarantine for two weeks.

The new rules - which also apply to the Caribbean islands of Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba - came into force at 04:00 BST on Saturday.

After a steady decline since the first peak in April, confirmed coronavirus daily cases in the UK have been rising again since July, with the rate of growth increasing sharply from the end of August.

Sage, the body which advises the UK government, say it is still "highly likely" the epidemic is growing exponentially across the country.

Their latest R number estimate - indicating how fast the epidemic is growing or falling - rose to between 1.3 and 1.6.

But an Office for National Statistics (ONS) survey estimates there were 8,400 new cases per day in England in the week to 24 September - slightly down on the previous week's estimate of 9,600 daily cases.

The ONS's estimates of how much of the population is currently infected are based on testing a representative sample of people in households with or without symptoms.

It is different to the number published daily by the Department of Health. That records positive cases in people with potential Covid symptoms who request tests.

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2020-10-04 07:14:55Z
52781100308025

Covid: UK announces more than 10,000 new cases for first time - BBC News

The UK has announced more than 10,000 new coronavirus cases for the first time since mass testing began.

There were 12,872 new cases, while a further 49 people have died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19.

However, the government said a technical issue meant some cases this week were not recorded at the time so these were included in Saturday's data.

It comes after data earlier this week had suggested infections may be rising more slowly than in previous weeks.

That data was based on weekly testing among a sample of people in the community to get an idea of how many people in England have the virus at any time.

The government also closely watches the daily number of positive cases, as it provides the most up-to-date snapshot.

A Department of Health spokesman said the issue did not affect people receiving test results, and all those who tested positive have been informed in the normal way.

He added: "After criticism in recent months over the way total tests are counted, ministers and officials will now face more questions over the compilation of daily case data."

Saturday's figure brings the total number of recorded cases in the UK to 480,017.

The increase in the UK is largely reflected across Europe.

On the same day, France recorded 16,972 new cases - a new daily high for the country
The Netherlands and Belgium respectively announced 3,967 and 3,175 new positive results, also new highs in both countries
Meanwhile, Russia, which has the biggest population in Europe, recorded 9,859 cases - its highest level since May

On Saturday tighter restrictions came into force in parts of northern England after a spike in coronavirus cases.

It is now illegal to meet people indoors from other households in the Liverpool City Region, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough and Warrington.

It means than a third of the UK is now under heightened restrictions.

They were also tightened up this week in Newcastle, Northumberland, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland and County Durham, as well as four areas of north Wales.

The new rules come as hundreds of Northumbria University students are self-isolating after testing positive for Covid.

Elsewhere, people arriving in the UK from Turkey and Poland now have to quarantine for two weeks.

The new rules - which also apply to the Caribbean islands of Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba - came into force at 04:00 BST on Saturday.

After a steady decline since the first peak in April, confirmed coronavirus daily cases in the UK have been rising again since July, with the rate of growth increasing sharply from the end of August.

Sage, the body which advises the UK government, say it is still "highly likely" the epidemic is growing exponentially across the country.

Their latest R number estimate - indicating how fast the epidemic is growing or falling - rose to between 1.3 and 1.6.

The ONS's estimates of how much of the population is currently infected are based on testing a representative sample of people in households with or without symptoms.

It is different to the number published daily by the Department of Health. That records positive cases in people with potential Covid symptoms who request tests.

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Sabtu, 03 Oktober 2020

'Firm and fair' asylum system will keep out those who arrive by 'illegal routes' - Patel - Sky News

The home secretary will promise an asylum system that is "firm and fair" when she speaks at the Conservative Party conference later.

Priti Patel will present a system that would see the government routinely denying asylum to migrants who cross the English Channel on boats or via other "illegal routes".

This would include migrants who pay criminal gangs or smugglers to help them reach the UK but "legal routes" would be created for those at risk of harm, she has promised.

Ms Patel told The Sunday Times: "Currently, everybody that comes to our country and makes an asylum claim, they are treated the same, irrespective of the route through which they have entered our country - and that simply isn't right."

It comes after the government was widely criticised after reports emerged that it had considered housing asylum seekers on disused oil rigs, banishing them to camps in Moldova or Papua New Guinea, or building floating walls in the sea to keep them out.

Ms Patel will speak to the Conservative Party conference later and will commit to the "biggest overhaul of our asylum system in decades".

She will say: "Under Conservative leadership, the United Kingdom has and always will provide sanctuary when the lights are being switched off on people's liberties."

Ms Patel will say: "From the expulsion of Ugandan Asians from a repressive regime, to proudly resettling more Syrian refugees than any other EU country, to supporting campaigners fleeing political persecution in Hong Kong."

Resettled refugees are those who came to a new country as part of a specific scheme run by that country. But most refugees arrive in the EU as asylum seekers, not as part of a scheme.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Germany is the only European country that takes enough refugees to rank among the top 10 refugee host countries.

Ms Patel's new system will stop people who make "endless legal claims to remain" in the UK and it will "expedite the removal of those who have no claim for protection".

"I will take every necessary step to fix this broken system, amounting to the biggest overhaul of our asylum system in decades," Ms Patel will say.

:: Subscribe to the All Out Politics podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker

"We will continue to hunt down the criminal gangs who traffic people into our country.

"I will continue to use the full force of our outstanding National Crime Agency and intelligence agencies to go after them.

"We will make more immediate returns of those who come here illegally and break our rules, every single week.

"And we will explore all practical measures and options to deter illegal migration."

Government figures show there were 34,354 asylum applications in the UK in the year ending September 2019 - 22% more than the previous year and the highest number since the year ending June 2016.

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2020-10-04 04:22:22Z
52781092313502

Covid: UK announces more than 10,000 new cases for first time - BBC News

The UK has announced more than 10,000 new coronavirus cases for the first time since mass testing began.

There were 12,872 new cases, while a further 49 people have died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19.

However, the government said a technical issue meant some cases this week were not recorded at the time so these were included in Saturday's data.

It comes after data earlier this week had suggested infections may be rising more slowly than in previous weeks.

That data was based on weekly testing among a sample of people in the community to get an idea of how many people in England have the virus at any time.

The government also closely watches the daily number of positive cases, as it provides the most up-to-date snapshot.

A Department of Health spokesman said the issue did not affect people receiving test results, and all those who tested positive have been informed in the normal way.

He added: "After criticism in recent months over the way total tests are counted, ministers and officials will now face more questions over the compilation of daily case data."

Saturday's figure brings the total number of recorded cases in the UK to 480,017.

The increase in the UK is largely reflected across Europe.

On the same day, France recorded 16,972 new cases - a new daily high for the country
The Netherlands and Belgium respectively announced 3,967 and 3,175 new positive results, also new highs in both countries
Meanwhile, Russia, which has the biggest population in Europe, recorded 9,859 cases - its highest level since May

On Saturday tighter restrictions came into force in parts of northern England after a spike in coronavirus cases.

It is now illegal to meet people indoors from other households in the Liverpool City Region, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough and Warrington.

It means than a third of the UK is now under heightened restrictions.

They were also tightened up this week in Newcastle, Northumberland, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland and County Durham, as well as four areas of north Wales.

The new rules come as hundreds of Northumbria University students are self-isolating after testing positive for Covid.

Elsewhere, people arriving in the UK from Turkey and Poland now have to quarantine for two weeks.

The new rules - which also apply to the Caribbean islands of Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba - came into force at 04:00 BST on Saturday.

After a steady decline since the first peak in April, confirmed coronavirus daily cases in the UK have been rising again since July, with the rate of growth increasing sharply from the end of August.

Sage, the body which advises the UK government, say it is still "highly likely" the epidemic is growing exponentially across the country.

Their latest R number estimate - indicating how fast the epidemic is growing or falling - rose to between 1.3 and 1.6.

The ONS's estimates of how much of the population is currently infected are based on testing a representative sample of people in households with or without symptoms.

It is different to the number published daily by the Department of Health. That records positive cases in people with potential Covid symptoms who request tests.

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Minggu, 04 Oktober 2020

'Suspicion'

'Too fat'

More from Covid-19

Sabtu, 03 Oktober 2020

More from Priti Patel