HARD LOCK
Lockdown to be extended into May with coronavirus peak ‘still ten days away’
MINISTERS are preparing to extend the lockdown into May after warning that relaxing it too soon will kill thousands more.
Stand-in leader Dominic Raab will discuss the strict measures when he chairs a Cobra meeting today.
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Advisers insist the virus outbreak’s peak could still be ten days away — on April 18.
Before falling ill, PM Boris Johnson pledged to review lockdown on Easter Monday, April 13 — three weeks after it began on March 23.
But Downing Street is seriously concerned that people may defy the advice and head out to enjoy 24C (75F) bank holiday sunshine.
Mr Raab will today give a firm indication that Brits can expect to be locked down for weeks longer and will again urge them to stay indoors as much as possible.
The Government will formally set an extension early next week — after analysing three weeks’ data.
There have been Cabinet tensions over damage caused to the economy.
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But a senior government source said tonight: “Nobody is going to argue about extending the lockdown into May.
“Look at where the peak is now expected.
"It’s becoming obvious that’s where we’re heading.
“It would be seriously negligent not to do that.”
The daily death rate hit 938 yesterday, leading Chancellor Rishi Sunak to slap down demands for a timeline to end the lockdown.
He told today’s press conference: “Rather than speculate about the future, we should focus here and now on the present.
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“What really matters is that people stay home, protect the NHS and save lives.”
National medical director for England, Professor Stephen Powis added: “This is not the time to become complacent or to think the job has been done.
“This is the time to keep social distancing and ensure the hard work that we’ve all been doing leads to benefits.”
However, there was also a hint that when the nation is released it would be across the board rather than staggered.
Government scientific adviser Professor Angela McLean said: “Simple strategies might well be the best.”
Ministers’ refusal to discuss the exit strategy was backed by the World Health Organisation’s Dr Hans Kluge who warned: “Now is not the time to relax measures.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the capital was “nowhere near” being able to lift measures.
Opinion polls show the public still strongly support lockdown.
The Welsh Government confirmed its measures would stay in place beyond Easter Monday.
Commons Health Committee chairman Jeremy Hunt said it was a “reasonable assumption” that at least another month is needed.
The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies will tomorrow assess how the measures have fed through to infection and death rates so far.
The group is chaired by the Government’s chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance.
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Friday’s meeting will include chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty and Professor Powis.
Italy has extended its lockdown, which began on March 9, until at least mid-May.
Officials here have consistently said we are two weeks behind.
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UK not in a position to relax coronavirus lockdown rules yet, Health Minister says
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