LOCKDOWN EASING
Boris Johnson announces ‘phased’ route out of lockdown will be revealed from February 22
BORIS Johnson today announced the government will reveal its "phased" route out of lockdown in the week beginning February 22.
The Prime Minister said schools will be the first to reopen under the new road map, which will take a "gradual" approach to lifting restrictions.
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When he announced England's national shutdown at the start of the month Mr Johnson said it would initially last until the middle of February - by which time the Government aims to vaccinate all the over 70s, NHS staff and the clinically vulnerable who have been shielding for months.
Speaking in the House of Commons this afternoon, the PM said he will review current lockdown measures in mid February, but left the door open for them to be extended.
"I can tell the House that when parliament returns from recess on the week beginning February 22, we intend to set out the results of that review and publish our plan for taking the country out of lockdown," he said.
The plan will depend on "the continued success of the vaccination program," as well as the "capacity of the NHS" and the rate at which people are dying from coronavirus in the UK.
And the road to freedom will take a "gradual and phased approach," with the reopening of schools a priority.
It comes as...
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The PM admitted today that getting kids back to class was tied to the national restrictions - and children will not be going back after February half-term as hoped.
Mr Johnson told Parliament this afternoon kids would continue to learn remotely for another five weeks - and there was not yet enough data to decide when to lift the lockdown measures.
He said: "At this point, we do not have enough data to judge the full effect of vaccines in blocking transmission nor the extent and speed with which the vaccines will reduce hospitalisations and deaths, nor how quickly the combination of vaccinations and the lockdown can be expected to ease the pressure on the NHS."
The news will be a massive blow to parents and children hoping for schools would be able to reopen, as in the November lockdown.
But the PM promised: "The most important thing is to get kids back in school as soon as we sensibly can.
"That is what the government is determined to do."
It comes after the UK's Covid death toll passed 100,000 yesterday - less than a year since the first coronavirus death was recorded here.
Boris Johnson said last night he was "deeply sorry" for every life lost telling PMQs this lunchtime "I grieve every death".
He told MPs: "I and the Government take full responsibility for all the actions I have taken, we have taken in this pandemic.
"There will be a time to reflect and prepare. I don't believe this is now.
"What the country wants is for us to come together, work to keep the virus under control as we are, and continue to rollout the fastest vaccination programme in Europe."
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The Prime Minister will hold a 5pm press conference this evening.
Meanwhile the Home Secretary Priti Patel this afternoon announced border staff and police will STOP Brits leaving the country under strict new plans.
People trying to exit Britain will be confronted if their reason for leaving their homes is deemed non-essential - while those arriving from 30 high-risk countries will be forced into hotel quarantines.
Passengers returning from the 30 “red-list countries” will face strict isolation rules, with passengers forced to fork out around £1,500 for a ten-day stay in a hotel.
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People will be met at the airport and transported directly into quarantine.
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And those who want to travel out of the UK will have to fill out a form to apply first - which they need to present at the border.
Anyone found at the border without a good reason will be sent home or fined, Ms Patel said today, and going on holiday is not a valid reason” to ignore the stay-at-home rules.
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Boris Johnson to unveil road map out of lockdown in mid-February