Boris Johnson reveals new ‘lightning lockdown’ powers that will order people to stay indoors and shut towns
BORIS Johnson has today launched a nine-month plan to get Britain back to "near normal" with "lightning lockdowns".
The Prime Minister set out this morning his vision for reviving the economy and handed councils the power to strike quickly at any spike in coronavirus cases.
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Speaking at No 10, Mr Johnson outlined more of the road map to unlock England.
From tomorrow, local authorities will have more powers to impose local coronavirus lockdowns - after Leicester became the first city to effectively shut down.
The PM said all councils will now be able to close specific premises, shut public outdoor spaces and cancel events.
He added that normal life would not return in full until November at the earliest, cautioning that nightclubs and soft play areas needed to remain closed while wedding receptions would have to remain capped.
LIGHTNING LOCKDOWNS
Councils have also been given powers to shut pubs and cafés without going to Government first.
The new rules allow town hall bosses to ban weddings and other gatherings at short notice.
Next week, Mr Johnson will also publish draft regulations on how central Government can intervene at a local level as "action by local councils will not always be sufficient".
Ministers will be able to close premises, introduce local stay-at-home orders and prevent people entering or leaving specific areas.
They will also be able to reduce the size of gatherings and restrict transport systems serving local areas.
Mr Johnson also ditched the work-from-home slogan and urged bosses to get Brits back to the office to save the economy.
And in a boost for sports fans, crowds could be able to return to stadiums in October.
From tomorrow, local authorities will have new powers in their areas. They will be able to close specific premises, shut public outdoor spaces and cancel events.
Boris Johnson
The PM said: "From tomorrow, local authorities will have new powers in their areas.
"They will be able to close specific premises, shut public outdoor spaces and cancel events.
"These powers will enable local authorities to act more quickly in response to outbreaks where speed is paramount.
"Action by local councils will not always be sufficient, so next week we will publish draft regulations on how central government can intervene more effectively at a local level.
"Where justified by the evidence, ministers will be able to close whole sectors or types of premises in an area, introduce local stay-at-home orders, prevent people entering or leaving defined areas, reduce the size of gatherings beyond the national defined rules or restrict transport systems serving local areas."
UNLOCKING BRITAIN
Mr Johnson added: "We will pilot larger gatherings in venues such as sports stadia with a view to a wider reopening in the autumn.
"All of these measures, for August 1, should be done in a Covid-secure way.
"From October we intend to bring back audiences in stadia and allow conferences and other business events to recommence, again these changes must be done in a Covid-secure way subject to the successful outcome of pilots."
A Government health source said: “Councils will be able to impose lighting lockdowns where they see fit.”
It comes as:
- It was revealed Vladimir Putin's Russia is behind repeated cyber attacks to try and steal a coronavirus vaccine from Britain
- Leicester's mayor blasted the Tory government for playing “party politics” after its partial lockdown ease means pubs and restaurants will stay shut
- MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle stepped down from the Labour front bench, saying he had been the victim of a "torrent of online hate"
- The Government's top scientist insisted there is “absolutely no reason” for people to stop working from home
Boris will also give the NHS an extra £3billion so hospitals are “battle ready” for winter and ensure a second wave is avoided.
The PM has also set a target of 500,000 tests a day by the end of October so flare-ups can be dealt with swiftly.
A PR blitz will encourage Brits to get a virus test and promote walk-in testing sites.
Boris will also detail a path to ease distancing, while ensuring the NHS can still cope with any second peak.
A No 10 spokesman said: “Thanks to the hard work and sacrifices of the British people, the virus is under control and we have eased restrictions in a cautious, phased way. But the Prime Minister is clear that now is not the time for complacency. We must make sure our NHS is battle ready for winter.”
The virus thrives in the cold and spreads more easily indoors.
Doctors and ministers fear it could surge again just when flu is circulating and hospitals are struggling with the usual winter crises.
The extra billions will go towards keeping on the Nightingales and private hospital spaces.
No 10 will also carry out a flurry of exercises to “stress test” their NHS winter plans.
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It comes despite warnings both in public and private from his scientific experts.
Yesterday the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance told MPs there was "absolutely no reason" to drop working from home.
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He said: "Of the various distancing measures, working from home for many companies remains a perfectly good option because it's easy to do.
"I think a number of companies think it's actually not detrimental to productivity. And in that situation, there's absolutely no reason I can see to change it."