COVID CLAMPDOWN
Boris Johnson set to unveil £10,000 fines for Brits who defy orders to stay at home
BORIS Johnson is set to unveil £10,000 fines for Brits who fail to isolate as he outlines his plan for a winter of lockdowns to beat coronavirus.
The PM will brace families for fresh curbs, which could be in place for the next six months, in a sombre TV address to the nation this week.
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He is looking at cutting pub opening hours, a ban on households mixing and tough penalties for those who flout the rules.
New laws will be rushed through to enforce self-isolation, with fines of up to £10,000 for anyone who defies orders to stay at home.
A senior government source said: “There’s not much on the cards to look forward to. The next six months’ll be pretty s***.”
The PM is spending the weekend deciding on restrictions to tackle the surge in cases.
He is desperate to avoid a second national lockdown which would be a further hammer blow for pubs, restaurants and the economy.
But medical advisers have warned him the consequences could be even worse unless he acts swiftly and decisively. An insider said: “The virus is like a smouldering grass fire that has suddenly started to spread.
“If he doesn’t tackle it now, it will be out of control with devastating repercussions.”
Chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance will lay the groundwork for the PM’s announcement.
They will make a joint appearance to give their grim prediction of what will happen if no action is taken to curb cases.
The PM will make his TV address once his course of action is finalised, possibly on Tuesday. Ex-government adviser Neil Ferguson wants measures “sooner rather than later”.
The scientist, whose advice led to the last lockdown, said: “If we leave it another two to four weeks, we will be back at levels we were seeing more like mid-March. That’s going to cause deaths.”
It comes as:
- Brits hit the town in Leeds, London and Cardiff as UK teeters on the brink of lockdown, curfew and shut pubs
- UK coronavirus cases rose by 4,422 in biggest rise for 19 weeks as 27 more died
- Health secretary Matt Hancock called on people to snitch on their neighbours who don't self isolate
- Rishi Sunak plans to freeze benefits and state pay to battle spiralling cost of coronavirus crisis
British Medical Association boss Chaand Nagpaul also warned infections and death would spiral unless more restrictions come in.
From next week, people who test positive or are contacted by Test and Trace will be legally bound to self-isolate for 14 days.
Those who breach the rules face a minimum fine of £1,000 — in line with quarantine laws for international travel. But that could rise to £10,000 for repeat or flagrant breaches.
People who flout the “rule of six” could see fines hiked from £100 to £1,000. Cops will patrol areas with spiralling rates to see if groups are gathering in illegal numbers.
Fines will also be imposed on those who prevent self-isolating — such as bosses who threaten staff with redundancy if they do not work. Police, trace call handlers and councils will enforce the rules.
But, in a carrot and stick move, four million low-paid workers on benefits will get £500 so they can self-isolate without financial worry.
Mr Johnson said: “So nobody underestimates how important this is, new regulations will mean you are legally obliged to do so if you have the virus or have been asked to do so by NHS Test and Trace.
"People who choose to ignore the rules will face significant fines. We need to do all we can to control the spread of this virus, to prevent the most vulnerable people from becoming infected, and to protect the NHS and save lives.
"While most people are doing their absolute level-best to comply with the rules, I don’t want to see a situation where people don’t feel financially able to self-isolate.”
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The Sun on Sunday Says
BORIS Johnson must use his TV address to the nation next week to seize back control of the battle against Covid.
The Prime Minister must spell out clearly how the Government is ready to contain the surging infection rates.
At the same time he must end the cycle of over-promising and under-delivering results. We want an upbeat, confident Boris — not a hopeless fantasist.
It is clear that the second wave of the virus has hit harder and faster than many expected. But it should not have left ministers scrambling to perform U-turns.
Boris himself has been barely visible while policy is apparently made on the hoof. No wonder public patience is wearing thin.
He needs to restore confidence by giving a frank and honest account of what is now needed.
But he must use his TV speech to rule out a second national lockdown.
If we have learned anything through this crisis it is that physical health is linked to our economic prosperity.
Sensible and realistic measures that cushion the economy are a price worth paying for cutting the deadly infection rates.
These could include curfews and local lockdowns. But these should only be used in the most sparing way.
And voters will only have confidence in giving up their liberty again if the Government finally gets a grip on the failing test and trace system.
No one expected a flawless Government performance in the face of such an unpredictable virus.
While people understand he has a huge task, his administration’s reputation for competence has taken a battering.
Boris needs to instil us with confidence. Not allow us to become governed by fear.
Infections almost doubled in a week, with 6,000 a day in England.
At least 13.5million people, roughly a fifth of the UK population, are already facing curbs.
Drinkers in Newcastle went on a weekend blow-out before pub hours were cut.
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Others partied in Birmingham, Leeds and London as fears of lockdown grew.
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Mayor Sadiq Khan called for one in the capital, as it is “days” behind hotspots. He wants a 10pm pub curfew and a ban on different households mixing.
Angry Tories are demanding a Commons vote before any more restrictions are imposed.
Local lock rules
RESTRICTIONS set to be introduced come after local lockdowns were introduced across Covid hotspot areas.
Residents must not socialise with people outside their own households in private homes and gardens across Merseyside and Lancashire from Tuesday.
Public transport should only be used if essential such as getting to school or work.
Bolton has tough restrictions already including pubs, bars and restaurants restricted to takeaways. But areas can be removed from the watchlist if infection rates fall, such as in Swindon and Norwich.
The decisions are made by local leaders with key figures including Health Secretary Matt Hancock, the NHS Test and Trace team and Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty.
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UK may face ‘on-off’ lockdowns for six months as Boris to announce ‘circuit breaker’ to tackle second covid wave in days
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