LONG ROAD TO SUMMER
Covid restrictions might last until SUMMER as 70 Tory MPs demand Boris Johnson publishes timetable for easing in March
COVID restrictions could last until SUMMER as 70 Tory MPs have piled pressure on Boris Johnson to publish a timetable for easing the lockdown in March.
Environment Secretary George Eustice warned this morning life could only start to return to normal by "late spring or early summer".
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Speaking this morning, Mr Eustice said "there is a light at the end of the tunnel" after the hopeful news 5 million doses of the vaccine had been given to Brits.
He told Sky News: "Once we get all those vulnerable cohorts vaccinated and start to move down the age ranges in late Spring, early summer, I really think it will be possible to return to life much closer to normal."
But people would still have to follow some restrictions, Mr Eustice warned, saying: "It won't be entirely normal, initially, but we will be able to come out of lockdown and start living life again in the way we wanted it."
Yesterday, Boris Johnson sparked fears coronavirus restrictions could continue for months to come after he could not rule out social distancing measures being lifted by summer.
When he was asked if the country was facing "looking at summer rather than spring" for an easing of lockdown rules, the PM said: "I think it's too early to say when we'll be able to lift some of some of the restrictions."
Mr Johnson warned the new super-contagious variant "does spread very fast", saying "it unquestionably will be a very tough few weeks ahead."
But the 70 Tory MPs in the Coronavirus Recovery Group have demanded Mr Johnson start laying out plans to ease the lockdown in March.
Chair of the CRG Mark Harper has told the PM people and businesses need "hope for the future" and lockdown should start to be unravelled once the Government hits its target of vaccinating the 13 million most vulnerable Brits.
Mr Harper said: "People must see light at the end of the tunnel and feel hope for the future and businesses need to be able to plan our recovery."
"Once the top four risk groups have been vaccinated and fully protected by March 8 - assuming the Government hits the February 15 deadline - the Government must start easing the restrictions."
Mr Harper said it was vital "we control (Covid) effectively" but cautioned the PM against further lockdowns
"This cycle of lockdowns and restrictions cause immense damage too – to people's health, livelihoods and businesses," he said.
Senior Tory MP Sir Desmond Swayne has also warned people will "rise up" if there is not exit strategy for easing restrictions.
Sir Desmond Swayne, the MP for New Forest West, told Talk Radio that the "goalposts keep moving" for when the rules will be relaxed.
He said: "We have to focus on hospital admissions and keep that focus rigorous...(or) at some stage people have got to rise up and bring it down."
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A spokesperson for No10 said this lunchtime: "As we have said previously, the important thing is that we continue to look at the latest situation and scientific evidence and data.
"Decisions will be based on that. We have said it remains important for the public to abide by the guidance and rules to drive the rate down.
"The vaccine plan will play an important part in reducing the pressure on the NHS. It's important we continue to look at the latest scientific evidence and data, and we will base our decisions on that.
"We will lift restrictions as soon as we can, but only when it is safe to do so."
But a study by the Government's Scientific pandemic influenza group on modelling has warned that lifting the lockdown will depend on whether or not the vaccine prevents people who have been inoculated from passing on the virus.
The warned: "Once the vaccine has been rolled out to the most vulnerable people, there will be scope for partial relaxation...but the extent of this scope is highly dependent upon the impact of vaccines on viral transmission."
It spelled out a bleak scenario where 23,800 more people over the age of 75 could die - even if 90 per cent are vaccinated but the jab doesn't prevent transmission.
And if only 75 per cent are vaccinated, almost 50,000 people could die.
But they said if the vaccine "significantly reduces transmission" then lockdown could be released "without another epidemic wave".
Last night, Priti Patel brought in even tougher fines for people who attend house parties during the lockdown, meaning anyone who goes to a gathering of 15 people or more could be fined £800.
And this morning, Mr Eustice refused to rule out even tougher measures that could see the UK's borders closed, in a bid to stop new variants of the virus reaching British shores.
Mr Eustice insisted he did not want to see the borders being closed, but refused to rule anything out.
"I'd like to see us get past this pandemic get the vaccine rolled out and start opening things again instead of closing things," he told the BBC.
"We can't rule anything out but for now the restrictions we have in place for that requirement for quarantine and the requirement for a pre-travel test, we think that is sufficient and the right and appropriate measure for now."
The Environment Secretary also refused to rule out a plan being drawn up by Department of Health officials to give people who test positive for Coronavirus £500 to cover the costs of self-isolation.
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He said: "We do need people if they've been asked to self-isolate to self-isolate and obviously we always review the reasons why they might not.
"No decisions have been made on this but this is a dynamic fast-moving situation with the pandemic but we're always keeping multiple policies under review."
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