Covid news - live: Boris Johnson reveals end of lockdown roadmap as Whitty backs five-week gap between stages
Follow live reaction to Boris Johnson’s ‘cautious’ plan to easing coronavirus restrictions
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Your support makes all the difference.Boris Johnson received the backing of his chief medical and scientific advisers Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance as he unveiled his “cautious but also irreversible” plan for lifting lockdown restrictions in England.
The prime minister said life could be back to normal by as early as 21 June as he defended his plan as a “one way road to freedom” and insisted he would not be “buccaneering” with people’s lives.
“The crocus of hope is poking through the frost and spring is on its way both literally and metaphorically,” he said during a live public briefing at Downing Street.
Under the road map, all schools in England will be expected to reopen on 8 March, while up to six people or two households will be allowed to meet outdoors from 29 March.
Other restrictions will be eased at five week intervals from 12 April, which chief medical officer Chris Whitty said would give time to assess whether infections were still under control.
The details were outlined as new research found that Covid-19 vaccines distributed across the UK substantially reduced the risk of hospital admissions.
Both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford/AstraZeneca jabs were found to cut hospitalisations with the disease by up to 85 per cent and 94 per respectively. The research, which has yet to be peer-reviewed, is the first of its kind confirming the impact of the UK’s vaccine rollout.
- Lockdown timetable: What is reopening and when?
- When is Boris Johnson’s lockdown speech today, and what do we expect from it?
- Life virtually back to normal by 21 June at earliest, Boris Johnson announces
- When can I go on holiday in the UK
- We must be cautious about coming out of lockdown – the prime minister cannot get this wrong again
That’s it for our live coverage for today. Thanks for reading.
No excuse for failure to vaccinate teachers, says union
Teaching unions have expressed concerns about the “big bang” reopening of schools on 8 March, suggesting it could actually cause more disruption than a staggered opening.
The NASUWT also questioned why the government had not added teachers and staff to the priority list for vaccinations.
Patrick Roach, general secretary, said: “It is vital that the Government recognises that it has already lost the trust of many teachers and needs to do much more to win the confidence of a profession that has continued, throughout the pandemic, to deliver everything that has been asked of them.
“Although the rollout of the vaccination programme is going well, it is hugely regrettable and frustrating that the government has continued to refuse to prioritise education staff in the vaccination programme. Vaccinating education staff would send a clear message that the government is taking seriously the concerns of the profession and demonstrating a genuine commitment to limiting the risk of further disruption to children’s education.
“Vaccinating education staff can be done now if there is the political will to do so. There is simply no excuse and no reason to not do so.
Geoff Barton from the Association for School and College Leaders (ASCL) said while his union shared the government’s goal to bring all children back onsite as soon as possible, it was concerned the decision “may prove counterproductive and lead to more disruption”.
Education unions concerned by ‘big bang’ reopening of schools
Full return on 8 March ‘may prove counterproductive and lead to more disruption’, union leader warns
Tory MP calls for full Commons return on 8 March
Conservative MP Anthony Mangnall has called for all MPs to return to the Commons as soon as possible.
He told the House: “We are asking teachers on 8 March to return to their places of work and to teach children. I think we could serve a very good example by doing the same.”
Mr Mangnall added: “We need to hold the Government to account on all manner of things and it will do us justice if we can actually decide to have proper debate.”
‘118 days until freedom’
All the major newspapers focus on the roadmap announcement for their front pages, with the Sun going for its obligatory pun headline ‘The Wait Escape’.
Hereditary by-elections delayed by Lords until after Easter
By-elections to replace hereditary members in the House of Lords have been suspended for a fourth time during the coronavirus pandemic.
Peers at Westminster backed a continued extension of the current moratorium on the exclusive ballots until another review after Easter.
The controversial system used to choose which aristocrats get to sit in the upper chamber has been put on hold since last March in the light of the Covid-19 crisis.
Senior Deputy Speaker Lord McFall of Alcluith said there had been a range of views within the Lords Procedure and Privileges Committee “about the appropriate point” to resume by-elections.
While technically possible to hold by-elections using electronic voting, overall the committee felt it would be difficult for the polls “to be satisfactory”, he said.
He added: “In particular, we felt it was undesirable to restrict hustings to a virtual form when those candidates, who largely unknown to the electorate might be at significant disadvantage if they are restricted to interacting only virtually.”
Press Association
What did Boris Johnson say in his lockdown speech today?
If you somehow missed all the action today as the prime minister revealed the full details of his “roadmap” to exit lockdown, here’s a handy rundown.
What did Boris Johnson say in his lockdown speech today?
Phased approach to easing stay-home order could see all distancing measures eradicated by 21 June
Biden calls for moment of silence to mark 500,000 deaths
Joe Biden called on Americans to observe a moment of silence on Monday to commemorate the grim milestone of 500,000 U.S. deaths from Covid-19.
Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, first lady Jill Biden and second gentleman Doug Emhoff were scheduled to hold a moment of silence at 6.15pm Eastern Time (2315 GMT) at the White House.
“I ask all Americans to join us as we remember the more than 500,000 of our fellow Americans lost to COVID-19 and to observe a moment of silence at sunset,” Biden said in a proclamation.
Biden also ordered all flags on federal properties and military facilities be lowered to half-staff for the next five days.
Grandparents, fathers, mothers, husbands, wives and children: As America reaches unimaginable toll of 500,000 deaths, families count the loss in their homes
Many of these lives were lost without loved ones having the opportunity to say goodbye or hold a normal funeral service, writes Danielle Zoellner
US deaths pass 500,000
The total number of deaths in the US from the coronavirus pandemic has passed 500,000 , the highest death toll of any country in the world.
The grim milestone, which is more than double any other nation, was reached on Monday, according to data collated by Johns Hopkins University.
Tory rebellion fizzles out?
Tory backbenchers are believed to be broadly supportive about the roadmap, suggesting that there may not be a sizeable rebellion from within his party.
MPs will not get a vote on the roadmap itself but will be asked to approve changes to legislation made at each of the four ‘steps’.
Financial support ‘imperative’ if pubs and restaurants to survive
Business leaders have warned financial support is “imperative” if the hospitality and entertainment sectors are to survive after the prime minister’s roadmap out of lockdown.
Pub chiefs have said it will be “very difficult, if not impossible” to trade profitably once sites reopen in April under new rules.
Business leaders say financial support is ‘imperative if hospitality is to survive’
Pub boss claims it will be ‘almost impossible’ for sector to be profitable with only outdoor opening in April
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