Boris
Johnson did press-ups as he spoke about his own - and the economy's - recovery
from coronavirus
Ben
Jennings on Johnson's pledge to rebuild the UK economy – cartoon
Coronavirus: UK 'on knife edge' ahead of lockdown
easing, scientist warns
4 hours ago
A major incident was declared on Bournemouth beach as
people flocked to the coast during this week's heatwave
The UK remains "on a knife edge" and must
act "sensibly" over the summer months to stop a second wave of
coronavirus, a scientist has warned.
Sir Jeremy
Farrar said he is "worried" about a surge in cases ahead of pubs and
restaurants reopening next month.
Home
Secretary Priti Patel said people have to be "conscientious" about
the risk of a second wave.
She said
the city of Leicester could face a localised lockdown after a rise in cases.
Sir Jeremy,
a member of the government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage)
and director of the Wellcome Trust, has warned there could be a "very
nasty rebound" of the virus in the winter.
He told the
BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "We're on a knife edge, it's very precarious the
situation, particularly in England at the moment, and I would anticipate we
would see an increase in new cases over the coming weeks."
The warning
comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a major easing of England's
lockdown restrictions, to help to reopen the economy. Pubs, restaurants, hotels
and many other businesses will welcome back customers from 4 July.
Each UK
nation's lockdown measures differ, including varying rules on the reopening of
food and drink outlets.
In
Scotland, beer gardens and outdoor restaurants will be allowed to reopen from 6
July, and indoor areas can be used from 15 July. In Northern Ireland, pubs and
restaurants can open from 3 July.
The Welsh
government has promised talks with the hospitality sector about a
"potential phased" reopening, but no dates have yet been given.
PM's
economic recovery plan
Asked about
the concerns raised by Sir Jeremy, the home secretary told the BBC that
"nothing would be more damaging for our country and for our economy"
than a second spike in virus cases, adding that the government's plans to ease
measures were "pragmatic and responsible".
Earlier,
the PM told the Mail on Sunday that if the virus was a "lightning
flash", the UK is about to have the "thunderclap of economic
consequences".
Mr Johnson
made the comment as he set out his plans for a post-lockdown economic recovery
- which will include a new taskforce to look at fast-tracking the building of
hospitals, schools and roads.
Boris
Johnson did press-ups as he spoke about his own - and the economy's - recovery
from coronavirus
The UK's
coronavirus death toll rose by 36 on Sunday to 43,550. Most of the deaths were
in England, while Scotland recorded no new coronavirus deaths for a third
consecutive day.
The
government's daily figures for virus deaths and new confirmed cases peaked in
April and have been falling since then, although the downward trend is slowing.
There have
been concerns about people gathering around the UK during this week's heatwave,
including illegal street parties in London, Manchester and Cardiff, crowded
beaches and Liverpool FC fans taking part in mass celebrations.
But Ms
Patel encouraged people to go to pubs when they reopen, while urging customers
to "be responsible" and follow social distancing and hygiene
guidance.
Lockdown
easing 'madness'
The West
Midlands police and crime commissioner, Labour's David Jamieson, described the
decision to reopen pubs in England next Saturday as "pure madness."
He told the
BBC he feared peoples' "pent-up feeling" after three months of
lockdown would "explode out onto the streets".
Mr Jamieson
said senior policing figures disagreed with the government's timetable, and
raised their concerns last week in a meeting with the policing minister, Kit
Malthouse - but were not listened to.
He said had
they been asked, they would have suggested a "mid-week" reopening
date so that police could have "built up" to the weekend.
The Home
Office said it trusted the public to "comply with more subtle social
restrictions" and that there was "no excuse" for disorderly
behaviour.
Meanwhile,
the home secretary also told Andrew Marr that the government is considering
imposing a localised lockdown in Leicester after 658 new cases were recorded in
the two weeks to 16 June.
Home
Secretary Priti Patel: "It is right we have a local solution"
She said
she had spoken to Health Secretary Matt Hancock about potentially enforcing a
local lockdown, and said "extra support" would be going into the
area.
But the
city's mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said there was "no immediate prospect"
of a lockdown, adding that data from testing was still being analysed.
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