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Boris Johnson to chair Cobra meeting with new lockdown-style restrictions 'on the way'

Boris Johnson has failed to quell the rebellion: REUTERS
Boris Johnson has failed to quell the rebellion: REUTERS

Boris Johnson will chair a Cobra meeting Tuesday morning in another sign that new lockdown-style measures are on the way.

He will also phone the first ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and brief Cabinet on his latest thinking on Monday, ahead of the meeting and a press conference.

The significance of a Cobra (standing for Cabinet Office Briefing Room A) meeting is that it is usually called ahead of significant restrictions being decided.

Ministers have signalled that a social lockdown, with curbs on meeting people from other households and closures or shorter hours for pubs and restaurants.

The Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “We do face significant challenges as we enter the winter months.”

However, the PM’s spokesman was unable to say whether Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, would be invited to the Cobra meeting despite the critical importance and size of the capital city – and signs of Covid-19 causing steeply rising admissions to intensive care units in London.

The spokesman added: “You can see what’s been happening over the course of the previous 72 or 96 hours.

“The PM spoke on Friday about his concerns about a second wave. There was an update to the Cabinet on Saturday, the PM held more meetings with scientific advisers and with colleagues yesterday.

“Today he will be engaging with the devolved administrations, let’s see where we get to.

“Tomorrow morning is an opportunity for Cobra to discuss what next steps may be required in the coronavirus response.”

It comes after the Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser warned Britain could be facing 50,000 new Covid-19 cases a day within weeks if the current rate of infection is not halted, .

Sir Patrick Vallance told a televised briefing that the UK could see 200 deaths every day if fast action is not taken to curb the spread of the disease.

Speaking alongside Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty, Sir Patrick said the “vast majority of the population remain susceptible” to catching coronavirus, and that "speed" and "action" were now needed to tackle the crisis.

Professor Whitty told Monday's press conference that, over the next six months, Britons would have to take the pandemic "collectively, very seriously”.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock earlier signalled tough measures could be announced as soon as Tuesday and did not rule out pubs having to close early in more parts of the country.

He told of the “worry” of the Cabinet, including the Prime Minister, that Britain is in danger of following Spain and France, where hospitalisations and deaths are rising.

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