More people are heading in to the office every day than working from home in the wake of the announcement of the roadmap out of lockdown. Only 32 per cent of Britons surveyed said they are still exclusively working at home, while 39 per cent are working every day at their normal place of work. … Read more
Boris Johnson’s cautious approach to easing restrictions quickly came under strain as lockdown-weary Britons jumped the gun on his road map and started mixing with friends. Coffee catch-ups in the park and outdoor sport remain banned until March – but after nearly a year of draconian Covid measures people took advantage of the recent good … Read more
Tories stepped up their attack on Boris Johnson’s ‘roadmap’ out of lockdown today complaining it is based on ‘dodgy assumptions’ about vaccine takeup. Former chief whip Mark Harper, head of the 70-strong Covid Recovery Group of sceptical MPs, said the models being used by the government were ‘flawed’. He said ‘understating’ the reach of the … Read more
Nicola Sturgeon today unveiled a lockdown exit roadmap for Scotland which will see the stay at home rule lifted and the return of some non-essential shops on April 5. She said her ‘deliberately cautious’ plan will start with more pupils heading back to classrooms on March 15 and with the limit on outdoor mixing being … Read more
Matt Hancock today slapped down Professor Neil Ferguson after he suggested the government’s ‘roadmap’ out of lockdown could be speeded up if things go well. The Health Secretary insisted there is no question of the timetable for easing restrictions being upgraded despite the unusually optimistic view from the leading epidemiologist. The spat came amid growing … Read more
Matt Hancock today slapped down Professor Neil Ferguson after he suggested the government’s ‘roadmap’ out of lockdown could be speeded up if things go well. The Health Secretary insisted there is no question of the timetable for easing restrictions being upgraded despite the unusually optimistic view from the leading epidemiologist. The spat came amid growing … Read more
Boris Johnson defied huge pressure from Tories and business today to unveil an ultra-cautious ‘roadmap’ out of lockdown. Announcing his long-awaited four-phase exit strategy, the PM warned the ‘threat remains’ and cases, hospitalisations and deaths will rise in the coming months as no vaccines can offer 100 per cent protection for the whole population. ‘At … Read more
Boris Johnson defied huge pressure from Tories and business today to unveil an ultra-cautious ‘roadmap’ out of lockdown. Announcing his long-awaited four-phase exit strategy, the PM warned the ‘threat remains’ and cases, hospitalisations and deaths will rise in the coming months as no vaccines can offer 100 per cent protection for the whole population. ‘At … Read more
What are the PM’s four tests for easing lockdown? The vaccine deployment programme continues successfully. Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated. Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS. The assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed … Read more
Boris Johnson is already facing a Tory backlash as he prepares to unveil a ‘cautious’ route out of lockdown today – with all schools reopening from March 8 but precious few other easings until Easter. The PM is set to reveal his ‘roadmap’ in a statement to the Commons this afternoon after it is rubber-stamped … Read more