Keir Starmer demands Boris Johnson lockdown country 'now'

Coronavirus cases are growing rapidly across the UK, causing concern as a new, more transmissible variant applies pressure to the NHS and Government alike. Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned of “tough, tough” weeks to come as the Government came under pressure to announce another national lockdown amid concerns the new variant coronavirus is spreading out of control.

The Prime Minister said there was “no question” about the need for tougher measures which would be announced, “in due course”.

The latest data has shown a 33 percent rise in the number of confirmed coronavirus patients in hospital in England between Christmas Day and January 2.

These figures have caused alarm for Downing Street and the health service.

Mr Johnson said during a visit to Chase Farm Hospital in north London: “If you look at the numbers there’s no question we will have to take tougher measures and we will be announcing those in due course.”

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Despite the rollout of vaccines, the quickly spreading Covid-19 variant is causing concern.

The R-rate or rate of infection in the UK is currently 1.1 to 1.3, meaning for every 10 people infected with the virus, 11 to 13 others will catch it.

And the growth rate is one to six percent, meaning the number of positive coronavirus cases are growing by that much daily.

The Government hopes to get the virus under control while vaccinating as many people as possible in the hope restrictions can be eased by Easter.

Will Boris Johnson announce national lockdown today?

Downing Street has said the Government is waiting to see the impact of the latest coronavirus restrictions in England before deciding on which further measures would be needed.

Tier 3 and Tier 4 measures were applied to almost the entirety of England on New Year’s Eve – less than a week ago.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We have been waiting to see the impact of the Tier 4 measures. It is a bit unclear still at the moment.

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“I have always said we would continue to look at the latest evidence and data and that is what we base our decisions on.

“We have always said that we would take the measures needed to reduce the spread of the virus and we will continue to do.”

A date and time for the introduction of stricter rules across England – or even for a press conference from Mr Johnson – has not yet been announced, and Express.co.uk will update the page with more information when it is available.

Neither Mr Johnson nor Health Secretary Matt Hancock have ruled out a third national lockdown across England.

Leaders across the country have called on the Government to impose strict lockdown conditions to curb the spread of the virus.

Birmingham’s Labour city council leader Ian Ward said he fully expected the Government to “recognise the seriousness of the situation” and carry out a U-turn by announcing tougher restrictions, as early as this week.

Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, said on Sunday a new national lockdown should be put in place within 24 hours,

He said: “The virus is clearly out of control.

“We can’t allow the Prime Minister to use up the next two or three weeks and then bring in a national lockdown which is inevitable.

“Do it now. That’s the necessary first step to get the virus back under control.”

In response to the comments, a Number 10 source said: “The Prime Minister has been consistently clear that we are driven by the need to protect the NHS and save lives – unlike Labour who have spent the last ten months playing party politics.

‘We have moved more areas into Tier 4 to bear down on the new variant and escalated other areas into Tier 3.

“This targeted approach is the right one, and is kept under review based on the latest data.”

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