“Boris Johnson declared a “moment of national emergency” last night as he finally imposed a near full lockdown of Britain to protect against the spread of coronavirus. Police will enforce new quarantine rules under which people will be allowed to leave their home only for essential supplies, one form of daily exercise, medical care or “absolutely necessary” work. The prime minister closed all shops selling “non-essential goods”, playgrounds, libraries and churches. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that the coronavirus pandemic is accelerating around the globe.” – The Times
Boris Johnson will order police to enforce a strict coronavirus lockdown, with a ban on gatherings of more than two people and strict limits on exercise, as he told the British public: “You must stay at home.” The prime minister ratcheted up Britain’s response with an address to the nation on Monday evening, warning that people would only be allowed outside to buy food or medication, exercise alone once a day, or to travel to work if absolutely necessary…It is understood that Johnson himself had until now been holding out against a lockdown.” – The Guardian
“No one can now be in any doubt: this is the most serious social and economic crisis since the Second World War. If mishandled, the consequences will include millions of lives lost, devastating economic depression, social unrest and political upheaval. There can be few greater tests of decision-making and leadership. In Britain, as in many countries, the decisions made so far involve a vast increase in the role and power of the state. Never in peacetime has a government taken over so rapidly the financing and direction of so many areas of the economy, and never in history has it intruded so minutely into how individuals live alongside each other.” – Daily Telegraph
“All British travellers should return to the UK immediately or risk being stranded as the likelihood grows that most air links will close within the next 48 hours, the UK government said on Monday. Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, called on UK citizens still abroad to contact their tour operator or airline while flights were still available. “We are strongly urging UK travellers overseas to return home now where and while there are still commercial routes to do so,” he said.” – FT
“Emergency legislation giving sweeping powers to ban gatherings and forcibly quarantine suspected coronavirus patients was passed by MPs on Monday night, despite continued worries about civil liberties and the potential effect on vulnerable people. The coronavirus bill, which will be in force for two years, completed all its stages through the Commons in one day without opposition MPs forcing any votes after Downing Street offered the concession that it would be reviewed every six months. Labour welcomed the move, but expressed concern at some of the measures in the 329-page bill, which will go to the Lords later in the week, notably changes to rules over mental health and the provision of social care.” – The Guardian
“MILLIONS of self-employed workers hit by the coronavirus shutdown are poised to be offered 80 per cent of their income under an emergency package to be unveiled on Wednesday. Boris Johnson and his Chancellor will finalise details of the funding plan today as senior Tories warned the Government they had just 48 hours to save Britain’s five million self-employed. Ex-Tory Business Secretary Greg Clark led calls for the plan to be “comparable” to the job retention scheme for employees, whereby companies who keep their workers will receive 80 per cent of their wage bill.” – The Sun
“Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt has called for more testing and tracing to ‘break the chain’ of transmission. He told MPs that this could be more important than social distancing and called for scientists and civil servants to be mobilised. Mr Hunt also warned that it ‘may be too late’ to avoid Britain becoming like Italy, which has suffered one of the worst outbreaks. He told Parliament: ‘Now is the time for a massive national mobilisation behind testing and contact tracing.’ Whilst welcoming Boris Johnson’s ‘ambition’ of 250,000 tests a day, he said that just 5,500 people had been tested on Saturday – no significant increase on a week ago.” – Daily Mail
“The UK Government is working with the inventors of the home pregnancy test to develop a coronavirus testing kit in Britain and Senegal. Mologic was granted £1million to produce two different types of test which reveal if someone has ever had the deadly virus in the past. The kits – one will look for antigens in spit, the other will scour blood for antibodies – could also tell if a person currently has the infection. But the company, who laboratory in Bedfordshire was visited by Prime Minister Boris Johnson this month, estimates it will be up to six months before Brits can use them.” – Daily Mail
“On Friday, Mr Frost showed signs of being infected with coronavirus a day after his EU counterpart, Michel Barnier, tested positive for the disease. Number 10 confirmed Mr Frost is now self-isolating. Despite the coronavirus pandemic derailing face-to-face negotiations, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Brexit talks with the EU will continue in the upcoming days. Last week, the EU drafted a post-Brexit trade deal proposal, covering areas such as security, foreign policy and fisheries. The 441-page draft legal text was sent to the 27 EU states, ahead of being presented to the UK this week. However, according to political analysts, much of the draft will be outright rejected by the UK because of references to EU law and fishing.” – Daily Express
>Yesterday: Patrick Nicholls in Comment: Patrick Nicholls: Fishing. My part in the movement to take control of it back from the EU.
“Former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond walked out of Edinburgh’s High Court a free man on Monday after a jury acquitted him of all 13 sexual offence charges brought against him in a two-week trial. Speaking outside the court after the verdict, Mr Salmond, who had told the court that some of the charges against him were “political fabrications”, said the trial had “reinforced” his faith in Scotland’s court system. Mr Salmond, also a former leader of the Scottish National party, made clear that he intended to pursue those in the Scottish government and SNP that his defence lawyers suggested had orchestrated the allegations against him.” – FT