CORONAVIRUS: BORIS JOHNSON FEARS SECOND PEAK FROM RELAXING LOCKDOWN
Boris Johnson has told colleagues his concerns that
relaxing lockdown measures too soon could lead to a second outbreak of
coronavirus.
The PM is
understood to have met his deputy Dominic Raab at Chequers on Friday to discuss
the crisis.
He is thought to
have told Mr Raab and other officials via video that stopping a second peak was
his priority.
It comes after
criticism Mr Johnson did not chair or attend five early meetings about the
virus.
Cabinet Office
Minister Michael Gove confirmed on Sunday that the PM had not been involved in
the so-called COBR meetings – Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms – as reported in
the Sunday Times.
Shadow health secretary Jonathan
Ashworth accused Mr Johnson of being “missing in action” at the start
of the crisis.
But a government
spokesman said it was “entirely normal and proper” for COBR to be
chaired by the relevant secretary of state rather than the prime minister.
They added Boris
Johnson “has been at the helm of the response to this, providing
leadership during this hugely challenging period for the whole nation”.
Culture
Secretary Oliver Dowden also defended his boss, saying the PM was “being
briefed on an hourly and daily basis” and “took a very close personal
interest” in the virus early on.
The PM is
currently staying at Chequers – the country retreat of the prime minister –
while he recovers from coronavirus, and is not officially back at work yet.
Mr Raab – who is
deputising for the prime minister during his recuperation – held another
virtual meeting with leaders of the opposition parties to update them on the
government’s handling of the outbreak.
A spokesman for
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the meeting had been
“constructive” and he “reiterated his support for the
government’s decision to extend the lockdown”.
But he said Sir Keir repeated
calls for more detail on the exit strategy for ending the measures and
“raised his concerns” about the availability of PPE.
Economic impact
Meanwhile,
government sources said the review of lockdown measures in three weeks would
lead to modifications, rather than any widespread easing.
BBC assistant
political editor Norman Smith said the fear in government about another
outbreak is not solely of more deaths, but also the impact it would have on the
economy if employees are sick and unable to work.
He also said the
belief is the additional impact on businesses who were forced to remain shut in
a second lockdown would be more profound.
Mr Dowden said the government would take
appropriate measures to ease the lockdown “based on the evidence”.
But he referenced Mr Johnson’s earlier statement that it could
take 12 weeks to “turn the tide” on the virus.
Mr Dowden told
BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “What’s happened is kind of consistent with
that.
“But we
will take the appropriate measures based on the facts and evidence, and that
has not changed.”
